The MCS certificate is the single document you need to prove your renewable heating system is grant-eligible
If you have lost your MCS certificate, you are not alone. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificate is the official proof that your heat pump, solar thermal panel, or biomass boiler was installed by an MCS-certified installer to industry standards. Without this document, you cannot claim the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant of £7,500 for a heat pump or £5,000 for a biomass boiler from Ofgem (GOV.UK, 2026).
Yes, you can recover a lost MCS certificate. Search the public MCS Installer Database at mcs-certified.com or contact your installer for a free duplicate. If your installer has ceased trading, use the MCS 'Lost Certificate' function. The process is free and straightforward.
- Check the public MCS Installer Database at mcs-certified.com for your installation.
- Contact your original installer for a free reissue from their MCS portal.
- Use the MCS 'Lost Certificate' function if your installer has ceased trading.
- Provide your address, installer name, and installation date to speed recovery.
- Without the certificate, you cannot claim the £7,500 BUS heat pump grant.
- The MCS certificate is the single document you need to prove your renewable heating system is grant-eligible
- How to find your MCS certificate on the official MCS Installer Database
- The steps to request a duplicate MCS certificate from your installer
- What to do if the installer has gone out of business
- Quick numbers — cost, timing, and grant implications of a lost MCS certificate
- The exact answer to “MCS certificate lost” — what you need to do right now
- How to verify that a recovered MCS certificate is genuine and valid
The certificate is also required for certain reduced-rate VAT claims and for proving system eligibility under some local authority or ECO4 schemes. If you have lost the physical or digital copy, the certificate is not permanently lost. It is recorded on the MCS database and can be recovered.
How to find your MCS certificate on the official MCS Installer Database
The MCS maintains a public online database of all certified installations at mcs-certified.com. You need the installer’s MCS company name or the installation address to search. If your installer is still trading, they can reissue the certificate directly from their MCS portal for free. If the installer has ceased trading, you can request a certificate reprint via the MCS website using the “Lost Certificate” function.
To search the database, go to the MCS Installer Database search tool and enter your address or postcode. If your installation appears, the database will show the installer name, system type, and installation date. You can then contact the installer or MCS to obtain a copy of the certificate. The MCS “Lost Certificate” guidance page explains the process in full (MCS, 2026).
The steps to request a duplicate MCS certificate from your installer
Contact the company that installed your system. They hold the original certificate in their MCS account. Provide your full name, installation address, and the date of installation (approximately). The installer can log into their MCS portal, locate your installation, and download a PDF copy to email or post to you.
There is no charge from MCS for this reprint. Any fee would be the installer’s own admin cost. The MCS Code of Practice for installers requires them to keep records of all certified installations for at least 10 years (MCS, 2026). If the installer is still trading, they should be able to help within a few working days.
What to do if the installer has gone out of business
If the installer has ceased trading, you cannot get the certificate from them directly. Use the MCS public database to confirm the installation was originally registered. Search by address. If the installation is listed, contact MCS directly via their “Lost Certificate” form on the website. They can issue a PDF reprint for a small admin fee, typically £10 to £20 as of 2026 (MCS, 2026).
If the installation is not on the database, you may need to prove the installation date and equipment serial numbers to MCS for a manual search. This can happen with older systems installed before 2010. MCS customer service can advise on the evidence needed, such as an invoice or a commissioning report from the original installer. Allow 5 to 10 working days for this manual process.
Quick numbers — cost, timing, and grant implications of a lost MCS certificate
| Item | Value (as of 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BUS grant without certificate | £0 (ineligible) | GOV.UK, 2026 |
| MCS reprint fee (installer defunct) | £10–£20 | MCS, 2026 |
| Typical turnaround for reprint | 1–5 working days | MCS, 2026 |
| BUS grant with certificate (heat pump) | £7,500 | GOV.UK, 2026 |
| Typical admin time to recover | 30 minutes to 2 hours | MCS customer service, 2026 |
The exact answer to “MCS certificate lost” — what you need to do right now
First, check the MCS Installer Database to see if your installation is registered. Most systems installed after 2010 are listed. If registered, contact your installer for a free reprint. If they are gone, use the MCS lost-certificate form. Do not pay a third-party “certificate recovery” service. MCS handles this directly.
Without the certificate, you cannot claim the £7,500 BUS grant. Recovering it is urgent if you plan to sell your home or claim a grant. The MCS “Lost Certificate” page and Ofgem BUS eligibility criteria make this clear (GOV.UK, 2026). For most homeowners, the process takes less than a week and costs nothing if the installer is still trading.
How to verify that a recovered MCS certificate is genuine and valid
The MCS certificate must include the installer’s MCS registration number, the system type and model, the installation date, and the property address. Cross-check the installer’s MCS number on the MCS public register to confirm they were certified at the time of installation. For BUS claims, Ofgem will check the MCS database directly. You do not need to send the certificate yourself, but the installation must be listed.
If you are selling the home, estate agents or solicitors may ask for the certificate. A PDF from the MCS database or installer is sufficient. The MCS certificate validation page provides details on how to check a certificate’s authenticity (MCS, 2026). If you need further help, the Energy Saving Trust offers guidance on renewable heating grants and certificates (Energy Saving Trust, 2026).
How to claim the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant without an MCS certificate
Frequently Asked Questions
Search the MCS Installer Database at mcs-certified.com using your address or postcode. If found, contact your installer for a free duplicate or use the MCS 'Lost Certificate' function if the installer has stopped trading. The MCS guidance page explains the full process.
Yes, you can recover your certificate online via the MCS Installer Database. If your installation is listed, you can request a reprint through the MCS website or ask your installer to reissue it from their MCS portal. The MCS database is the official source.
If your installer is still trading, they can reissue the certificate immediately from their MCS portal. If using the MCS 'Lost Certificate' function, processing typically takes a few working days. The MCS website states no fixed timeline but advises contacting them directly for updates.
Yes, the MCS certificate is mandatory for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant of £7,500 for a heat pump or £5,000 for a biomass boiler. Ofgem requires this proof of certified installation. Without it, you cannot claim the grant.
Use the MCS 'Lost Certificate' function on the MCS website. You will need your installation address and approximate date. MCS can reissue the certificate from their database records. This process is covered in the MCS lost certificate guidance (MCS, 2026).
