Help with the cost of switching to a heat pump
£7,500 towards a qualifying heat pump installation
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides an upfront grant towards eligible air-to-water and ground source heat pump installations in England and Wales. The standard grant is £7,500. It reduces the amount you pay for qualifying work; it is not a promise of a free installation.
Eligible properties replacing oil or LPG heating may qualify for £9,000 instead, where they meet the scheme’s off-gas-grid rules. This temporary uplift is available from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. A property must have no mains gas connection and meet the remaining requirements; using oil or LPG alone does not confirm eligibility.
Solaris can help assess your property and proposed system. The grant application is made by the MCS-certified installer on your behalf, with the approved grant shown as a deduction on your quotation and invoice.
Grant rates and eligibility can change. Information checked on 20 October 2026; see the current official guidance for full details.
The main questions to check
-
Where is the property?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme applies in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different arrangements.
-
.png)
Do you own it?
Homeowners, landlords and some business property owners may qualify. Social housing is excluded, and property-specific rules still apply.
-
What heating are you replacing?
For an existing property, the scheme generally supports replacement of fossil-fuel or electric heating. Replacing an existing low-carbon heating system is not eligible.
-
Does the installation qualify?
The system, capacity and installation must meet the scheme requirements. Most developer-built new homes are excluded, while eligible self-builds have separate rules.
From eligibility check to grant deduction
You do not apply directly to Ofgem. We help you understand the proposed installation and relevant eligibility checks, then explain how the installer-led application fits into your project.
Discuss your property
Tell us your location, current heating and what you want to change. We can assess the proposed work against the relevant scheme requirements.
Agree the installation quotation
Review the system design, work included and remaining customer contribution. The eligible grant must be shown as an upfront deduction.
Confirm the application
The installer applies on your behalf. Ofgem contacts you to confirm your consent and relevant property details.
Complete and commission the system
The installation must meet the applicable voucher and scheme conditions. The installer completes the commissioning and grant redemption process.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme FAQs
-
No. It is grant support towards an eligible installation, rather than a loan with scheduled repayments. The full approved value must be passed on as a deduction. You remain responsible for the balance of the agreed installation
-
A valid Energy Performance Certificate is no longer required in every case. Where one exists, its details must be supplied. If there is no valid EPC, alternative evidence is needed to demonstrate eligibility. Solaris can discuss what is required for your property.
-
Eligible landlords and business property owners can access the scheme, as well as homeowners. The property and installation still have to meet the relevant rules, including system capacity limits. Air-to-air grants are restricted to residential properties, so they should not be assumed to cover commercial air conditioning.
-
Most developer-built new homes do not qualify. Eligible self-builds can qualify under specific rules, including how the property was built and its ownership history. A completed new build replacing fossil-fuel heating may also need individual assessment. Check the position with your installer before relying on a grant.
-
A hybrid system combining a heat pump with fossil-fuel heating is not eligible for BUS. If you want to retain an existing boiler, discuss the design and funding implications before proceeding. Grant eligibility and technical suitability need to be considered separately.
-
A standalone system used only to heat a swimming pool does not qualify as a building-heating upgrade. If a proposed system also serves a home or other eligible property, the whole installation needs assessment against the scheme rules; pool heating alone does not establish eligibility.
-
Current guidance lists a £2,500 grant for eligible air-to-air heat pump installations in residential properties. Separate requirements apply, so it is not a blanket grant for any air-conditioning unit. Ask us to assess the proposed installation before making plans around this support.
-
You cannot use another public grant or ECO funding to cover the same heat pump purchase or installation costs. Previous support for other improvements, such as insulation, does not necessarily exclude you. Tell your installer about any existing or proposed funding so compatibility can be checked.
