The Gas Boiler Ban: Everything You Need To Know
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by Property Investments UK
The Property Investments UK editorial team have been researching and writing about the UK's property market for more than a decade.
Gas boilers are the main source of heating and hot water in millions of homes across the UK. But, potentially, gas boilers could be banned in the not-too-distant future. Here’s everything you need to know about the gas boiler ban including why it is being considered, when it could come into force and how it affects you.
Contents
- Why are Gas Boilers Being Banned?
- The Reasons Behind It
- How Will the Heat and Buildings Strategy Affect Landlords?
- When Will Gas Boilers Be Banned?
- The Gas Boiler Ban in Scotland
- How They Will Be Banned
- What will the Ban Really Mean? How will Home Owners be Affected?
- Should I Still Install a New Gas Boiler Now?
- Do I Need to Scrap my Existing Boiler?
- The Alternatives
- Will the Gas Boiler Ban Really Happen?
Why are Gas Boilers Being Banned?
Concerns over climate change and what is called the climate emergency are behind the gas boiler ban.
Natural gas boilers are widely known for being an efficient, reliable and relatively cheap way of providing hot water and heating. However, they are not very environmentally friendly. Gas boilers are a significant source of carbon dioxide or CO2 – the so-called greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change. Around a third of all the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are said to be due to gas heating.
The Reasons Behind It
Climate change targets are behind the gas boiler ban. Countries around the world, including the UK, have agreed to work towards becoming net zero carbon by 2050.
Since gas heating is believed to contribute such a high level of CO2 reducing or eliminating the use of gas boilers could be a major way to help achieve these targets.
Reducing or eliminating the use of gas boilers is part of the decarbonisation of heat.
The decarbonisation of heat is part of the Heat and Buildings Strategy put together by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – now merged into the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This is a strategy for how the UK will decarbonise homes and other buildings to help achieve net zero by 2050. The eventual aim is that all heating systems installed in UK homes will use low-carbon technologies.
The International Energy Agency says that no new gas boilers should be sold after 2025 if net zero targets are to be achieved by 2050.
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How Will the Heat and Buildings Strategy Affect Landlords?
The International Energy Agency says that no new gas boilers should be sold after 2025 if net zero targets are to be achieved by 2050.
When Will Gas Boilers Be Banned?
There are two important dates to know about in relation to the gas boiler ban:
No more gas boilers in new builds from 2025
It is proposed that gas boilers will be banned in newly built properties at some point in 2025. New build developers will not be able to install new gas boilers nor connect them to the gas grid.
Gas boilers will not be banned in existing properties in 2025. It will still be possible to fit new gas boilers (and repair existing ones) in existing properties.
No more new gas boilers at all from 2035
It has been proposed that there could be a complete ban on the sale of gas boilers from 2035. This could mean that new gas boiler installations would be banned from existing properties as well as new builds.
A recent report commissioned by the government – Independent Report: Review of Net Zero suggests that the gas boiler ban should be brought forward to 2033.
By 2050 all heating methods used in buildings should be low carbon.
The Gas Boiler Ban in Scotland
The Scottish Government also has a target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045 – five years before the rest of the UK.
Scotland has different plans for reducing CO2 emissions from home heating. The Scottish Government has announced that under the New Build Heat Standard (NBHS) gas boilers in new builds could be banned from April 2024.
It is also reported that the Scottish Government could move to reduce the EPC ratings of homes that have gas boilers or restrict the sale of properties which have them.
How They Will Be Banned
Gas boilers will not be banned as such. However, what is known as the Future Homes Standard (FHS) will become mandatory in 2025. Under the Future Homes Standard new homes built from 2025 should produce 75-80% fewer carbon emissions than homes built under the current regulations. In effect, this will mean that they cannot use gas appliances.
What will the Ban Really Mean? How will Home Owners be Affected?
The gas boiler ban will mean that from 2025 new-build housing developers and new-build buyers will have to find other methods of heating their properties and providing hot water. It could mean that from 2035 all householders and landlords will have to find other methods of heating their properties, should an existing system break down and not be repairable.
Should I Still Install a New Gas Boiler Now?
In light of the proposed gas boiler ban, householders and landlords often ask whether they should install a new gas boiler now. For example, if their house or flat does not currently have a gas boiler/gas heating, or if an existing gas boiler breaks down or is beyond repair.
Currently, there is no reason why householders and landlords should not install a new gas boiler if they want one. Even if new installations are banned parts and service should still be available for gas boilers for many years to come.
Householders and landlords considering whether or not to install a new gas boiler might want to consider what alternatives are available, however.
Anyone considering alternatives to a gas boiler should consider buying and installation costs, running costs, heating efficiency and how the alternative heat source might affect the EPC rating of their property.
Do I Need to Scrap my Existing Boiler?
No. Under the current proposals, there is no requirement for anyone to have an existing gas boiler removed – unless they wish to do so. Even under these plans existing gas boilers can be used indefinitely.
The Alternatives
A future gas boiler ban would mean householders and landlords may have to consider other methods of heating their properties and providing hot water.
At present, electric central heating and hot water and solid fuel heating and hot water are still available as options.
Under the proposals, new oil-fired boilers will be banned from both new builds and many existing properties, including replacements for existing oil-fired boilers, during 2026.
Two main low-carbon heating technologies are being proposed as an alternative to gas boilers:
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps currently seem to be the government’s main preference for an alternative to gas boilers. Heat pumps take heat from the outside air and transfer it, using fans and compressors powered by electricity, to the inside of a house. In simple terms, they work like a fridge in reverse.
Ground-source heat pumps, water-source heat pumps and air-source heat pumps are already available. Air source heat pumps are probably the most common type at the moment.
There has been some criticism of heat pumps as an alternative to gas boilers, ie. that they are not as efficient and cost more to run.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a government scheme aimed at encouraging householders to switch their gas boilers for heat pumps.
Hydrogen Boilers
Hydrogen boilers work in a similar way to gas boilers but run on hydrogen gas. Hydrogen is regarded as a more environmentally friendly ‘green’ gas.
There is a possibility that hydrogen could be added to the existing natural gas supply in future. Some newer existing gas boilers are hydrogen-ready.
They are capable of running on natural gas which is blended with 20% hydrogen. Pure hydrogen boilers are under development.
Biomass Boilers
Biomass boilers burn materials such as wood pellets, chips or logs to power central heating and hot water. When produced from sustainable and renewable sources these boilers are capable of providing low or zero-carbon heating.
Heat Networks
Heat networks, also known as district heating, where many homes or businesses are supplied from a single heating source can also be a type of low-carbon heating.
Will the Gas Boiler Ban Really Happen?
It’s very important to note that the gas boiler ban is just a proposal at the moment. It is not yet a law.
If the ban happens it may be quite different from the current proposals. It may also be delayed. Although it is certainly something to take seriously the gas boiler ban may not happen at all.
A number of politicians have recently called for the introduction of a gas boiler ban to be delayed, with Michael Gove hinting at a possible u-turn on the policy.
The Energy Security Bill which is currently working its way through Parliament could have some implications for any gas boiler ban.