What it is
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a government grant, run by Ofgem, for replacing fossil-fuel heating with a low-carbon system in England and Wales. It currently gives £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump.
The grant is not paid to you. Your installer applies for it, and it comes straight off the quote.
Who can apply
- You own the property. Landlords and small businesses can apply as well as homeowners
- The property is in England or Wales
- It has a valid Energy Performance Certificate
- You are replacing fossil-fuel heating, such as a gas, oil or LPG boiler. GOV.UK lists what else counts
- The system is designed and installed by an MCS-certified installer
- New-build homes are generally not eligible, with an exception for self-builds
How it works in practice
- We survey the property, carry out a heat loss calculation and give you a quote with the grant shown
- Once you accept, we apply to Ofgem for a voucher. Ofgem may contact you to confirm you agreed to the application
- When the voucher is issued, we book the installation. Vouchers expire, so the work has to be done in time
- After installation and commissioning, we register the system with MCS and redeem the voucher
- The grant is deducted from what you pay us
In Scotland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not cover Scotland. Home Energy Scotland offers its own grants and loans for heat pumps and other energy improvements. Start with their advice service, and get your application approved before any work begins.
Check before you rely on it
Grant amounts, eligibility rules and end dates have changed since the scheme opened, and may change again. Before you make decisions based on the grant, check the current rules on GOV.UK or the Ofgem website.
We confirm eligibility for your property when we quote, and tell you if anything has changed. Be wary of anyone who wants a deposit to “secure” a grant before they have surveyed your home.