The Help Grant is a fixed amount, not a percentage of your project cost
The single most important fact about the Help Grant is that it is a fixed sum. It is not calculated as a percentage of your total installation cost, nor is it based on your household income.
The Help Grant is a fixed £7,500 for an air source heat pump in England and Wales. This amount is deducted from your installation invoice by the installer, not paid to you directly. Compare quotes to see your final co-pay.
- Help Grant is a fixed £7,500, not a percentage of costs.
- Grant applies only to air source heat pumps in England and Wales.
- Typical system costs £12,000–£15,000 before the grant.
- Your co-pay after grant is £4,500–£7,500.
- Annual heating bill savings range from £200 to £500.
- The Help Grant is a fixed amount, not a percentage of your project cost
- Quick numbers Key figures for the Help Grant in 2026
- How much is the Help Grant for homeowners in Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Who qualifies for the Help Grant Eligibility criteria explained
- How to verify your installer is eligible for the Help Grant
- What the Help Grant does not cover Exclusions and limitations
- How to confirm you are eligible before applying for the Help Grant
- The single most important thing to know about the Help Grant amount
Administered by the UK government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Help Grant provides a fixed £7,500 per eligible household for the installation of an air source heat pump (GOV.UK, Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance, 2026). This amount is the same for all qualifying homeowners in England and Wales, regardless of income or property value. The grant is issued as a voucher to the installer after the system is commissioned and working, not as a cash payment to the homeowner. You never handle the £7,500 directly; instead, the installer deducts it from your final invoice.
Quick numbers Key figures for the Help Grant in 2026
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Help Grant amount (air source heat pump) | £7,500 | DESNZ, 2026 |
| Typical air source heat pump system cost (installed) | £12,000 – £15,000 | Energy Saving Trust, 2026 |
| Homeowner co-pay after grant | £4,500 – £7,500 | Calculated from EST and DESNZ figures |
| Potential annual savings on heating bills | £200 – £500 | Energy Saving Trust, 2026 |
| Average installation time | 2 – 4 days | TrustMark, 2026 |
The typical total cost of an installed air source heat pump ranges from £12,000 to £15,000. After the £7,500 grant is deducted by the installer, your remaining outlay is between £4,500 and £7,500. Annual savings on heating bills compared to a gas boiler vary between approximately £200 and £500, depending on your existing fuel type and the efficiency of your new system. How to estimate your heat pump running costs
How much is the Help Grant for homeowners in Scotland and Northern Ireland
The Help Grant, formally the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, applies only to England and Wales. Homeowners in Scotland and Northern Ireland have access to equivalent financial support, but the delivery mechanism differs.
In Scotland, you can apply for the Home Energy Scotland (HES) loan, which offers up to £7,500 for heat pumps. However, this is a loan, not a grant, meaning you must repay it over time, though it is interest-free (Home Energy Scotland, 2026). In Northern Ireland, the NI Energy Advice service provides a grant of up to £7,500 under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme NI, launched in 2025 (NI Direct, Boiler Upgrade Scheme NI, 2026). The £7,500 figure is consistent across all UK nations, but the Scottish version requires repayment, while the English, Welsh, and Northern Irish versions are non-repayable grants.
Who qualifies for the Help Grant Eligibility criteria explained
To qualify for the £7,500 grant, you must meet several conditions set by DESNZ. You must own and live in the property, which must have an existing heating system (gas, oil, electric, or LPG boiler) that you are replacing with a heat pump.
The property must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, as of April 2026 (GOV.UK, Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, 2026). This rule prevents the grant being used to install a heat pump in a poorly insulated home where it would operate inefficiently. The installer must be MCS-certified (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) and registered with TrustMark. Finally, you cannot have previously received a grant under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for the same property.
How to verify your installer is eligible for the Help Grant
Only installations carried out by MCS-certified installers qualify for the grant. You must verify this before signing any contract.
The installer must hold current MCS certification for the specific heat pump technology being installed (air source, ground source, or water source). They must also be registered with TrustMark, the government-endorsed quality scheme for home improvements. You can check an installer’s MCS certification on the public MCS register at mcscertified.com (MCS register, 2026). Also, the installer must be a member of a consumer protection scheme, such as the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) (RECC, 2026). If an installer cannot provide proof of these credentials, they are not eligible to process the Help Grant on your behalf.
What the Help Grant does not cover Exclusions and limitations
The £7,500 grant covers only the installation of the heat pump unit itself. It does not cover several associated costs that may be necessary for the system to work efficiently.
The grant does not cover the cost of upgrading your home’s radiators, installing underfloor heating, or replacing your hot water cylinder, even if the installer advises these upgrades are required. It also does not cover the cost of a new electricity meter or a fuse box upgrade. Importantly, the grant cannot be combined with other government energy grants for the same project, such as the Great British Insulation Scheme (DESNZ, Boiler Upgrade Scheme: technical guidance, 2026). As of 2026, the grant for ground source heat pumps is also £7,500, the same as for air source. What to do if your heat pump needs radiator upgrades
How to confirm you are eligible before applying for the Help Grant
Before you apply, you can take several independent steps to confirm your eligibility and avoid disappointment.
First, check your EPC on the GOV.UK EPC register. If it lists any outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, you must complete those improvements before the grant can proceed. Second, obtain quotes from at least two MCS-certified installers. These installers will handle the grant application on your behalf, so you do not need to apply directly to DESNZ. The installer will also check your property’s suitability, including outdoor space for the heat pump unit and the condition of existing pipework. Finally, be aware that the grant is first-come, first-served; DESNZ caps the total annual budget, so applying early in the financial year, from April 2026 onward, gives you the best chance of securing the funding (DESNZ, 2026).
The single most important thing to know about the Help Grant amount
The Help Grant is a fixed £7,500, not a percentage of your costs, and it is deducted from the installer’s invoice. This means you only pay the difference between the total system cost and the grant amount, not the full price upfront followed by a reimbursement (DESNZ, Boiler Upgrade Scheme: how it works, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
The Help Grant is £7,500 for an air source heat pump in England and Wales. This fixed amount is set by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) as of 2026.
No, the £7,500 grant is paid directly to your installer as a voucher after the system is commissioned. You never handle the cash; the installer deducts it from your final invoice.
After the £7,500 grant, your out-of-pocket cost is typically £4,500 to £7,500. This is based on an installed system cost of £12,000 to £15,000, as reported by the Energy Saving Trust.
Homeowners in England and Wales with a valid installation by an MCS-certified installer qualify. The grant is not means-tested and applies to air source heat pumps under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
No, the Help Grant is only for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate schemes, such as Home Energy Scotland and the Northern Ireland Boiler Replacement Scheme.
