A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10 per cent of its income on energy costs.

What impacts fuel poverty?

The rate of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland is 22 per cent. There are three factors which impact on fuel poverty:

  • income
  • the cost of energy
  • the domestic energy efficiency of the home

Boiler Replacement Scheme

The Boiler Replacement Scheme is a Department for Communities Scheme, administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

The Boiler Replacement Scheme is for owner occupiers whose total gross income is less than £40,000 and is to help with the cost of replacing boilers which are 15 years old or older with new boilers. For further information on the scheme see the link below

Boiler Replacement Scheme 

Affordable Warmth Scheme

The Affordable Warmth Scheme is the Department for Communities scheme for addressing fuel poverty in the Private Sector. It is delivered across Northern Ireland on behalf of the Department by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and 11 local Councils.

The Affordable Warmth Scheme is a Strictly Targeted Scheme and is aimed at households in the Private Sector (in other words if you own your own home or rent from a Private Sector landlord) and have a total gross annual household income of less than £20,000. For further information on the scheme see the link below

Affordable Warmth Scheme


Related to Fuel poverty

Access to information

How to request information from the Department for Communities including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme. You may also request your own personal information, via a Right of Access Request.

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