The GB boiler grant covers up to £7,500 toward a heat pump, but only if you meet specific property and income rules.
If your gas or oil boiler is nearing the end of its life, you may be wondering whether government support can help with the cost of switching to a low-carbon heating system. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers a fixed grant of up to £7,500 toward an air-source or ground-source heat pump, but the money is only available if your property and installer meet strict eligibility criteria.
You do not apply for the £7,500 boiler upgrade grant yourself. Your MCS-certified installer claims the money through Ofgem after you accept their quote. Check your EPC first to ensure no insulation recommendations are outstanding.
- Check your EPC has no outstanding insulation recommendations before applying.
- The installer claims the £7,500 grant on your behalf via Ofgem.
- Only existing homes in England or Wales are eligible for the BUS.
- Air-source heat pump costs range from £7,000 to £13,000 installed.
- Complete any required loft or cavity wall insulation before contacting installers.
- The GB boiler grant covers up to £7,500 toward a heat pump, but only if you meet specific property and income rules.
- Check your property is eligible before you contact an installer
- You must use an MCS-certified installer, this is non-negotiable
- How the application process works, step by step from quote to payment
- Quick numbers, grant amounts, typical costs, and heat pump efficiency
- How to apply for a boiler grant, the only way to get the money is through your installer
- What to do if your application is rejected or you miss the deadline
An air-source heat pump typically costs between £7,000 and £13,000 installed, meaning the grant reduces the homeowner’s contribution to between £0 and £5,500 depending on the property type and installation complexity (Energy Saving Trust, 2026). The grant is a fixed amount, £7,500 for most homes under the 2026 rules, not a percentage of the total installation cost (DESNZ, Boiler Upgrade Scheme: guidance for homeowners, 2026). Critically, you do not apply for the grant yourself; the installer claims the money on your behalf through the Ofgem portal.
Check your property is eligible before you contact an installer
Before you arrange a quote, confirm that your property meets the BUS eligibility rules. The first requirement is that your home has a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity-wall insulation, this is a hard eligibility rule and the most common reason for rejection (GOV.UK, “Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme,” 2026). If your EPC recommends installing insulation, you must complete that work and obtain an updated EPC before applying.
The heat pump must be the primary heating system; the grant does not cover hybrid systems that pair a heat pump with a gas boiler. Only existing dwellings are eligible, new-build homes are excluded from the BUS. The property must be located in England or Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate schemes (Home Energy Scotland and the NI Boiler Replacement Scheme respectively) (Ofgem, BUS eligibility criteria, 2026).
You must use an MCS-certified installer, this is non-negotiable
Only installations carried out by a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)-certified contractor can receive the grant. Self-installation is ineligible, and using an uncertified installer will result in a rejected application. The installer handles the full application on your behalf via the Ofgem portal after the heat pump is installed and commissioned (MCS, “Find an installer,” 2026).
MCS certification covers both the installer company and the product. You can check the MCS Installer Database at mcscertified.com to confirm your chosen contractor holds valid certification. TrustMark registration is also required for the installer to be eligible under the BUS (TrustMark, “Boiler Upgrade Scheme installer requirements,” 2026). Always verify both certifications before accepting a quote.
How the application process works, step by step from quote to payment
The process is straightforward but follows a fixed sequence. Step one: obtain quotes from at least two MCS-certified installers. The grant amount is fixed at £7,500, but installer labour and materials vary, so comparing quotes can save you hundreds of pounds. Step two: the installer submits the application to Ofgem after installation is complete. This provides the MCS certificate, EPC, and property details (Ofgem, “Boiler Upgrade Scheme: how to apply,” 2026).
Step three: Ofgem validates the application within two to four weeks and pays the grant directly to the installer, who deducts it from your final invoice. You do not pay the full cost upfront, the installer invoices you for the balance after the grant is confirmed. The grant is not a loan and does not need to be repaid.
Quick numbers, grant amounts, typical costs, and heat pump efficiency
| Item | Amount or figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum grant (air-source heat pump) | £7,500 | DESNZ, 2026 |
| Maximum grant (ground-source heat pump) | £7,500 | DESNZ, 2026 |
| Typical installed cost (air-source) | £7,000–£13,000 | EST, “Heat pump cost guide,” 2026 |
| Typical annual running cost saving vs gas boiler | £200–£300 | EST, “Heat pump running costs,” 2026 |
| Minimum heat pump SCOP (seasonal coefficient of performance) | 2.8 | MCS 020 standard |
| Typical heat pump SCOP | 3.0–4.0 | EST field trial data |
The seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) measures how efficiently a heat pump converts electricity into heat over a year. A SCOP of 3.0 means the heat pump delivers three units of heat for every one unit of electricity consumed. Higher SCOP figures mean lower running costs.
How to apply for a boiler grant, the only way to get the money is through your installer
You cannot submit the application yourself; the installer must do it via the Ofgem BUS portal. The installer needs four pieces of information: your property address, the EPC certificate (lodged within the last 10 years), the MCS certificate for the heat pump, and a completed declaration form confirming the installation meets all scheme requirements (Ofgem, “Boiler Upgrade Scheme: applicant guidance,” 2026).
The grant is paid after the installation is complete and commissioned, not before. If you switch installer partway through the process, the new installer must start a fresh application; you cannot transfer a partial application. This is why it is important to finalise your installer choice before work begins.
how to compare heat pump quotes
What to do if your application is rejected or you miss the deadline
The most common rejection reasons are an EPC with outstanding insulation recommendations, the property being outside England or Wales, or the installer not holding valid MCS certification at the time of installation (Ofgem, “BUS appeal process,” 2026). If your application is rejected, you can appeal within 28 days by contacting Ofgem with supporting evidence, for example, an updated EPC showing completed insulation work or proof that the installer was MCS-certified.
The grant is available on a first-come, first-served basis until the annual budget is exhausted. To maximise your chances of success, apply early in the financial year (April to June) when the budget is fully allocated. If the budget runs out, you must wait for the next allocation, usually April the following year, as no waiting list is maintained (DESNZ, “Boiler Upgrade Scheme annual report,” 2026).
what to do if heat pump grant budget runs out
Frequently Asked Questions
You do not apply directly. An MCS-certified installer claims the £7,500 grant on your behalf through the Ofgem portal after you accept their quote for a heat pump. GOV.UK confirms this process.
You must own your home in England or Wales, have a valid EPC with no outstanding insulation recommendations, and replace an existing gas or oil boiler with a heat pump. The Energy Saving Trust states these rules.
The grant is £7,500 for most homes under the 2026 rules, as confirmed by DESNZ guidance. It is a fixed amount, not a percentage of installation costs.
No, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not cover hybrid systems that pair a heat pump with a gas boiler. The heat pump must be your primary heating system, per GOV.UK rules.
Yes, your EPC must be valid and show no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation. If it does, you must complete that work and obtain an updated EPC before applying, according to Ofgem.
