The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme, explained
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is the most generous home-heating grant currently available in England and Wales. Here's how it actually works.
If you've looked into heat pumps, you'll have seen the figure: £7,500. That's what the government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) puts towards an air source heat pump. Here's the plain-English version.
What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
BUS is a government grant in England and Wales that pays £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump, designed to help homeowners move away from fossil-fuel heating.
There's also a temporary higher grant of £9,000 for off-gas-grid homes heated by oil or LPG, available from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027 (air source and ground source only — biomass and air-to-air don't qualify for the uplift). Mains-gas homes continue to receive the standard £7,500.
Who qualifies?
- It's not means-tested — your income doesn't matter.
- You're replacing fossil-fuel heating — gas, oil or LPG.
- You own the property — homeowners and many landlords qualify.
How do you claim the £7,500?
The key part: your installer claims it, not you. An MCS certified installer applies on your behalf and deducts the £7,500 from your quote — no waiting for a rebate.
Why the MCS rule matters
Only an MCS certified installer can claim the BUS grant. It's the single most important thing to check before signing with anyone. We're completing our MCS certification now so we can offer heat pumps and claim the grant for our customers.
Should you insulate first?
Yes — a heat pump works most efficiently in a home that holds onto heat. Sorting loft insulation first means a smaller, cheaper, better-performing system.