Boiler Upgrade Scheme: the heat pump grant in England and Wales
Published · 3 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives a grant towards replacing a fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump or biomass boiler in England and Wales. This guide explains the amounts, who can apply and how the money reaches you.
What the scheme is
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a government grant that pays part of the cost of replacing a fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump or, in some cases, a biomass boiler. It can be used for a home or for a building used for a business. The scheme is run by Ofgem on behalf of the government.
It is open to people in England and Wales. Scotland has a separate option, with interest-free loans or grants through Home Energy Scotland. The Northern Ireland Boiler Replacement Scheme is closed.
How much is the grant
There is one grant per property. As of 14 October 2026, the amounts on GOV.UK are:
- Air source heat pump (air-to-water): £7,500
- Ground source heat pump, including water source pumps and shared ground loops: £7,500
- Biomass boiler: £5,000
- Air-to-air heat pump: £2,500
There is also a temporary extra £1,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump. To qualify, the property must be heated by oil or LPG and have no mains gas connection. Ofgem says this £9,000 level is available until 31 March 2027.
Who can apply
You must own the property. That includes a business, a second home or a property you rent out to tenants, so landlords can apply. You must be replacing a fossil fuel system, which GOV.UK lists as oil, gas, electric or LPG. Having had funding for energy efficiency, such as insulation, does not stop you applying.
Biomass boilers have extra rules. The property must be off the gas grid and in a rural location, the boiler must have an emissions certificate, and biomass boilers cannot be installed in self-build properties.
Who it does not apply to
- Most new build properties, and homes the developer is still building
- Social housing
- Properties that have already received government funding or support for a heat pump or biomass boiler
- People in Scotland and Northern Ireland, who have different schemes or none
A finished new build with a fossil fuel boiler may still qualify for a heat pump grant. Self-builds can be eligible if you, or the original owner, built the property or paid a builder to, and it has never been owned by a business or organisation.
How the money is paid
You do not apply yourself and you do not get a separate payment. The installer applies on your behalf on the Ofgem website. The grant is taken off what you pay the installer, and the reduction should show on your quotation and invoice.
The installer must be MCS certified. The usual steps are getting quotes from MCS-certified installers, agreeing one quote, and replying if Ofgem contacts you to confirm the installer is acting for you. Ofgem or MCS may also phone you or visit to check the installation.
Timing
The heat pump must be installed and commissioned within 120 days of applying for the grant, or it will not be eligible. Ofgem gives 31 March 2027 only for the higher off-gas-grid grant; no overall end date for the scheme was shown on the pages checked.
The grant covers only part of the cost, so the amount you pay depends on the quote you agree.
Check before you act
Rules, amounts and dates can change. It can be worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below, and checking the final quote carefully, before agreeing to any work.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
