Here is the honest answer up front: in 2026 there is no widespread government grant that simply pays for a new oil boiler. The main UK funding schemes are built around cutting carbon, so they favour heat pumps, insulation and, in some cases, gas systems. Oil-specific support is limited, tightly means-tested where it exists at all, and never guaranteed.
That is not the answer anyone wants to hear when the boiler is on its last legs, but it is the truth, and we would rather tell you the truth than dangle funding that will not materialise. This guide walks through the schemes people usually mean when they search for an oil boiler grant, what each one actually covers, and the practical routes open to off-gas-grid households in Cornwall and Devon.
Why most grants do not cover oil boilers
Government energy funding is driven by decarbonisation targets, and heating oil is a fossil fuel. So the money flows towards measures that cut emissions: heat pumps, insulation, solar and connections to lower-carbon heating. A new oil boiler, however efficient, does not fit that brief, so the flagship schemes largely exclude like-for-like oil replacements.
It can feel unfair, particularly in rural Cornwall and Devon where the gas grid does not reach and oil is the practical mainstay. But that is the policy landscape as it stands, and any company promising you a free oil boiler through a government scheme deserves a sceptical eye.
The schemes people usually mean
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives grants towards low-carbon heating, principally air source and ground source heat pumps, in England and Wales. The key point for oil users: it funds a move away from oil, not a new oil boiler. If you are open to switching to a heat pump, the BUS can take a substantial chunk off the cost, and off-gas-grid oil homes are exactly the properties it was designed to reach. If you want to stay on oil, the BUS offers nothing.
ECO4
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) requires large energy suppliers to fund efficiency improvements for low-income and vulnerable households. It is strictly means-tested, usually tied to certain benefits, and it prioritises whole-house improvements. In practice ECO4 rarely funds oil boiler replacements; where heating measures are approved for off-grid homes they generally point towards renewable systems. Some households do qualify for help, but eligibility is decided by the scheme administrators and your energy supplier, never by an installer, and never in advance.
Local authority and regional schemes
Councils sometimes run their own energy schemes, often funded by central government pots, aimed at low-income households or homes with poor energy ratings. What is available in Cornwall or Devon changes year to year. These schemes occasionally include broken heating systems within scope, but again they lean towards insulation and low-carbon heating rather than new oil boilers.
So what can oil households actually do?
1. Check the official sources yourself
Start at gov.uk, which lists current national schemes and has an eligibility checker for home energy support. Check Cornwall Council or Devon County Council websites for live local schemes. Rules, funding pots and criteria change frequently, so information from an official source today beats anything a blog, ours included, published months ago.
2. Be realistic about eligibility
Never assume you qualify for anything until the scheme itself confirms it. Eligibility usually depends on benefits received, household income, the property’s energy rating and the measures proposed. We cannot promise you a grant, and neither can anyone else. If a cold-caller or advert guarantees you free heating, treat it as a red flag.
3. Weigh the heat pump question honestly
If grant money matters to you, the heat pump route is where the support is. Heat pumps suit some Cornish and Devon properties well, particularly well-insulated homes with room for the outdoor unit and suitably sized radiators. They suit others poorly, and the honest assessment depends on your building. It is a bigger conversation than a boiler swap, and worth having before you rule anything in or out.
4. Make the most of a self-funded replacement
If no funding applies and staying on oil is right for your home, the good news is that a modern condensing oil boiler is a big efficiency upgrade in its own right. Replacing a 15 or 20 year old boiler with a new one, properly sized and installed, cuts fuel use and comes with up to 12 year manufacturer warranties. A fixed upfront quote for an oil boiler replacement tells you exactly what you are dealing with, and spreading fuel purchases across the year helps manage the running costs. Keeping the new boiler on annual boiler servicing protects both the warranty and the efficiency you paid for.
A word of caution on grant adverts
Search for boiler grants and you will find pages promising free boilers with a two-minute eligibility check. Some are lead generators harvesting your details; some advertise schemes that quietly exclude oil once you read the fine print. Before handing over personal information, check the scheme exists on gov.uk, check oil measures are actually in scope, and check who is asking. A legitimate scheme never needs payment up front and never pressures you to sign on the day.
How DCI Boilers can help
DCI Boilers is based near Saltash and works across Cornwall and Devon. We will give you a straight answer about the state of your current boiler, whether repair or replacement makes more sense, and what a like-for-like oil boiler replacement would cost, fixed and upfront, so you can weigh it against any funding route you are exploring. If your heating has failed and you cannot wait for a scheme decision, our emergency boiler call-out service runs 24/7.
Need help now? Call DCI Boilers on 07888 862 603 or get a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any grants for oil boilers in 2026?
Very few. The main national schemes fund heat pumps and insulation rather than new oil boilers, and means-tested schemes like ECO4 rarely cover oil. Check gov.uk and your local council for current schemes, and never assume eligibility until the scheme confirms it.
Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cover oil boilers?
No. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme funds low-carbon heating such as air source and ground source heat pumps. It can help an oil household switch away from oil, but it does not contribute towards a new oil boiler.
Can I get help if I am on benefits and my oil boiler breaks?
Possibly, but not certainly. ECO4 and some council schemes support low-income households, though they favour insulation and low-carbon heating. Eligibility depends on your circumstances and the scheme’s rules, so check gov.uk or speak to your council. If you need heat in the meantime, call us and we will talk through your options honestly.
Is it worth waiting for a grant before replacing my oil boiler?
If your boiler still works, checking what you might qualify for costs nothing. If it has failed, waiting on an uncertain scheme through a Cornish winter is a gamble. A repair can sometimes buy time while you investigate, so get an engineer’s honest assessment first.