Boiler Upgrade Scheme
BUS, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, gives a grant. It lowers what you pay for a heat pump or a biomass boiler in England and Wales. Your income doesn't get checked.
- £7,500
- off a heat pump, ground source or air source
- + £1,500
- for homes that aren't on the gas grid, ending March 2027
- There's no income limit
- you have to own the home
What the BUS grant pays
| System | Grant |
|---|---|
| Air source heat pump (air to water) | £7,500 |
| Heat pump, ground or water source | £7,500 |
| Biomass boiler, rural homes off the gas grid | £5,000 |
| Air to air heat pump | £2,500 |
An extra £1,500 goes to homes off mains gas that use oil or LPG heating, until March 2027, so £9,000 comes off a heat pump. It must be an air source pump or a ground source pump. One grant per property, no hybrid systems, and 45kWth is the size limit. The amounts come from GOV.UK.
Who can get the heat pump grant?
- You own the home. Landlords, second homes and small business premises all count too.
- England or Wales is where your home needs to be.
- The heating being replaced runs on gas, oil, LPG or electricity.
Social housing and new builds mostly don't qualify, and a home that already got heat pump funding doesn't either. A biomass boiler needs a rural home off the gas grid. The rules are on GOV.UK if you want to read them.
How a Boiler Upgrade Scheme application works
- Get quotes from MCS-certified installers. Nobody else is allowed to apply.
- Applying to Ofgem is your installer's job, and the quote shows the grant already taken off.
- The heat pump has to be commissioned within 120 days of applying.
- On the invoice, the grant is already off the price.
Insulation or a heat pump first?
You won't be asked to insulate first under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, but running a heat pump costs less if your home holds its heat. If you earn less, a heat pump and insulation can both be covered by the Warm Homes: Local Grant. Scotland runs its own Home Energy Scotland grant and loan, so homes there apply to that. The government plans about £2.7 billion for BUS up to 2029/30.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme: questions people ask
Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme means-tested?
No. Your income isn't tested. The home has to be yours, and you must be swapping out heating that uses gas, oil, LPG or electricity.
Can I get a new gas boiler through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
No. The name aside, the BUS grant pays only towards heat pumps, and towards biomass boilers for some rural homes.
Can I get the heat pump grant if I have had an insulation grant?
Yes. You can still get the grant if you've had funding before for insulation or any other energy efficiency work.
Is there a Boiler Upgrade Scheme in Scotland?
No, it only runs in England and Wales. For homes in Scotland, Home Energy Scotland offers a grant of up to £7,500, and there's an optional loan of £7,500 for a heat pump.
Can landlords use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Yes. If you own rented homes, second homes or small business premises, you can apply through the installer.
Get an installer survey quote
Want a heat pump quote with the £7,500 taken off? An MCS-certified installer can survey the home.