Gas and oil boiler ban could be delayed to 2040

Boris Johnson looks set to delay his much-heralded ban on the replacement of fossil fuel boilers in existing homes, originally earmarked for 2035. The move comes amid mounting pressurefrom some in the industry around the viability of retrofitting alternatives into existing properties – with heat pumps currently more expensive to install and hydrogen-ready boilers not yet available. It’s unclear whether the uncertainty could also extend to the boiler ban for new builds, which is due to take effect from 2025 as part of the Future Homes Standard. Build It understands that internal wrangling over incentivising the move to low-carbon systems is a key factor in the delay to the government’s wide-reaching and hotly-anticipated Heat and Buildings Strategy, now expected to be released in the Autumn.