The Boiler Upgrade Scheme explained: £7,500 towards an air source heat pump

What the grant is

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales): GOV.UK says you may be able to get £7,500 towards an air source heat pump if you own your home and are replacing fossil fuel heating such as a gas boiler. Read GOV.UK's guidance (opens in a new tab). (https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme)

The scheme is set up by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) Regulations 2022. The amount is set in the government's notice of grant values.

Who can get it

GOV.UK's eligibility conditions include owning the property you're applying for and replacing fossil fuel heating, such as oil, gas, electric or LPG.

We don't check whether you or your home can get a grant. Most new-build homes and social housing are not eligible.

From Chris's work as a heat networks and energy manager: The things I’d check first are missing information, eligibility evidence and whether the homeowner has responded to the consent and identity checks. The installer needs to submit a complete, accurate application and keep the homeowner informed. I’d also establish whether any delay concerns the grant application or something else needed for the installation.

How it works

Your installer applies for it, takes it off the price, and must be an MCS installer.

From Chris's work as a heat networks and energy manager: The quote should clearly show the full installation cost, the grant deduction and what you’re left to pay. I’d check that the whole grant comes off the price up front, and that the final invoice shows the same deduction. I’d also want the contract to explain what happens if the application is unsuccessful.

What it does not change

The grant lowers what you pay for the installation. It doesn't change what a heat pump costs to run, so none of our running cost figures include it.

From Chris's work as a heat networks and energy manager: If you already receive communal or district heating, I’d check the grant rules alongside your lease and heat supply agreement before committing to a separate system. Don’t assume that having no gas meter in your home changes which grant you can get; check how the rules treat a heat network connection. Being near a network is a different situation, and if a shared ground loop is being offered, ask how the grant rules apply to it.

In Scotland

In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland runs a separate grant and loan scheme. Read Home Energy Scotland's guidance (opens in a new tab). (https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/home-energy-scotland-grant-loan)