The standard Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for an air source heat pump is £7,500. A temporary uplift takes it to £9,000 for some off-gas-grid properties heated by oil or LPG. Here is how the two rates work, who may qualify, and what happens next.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2026 has changed, but the £9,000 figure does not replace the standard grant. From 21 July 2026, an eligible property in England or Wales can receive £9,000 towards an air source heat pump only when it is heated by oil or LPG and has no mains gas connection.
For other eligible property owners, including many people connected to mains gas, the standard £7,500 grant is still available. So if the £9,000 headlines do not describe your property, do not assume the scheme has nothing to offer.
The grant does not necessarily cover the full cost of an installation. It is provided as an upfront deduction from the installer’s quote and invoice, with the property owner paying any remaining balance. The final cost and whether a heat pump is suitable can only be established through a property-specific survey and system design.
If you would rather go straight to the practical next step, check which Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant your property could qualify for.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2026: what changed?
Under the current Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant amounts, support for an air-to-water air source heat pump is split into two levels:
| Standard support | Enhanced support |
|---|---|
| £7,500 | £9,000 |
| For eligible air-to-water source heat pump installation in England and Wales | For eligible properties heated by oil or LPG and without a mains gas connection. Available until 31 March 2027 under current rules |
The £9,000 rate is the standard grant plus a temporary additional £1,500. It is not a separate scheme or a different type of heat pump. In official guidance, the eligible system is described as an air-to-water heat pump. This is the type of air source heat pump that provides space heating and hot water through a wet central-heating system.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme also supports some other low-carbon heating technologies. This guide focuses on air source heat pumps because that is the route Zing Energy is supporting through this campaign.
Who could receive the £9,000 heat pump grant?
To receive the temporary £9,000 rate for an air source heat pump, both of the following must apply:
- The property is currently heated by oil or LPG.
- There is no mains gas connection at the property
That combination matters. Using oil or LPG does not qualify a property for the uplift if it has a mains gas connection. Equally, an off-gas-grid property using another heating system does not automatically receive £9,000. It may still qualify for the standard £7,500 grant, subject to the wider scheme rules.
Under the current rules, the enhanced rate is available until 31 March 2027. A heat-pump project still needs time for the initial check, survey, design, quotation, application and installation, so it is sensible to investigate suitability well before the deadline rather than treating it as a last-minute purchase.
Meeting those two headline conditions does not guarantee funding. The property, system and installation must satisfy the full scheme requirements, and Ofgem makes the final decision on eligibility.
Connected to mains gas? The £7,500 grant may still apply
The temporary uplift has attracted attention because £9,000 is the largest of the two figures. However, the £7,500 grant remains the main Boiler Upgrade Scheme route for many property owners.
An eligible property replacing a gas heating system with an air source heat pump may still receive £7,500. The same standard amount may apply to some properties replacing other eligible fossil-fuel or electric heating systems. The existing system, the proposed heat pump and the property all need to be assessed together.
Do not rule yourself out: The £9,000 criteria decide whether the enhanced rate applies. They do not define the whole Boiler Upgrade Scheme. If your property does not qualify for £9,000, it may still qualify for £7,500.
Who may qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
At a high level, the main eligibility indicators for an air source heat pump grant include:
- You own the property in England or Wales. This can include a home, a property rented to tenants, a second home or an eligible business property.
- You are replacing an existing fossil-fuel or electric heating system rather than an existing low-carbon heating system.
- The proposed air-to-water heat pump will be designed to meet the property’s full space-heating and hot-water requirements. Hybrid systems that retain a fossil-fuel boiler as part of the heating system are not eligible.
- The system will be installed and commissioned by an MCS-certified installer and meet the scheme’s technical standards.
Most new-build properties, social housing and properties that have already received government funding for the heat pump or biomass boiler are excluded. There are exceptions for some self-build properties, so detailed circumstances should be checked rather than assumed.
A valid Energy Performance Certificate is no longer required to apply for BUS. If the property already has a valid EPC, the installer must provide its reference. Ofgem’s current guidance still recommends considering sensible energy-efficiency improvements because heat pumps perform best in well-insulated properties. A survey and heat-loss assessment should identify what is genuinely useful for your property.
Does the grant cover the full installation cost?
Not necessarily. The grant is a contribution towards the cost of the eligible system and installation. The remaining amount depends on the property and the work required.
System size, heat loss, radiator or emitter changes, hot-water storage, electrical work, controls and the outdoor unit location can all affect the design and price. A proper quotation should show the applicable BUS grant as an upfront deduction and make the remaining customer contribution clear.
That is why Zing Energy does not describe BUS as a “free heat pump” scheme. The useful question is not simply whether a grant exists, but whether the right system can be properly designed for the property and whether the full proposal makes sense.
How does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme application work?
BUS is installer-led. Ofgem’s guidance for property owners explains that the MCS-certified installer applies on the property owner’s behalf and manages most contact with the scheme.
- Start with an initial property check and speak to suitable MCS-certified installers.
- Have the property surveyed so heat loss, system design, suitability and likely costs can be assessed.
- Review the quotation, including the grant deduction, and choose an installer.
- The installer submits the application to Ofgem on your behalf.
- Ofgem contacts you to confirm your consent and that you meet the relevant eligibility criteria.
- Once the system has been installed and commissioned in line with the scheme rules, the installer claims the grant. The value is shown as a deduction on your quotation and invoice.
Ofgem may request evidence or carry out checks during or after the process. An initial property check can identify the strongest indicators, but it cannot guarantee that a voucher will be approved.
Why the survey matters as much as the grant
An air source heat pump is not a like-for-like boiler swap. It needs to be designed around the property rather than selected from a generic package.
A survey-led assessment should consider heat loss, insulation, radiator or underfloor-heating output, hot-water demand, electrical capacity, controls, outdoor-unit positioning and any practical constraints. That work determines the appropriate system, the likely performance and the true remaining cost after the grant.
Zing Energy’s role is to take the project from that initial assessment through design, managed installation, documentation and handover. Zing Energy is MCS certified and a member of RECC, supporting both technical standards and consumer protection.
What should you do next?
If you are interested in an air source heat pump but are unsure whether the £7,500 or £9,000 grant might apply, start with a no-obligation property check.
Zing Energy serves property owners across Wales and parts of western England. We will review the main details, including ownership, the existing heating system, mains-gas connection, property type and location. Where the opportunity looks suitable, we can arrange a free survey and quotation, explain the likely BUS route and manage the application as part of the project.
Check which Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant your property could qualify for
Scheme information checked 28 July 2026. Grant values, eligibility rules and dates can change. Ofgem makes the final decision on eligibility.
