Could new rule mean the end of gas boilers?

The government has announced a ban on gas boilers in new-build homes from 2025, in an effort to cut carbon emissions.

There are no plans to require landlords to change the form of heating in existing properties. However, the move marks the start of a process that could see oil and gas boilers phased out in the long term; replaced by renewable heating systems, which are easier on the planet.

The decision, by the chancellor Philip Hammond, follows advice from independent advisory organisation, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), which wants to see oil and gas boilers replaced by renewable heating systems.

With approximately 14% of greenhouse gas emissions coming from homes, the CCC says that a major change in domestic heating is needed, if we are to meet the UK’s climate change target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050.

After 2025, anyone looking to rent out a new-build property will need to have a heating system which uses renewable energy.

While the upfront cost of installing renewable heating is currently higher, such systems can mean savings for landlords and tenants, long-term. Renewable systems require less maintenance and servicing than gas boilers and mean cheaper heating bills.

The types of renewable system likely to grow in popularity over the next decade include outdoor pumps, which extract natural heat from the air or ground for heating or hot water, as well as solar thermal roof panels which can power electric boilers.

Read more about this story on the website Landlord Today.