The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a fixed upfront grant of up to £7,500 to help homeowners in England and Wales replace their fossil-fuel heating system with a heat pump. Many homeowners find the application process unclear because it is handled by an installer, not by the homeowner directly. This guide explains exactly how the application works, who is eligible, and what you need to do.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a fixed upfront grant of £7,500 for a heat pump. You cannot apply directly only your MCS-certified installer can submit the application through the Ofgem portal on your behalf.
- Grant up to £7,500 paid directly to your MCS-certified installer.
- You cannot apply yourself only your installer submits via Ofgem.
- Must own the property and have a valid EPC within 10 years.
- EPC must have no outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations.
- Scheme only available for properties in England and Wales replacing fossil-fuel heating.
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme replaces the old Renewable Heat Incentive with a simpler upfront grant of up to £7,500
- You must own the property and have a valid Energy Performance Certificate to apply
- The grant is only for replacing fossil-fuel heating systems in England and Wales
- The application is submitted by your MCS-certified installer, not by you directly
- Quick numbers grant amounts, EPC requirements, and installation deadlines
- Your installer must be MCS-certified and TrustMark-registered to handle the grant
- The direct answer to apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, find an MCS-certified installer, get a quote, and they submit the application through Ofgem
- The grant is deducted upfront, and you must not start installation before approval
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) replaces the old Renewable Heat Incentive with a simpler upfront grant of up to £7,500, paid directly to your installer. You do not apply for this grant yourself only an MCS-certified installer can submit the application on your behalf through the Ofgem portal.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme replaces the old Renewable Heat Incentive with a simpler upfront grant of up to £7,500
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers a flat-rate grant of £7,500 for an air-source heat pump and £7,500 for a ground-source heat pump. The grant is paid directly to your installer, not to you as the homeowner (GOV.UK, 2026). This one-off upfront grant replaces the multi-year Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which closed to new applicants in 2022. The scheme is administered by Ofgem on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
You must own the property and have a valid Energy Performance Certificate to apply
To be eligible, you must be the legal owner of the property. Tenants and landlords of rental properties are not eligible for the grant. Your property must also have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) issued within the last 10 years, with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation (GOV.UK, 2026). If your EPC is older than 10 years or has outstanding insulation recommendations, your application will be rejected. You may need to install loft or cavity wall insulation before applying.
The grant is only for replacing fossil-fuel heating systems in England and Wales
The scheme is only available for properties in England and Wales. Properties in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or the Channel Islands are not eligible. Your existing heating system must be a fossil-fuel boiler (gas, oil, LPG, or electric) or a direct electric heater. Biomass or heat pump replacements are not eligible for this grant. The new heating system must be an air-source heat pump, ground-source heat pump, or water-source heat pump listed on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) product database (MCS, 2026).
The application is submitted by your MCS-certified installer, not by you directly
You cannot apply for the grant yourself. Only an MCS-certified installer can submit the application on your behalf through the Ofgem portal. The installer must be registered with MCS and hold a valid MCS certificate for the type of heat pump being installed. The installer must provide you with a quote that includes the grant deduction, so you only pay the difference between the total cost and the £7,500 grant (Ofgem, 2026).
Quick numbers grant amounts, EPC requirements, and installation deadlines
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Grant amount for air-source heat pump | £7,500 | GOV.UK, 2026 |
| Grant amount for ground-source heat pump | £7,500 | GOV.UK, 2026 |
| Maximum EPC age | 10 years | GOV.UK, 2026 |
| Installation deadline after grant approval | 6 months | GOV.UK, 2026 |
| Number of grants per property | 1 | Ofgem, 2026 |
Your installer must be MCS-certified and TrustMark-registered to handle the grant
To apply for the BUS grant, your installer must hold a valid MCS certificate for the specific heat pump type being installed. The installer must also be registered with TrustMark, the government-endorsed quality scheme for home improvements (TrustMark, 2026). You can verify an installer’s MCS status on the MCS website and their TrustMark registration on the TrustMark website. Gas Safe Register or FENSA registration is not required for heat pump installations, but the installer must be MCS-certified. Always check both registers before agreeing to any work.
The direct answer to apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, find an MCS-certified installer, get a quote, and they submit the application through Ofgem
Step 1: Check your EPC is valid and has no outstanding insulation recommendations. Step 2: Find an MCS-certified and TrustMark-registered heat pump installer. Step 3: Request a quote that includes the £7,500 grant deduction. Step 4: The installer submits the application to Ofgem on your behalf, including your property details, EPC number, and system specifications. Step 5: Ofgem approves or rejects the application within 2–4 weeks. If approved, the grant is paid directly to your installer (Ofgem, 2026). How to find a reliable heat pump installer
The grant is deducted upfront, and you must not start installation before approval
The £7,500 grant is deducted from the total installation cost in the installer’s quote. You only pay the remaining balance after the installation is complete. You must not begin installation work or pay any deposit before Ofgem approves the application. Doing so voids the grant. The installation must be completed within 6 months of grant approval, or the grant is withdrawn (GOV.UK, 2026). Heat pump running costs explained Make sure your installer explains the timeline clearly before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
You do not apply yourself. Your MCS-certified installer submits the application through the Ofgem portal on your behalf. The £7,500 grant is then paid directly to the installer (GOV.UK, 2026).
You must be the legal homeowner of a property in England or Wales. Your property needs a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) issued within the last 10 years with no outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations (GOV.UK, 2026).
The fixed upfront grant is £7,500 for both air-source and ground-source heat pumps. This one-off payment replaces the old Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and is paid to your installer, not to you (Ofgem, 2026).
No, landlords and tenants of rental properties are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Only owner-occupied properties qualify (GOV.UK, 2026).
Your application will be rejected. You must install loft or cavity wall insulation first to meet the eligibility criteria set by the scheme (Energy Saving Trust, 2026).
