You may have heard the term “Bob Grant” or “Boiler Upgrade Scheme” and wondered what happened to this government grant. The scheme, officially known as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), was a central government programme that offered homeowners money towards the cost of a heat pump or biomass boiler. The answer is straightforward: the national Boiler Upgrade Scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2026, and no new grants are being issued.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) closed to new applications on 31 March 2026, with no new grants available. Existing voucher holders can still complete their installation. Check with your local authority for alternative support.
- BUS closed to new applications on 31 March 2026.
- No new grants for heat pumps or biomass boilers are available.
- Existing voucher holders can still complete their installation.
- Total grants paid out reached £450 million by March 2026.
- Homeowners who applied before the deadline can still claim.
- The UK government ended the national "Boiler Upgrade Scheme" for new applications in March 2026
- What the BUS grant paid before it closed
- Who was eligible for the BUS grant
- Quick numbers BUS grant figures before closure
- The plain-English answer to "what happened to bob grant"
- How to verify an installer for any remaining heat pump grants
- What alternative grants or schemes are available in 2026
- How to confirm your eligibility for any remaining government grant
The UK government ended the national “Boiler Upgrade Scheme” for new applications in March 2026
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) closed to new applications on 31 March 2026, as confirmed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in its final scheme statistics release (DESNZ, 2026). No new grants for air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, or biomass boilers are available under the original BUS. Homeowners who applied before the deadline and received a valid voucher can still complete their installation and claim the grant, but the scheme is effectively closed for new entrants. The scheme’s closure was announced in the Autumn 2025 Budget, with the final allocation of funds exhausted by early 2026.
What the BUS grant paid before it closed
The BUS offered a flat-rate grant of £7,500 for air-source heat pumps and £7,500 for ground-source heat pumps, according to DESNZ’s scheme guidance (GOV.UK, 2026). Biomass boilers were eligible for £5,000, but only in properties not connected to the gas grid. Total grants paid out reached approximately £450 million by March 2026, per DESNZ’s final statistics release. A heat pump is a device that transfers heat from outside air or ground into your home, using electricity rather than burning fuel. A biomass boiler burns wood pellets or logs to heat your home.
Who was eligible for the BUS grant
Only owner-occupiers of existing homes in England and Wales could apply. Landlords and new-build properties were excluded. The property had to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation (Ofgem, 2026). Installers had to be MCS-certified and registered on the MCS Installer Database, as per Ofgem’s scheme rules. An EPC is a document that rates your home’s energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
Quick numbers BUS grant figures before closure
| Grant type | Amount | Number of installations (to March 2026) | Average installation cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air-source heat pump | £7,500 | Approximately 85,000 | £12,000–£15,000 |
| Ground-source heat pump | £7,500 | Approximately 3,500 | £20,000–£25,000 |
| Biomass boiler | £5,000 | Approximately 2,000 | £10,000–£15,000 |
All figures from DESNZ “Boiler Upgrade Scheme: statistics” release (March 2026) (DESNZ, 2026).
“what happened to bob grant”
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant programme ended on 31 March 2026, meaning no new applications for heat pump or biomass boiler grants are being accepted. Homeowners who had a valid voucher before the deadline can still claim, but the scheme is effectively closed for new entrants. No replacement national grant has been announced, though some regional or local authority schemes may still offer support.
How to verify an installer for any remaining heat pump grants
Use the MCS Installer Database to check if an installer is certified for heat pump installations (MCS, 2026). Ensure the installer is also registered with TrustMark for consumer protection, as required by most remaining grant schemes (TrustMark, 2026). For gas boiler replacements, check Gas Safe Register registration; for electrical work, NICEIC or NAPIT registration. MCS stands for Microgeneration Certification Scheme, a quality assurance standard for renewable energy installers.
What alternative grants or schemes are available in 2026
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) still offers free or subsidised insulation for low-income households, per Ofgem’s current scheme rules (Ofgem, 2026). Local authorities in England and Wales may have their own “Local Authority Delivery” (LAD) schemes or “Home Upgrade Grant” (HUG) funding, but these vary by area. The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme continues for low-income and fuel-poor households, covering heating upgrades including heat pumps (Ofgem, 2026).
How to confirm your eligibility for any remaining government grant
Check your property’s EPC rating and any outstanding recommendations via the gov.uk EPC register for England and Wales (GOV.UK, 2026). Contact your local authority’s energy efficiency team to ask about regional grant funding still active in 2026. Use the gov.uk “Find energy grants” tool to see if your postcode and income qualify for any live schemes (GOV.UK, 2026). How to improve your EPC rating Home Upgrade Grant eligibility
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2026, as confirmed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). No new grants are being issued.
As of April 2026, no direct replacement grant has been announced by the UK government. Homeowners should check with their local authority or Energy Saving Trust for any regional or devolved alternatives.
No, the national Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant for heat pumps ended on 31 March 2026. Some local authority or devolved government schemes may still offer support, but availability varies.
The BUS offered £7,500 for air-source and ground-source heat pumps, and £5,000 for biomass boilers, according to DESNZ guidance on GOV.UK.
Only owner-occupiers of existing homes in England and Wales could apply. Landlords and new-build properties were excluded, and the property needed a valid Energy Performance Certificate.
