The 2035 Oil Boiler Ban: What Is Actually Law?

Where the 2035 date came from

In October 2021 the government consulted on ending the installation of fossil fuel heating in homes off the gas grid in England from 2026. Its Heat and Buildings Strategy also said: "No-one will be forced to remove their existing boilers." No response to that consultation was ever published, and the rules were never made.

On 20 September 2023 the then Prime Minister announced a delay: "Delay the ban on installing oil and LPG boilers, and new coal heating, for off-gas-grid homes to 2035, instead of phasing them out from 2026." That is where the 2035 date comes from. It was announced policy, and it was never put into law.

What the government says now

In October 2025 the government said it "will not take forward the previous government's proposal (published in October 2021) to implement regulations restricting fossil fuel heating installations in off-gas grid properties by 2026", and that it will consult on any future proposals for off-grid homes.

The same month, responding to the Climate Change Committee, it said: "The previous government did not legislate to restrict fossil fuel installations in existing buildings. Placing restrictions on consumers is not the focus of this government's efforts." Its stated intention is that low-carbon heating "should represent the vast majority of new installations from 2035". That is a target for the market, not a ban on any household.

A government consultation on heating options for homes that are hard to switch to low-carbon heating closed in February 2026. No response had been published when we checked in October 2026.

What applies if you replace an oil boiler today

• A replacement that uses the same fuel must be at least as efficient as the boiler it replaces (Approved Document L, paragraph 5.4).
• A new regular oil boiler must reach at least 91% efficiency, as defined in the ErP regulations.
• A carbon monoxide alarm should be fitted in the same room when a new or replacement oil boiler is installed (Approved Document J).

What changes in March 2027

New building regulations for England, which bring in the Future Homes and Buildings Standards, come into force on 24 March 2027. They are aimed mainly at new homes. The updated efficiency guidance that goes with them keeps the same 91% minimum for a replacement oil boiler in an existing home.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

In Scotland, new homes and buildings with a building warrant applied for on or after 1 April 2024 can no longer use direct emissions heating systems, which include oil boilers. The Scottish Government has published a draft Bill aiming to end the use of direct emission heating in buildings by 2045, but as far as we could find it has not been passed. We found no ban on replacing an oil boiler in an existing home in Wales or Northern Ireland.

What this means for you

• If your oil boiler works, nothing in law requires you to replace it.
• If it needs replacing, you can fit a new oil boiler, as long as it meets the efficiency rules.
• Keep it serviced. A yearly service is often a condition of the manufacturer's guarantee.
• Policy can change. We will update this article if it does. It was last checked on 8 October 2026.

Related advice

• How Efficient Must a New Oil Boiler Be? Part L Explained
• Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Oil Boilers: What the Rules Say
• Do I Legally Have to Service My Oil Boiler?