The grant, explained

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme in 2026: how the £7,500 heat pump grant works

Updated July 2026 · UK Heat Pump Grant

If you've heard there's a government grant of up to £7,500 towards a heat pump but you're not sure how it actually works, this is the plain-English version — no jargon and no sales pitch.

What the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a UK government grant programme that helps homeowners in England and Wales replace fossil-fuel heating with a low-carbon heat pump. It's administered by Ofgem and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The grant amounts are fixed by the scheme:

Heating systemGrant
Air source heat pump£7,500
Ground source heat pump£7,500
Air-to-air heat pump (newly eligible in 2026)£2,500
Biomass boiler (rural only)£5,000
New: up to £9,000 for off-gas oil & LPG homes. From 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, homes off the gas grid heating with oil or LPG can get £9,000 (instead of £7,500) towards an air or ground source heat pump. It's a time-limited uplift — see who qualifies.

You never touch the government's money

This is the part that surprises most people: the grant is paid directly to your installer, not to you. The installer reduces the price they quote by the grant amount, then claims it back from Ofgem afterwards. You simply pay the reduced figure. There are no government forms for you to fill in — a fully MCS-certified installer handles the whole application on your behalf.

How long is it available?

The scheme has been extended more than once and currently runs until 2030. So there's no imminent cliff-edge — but funding is released in annual budgets, and a given year's pot can be used up before the year ends. It's not something to leave indefinitely, but you're not up against a hard deadline either.

The short version of who qualifies

Most owner-occupied homes in England and Wales that currently run on gas, oil, LPG or electric storage heating qualify. As of April 2026 you no longer even need an EPC — the old certificate requirement was removed, and your installer assesses your home's insulation during the survey instead. We cover eligibility in full in Do you qualify for the £7,500 heat pump grant?

See if you qualify in 2 minutes

Answer a few quick questions and we'll tell you where you stand — then connect you with a vetted MCS-certified installer for a no-obligation quote.

Check my eligibility →

Sources: Ofgem — Boiler Upgrade Scheme; grant amounts and the 2026 scheme changes (air-to-air eligibility, EPC requirement removed, extension to 2030) per the Boiler Upgrade Scheme regulations in force from April 2026. Figures are accurate as of 2026 but may change — always confirm via gov.uk or an MCS-certified installer before making decisions. UK Heat Pump Grant is a service of GrafterUK Ltd (Co. No. 17303977) and is not affiliated with the UK Government.