The Boiler Upgrade Scheme
A government grant in England and Wales towards replacing a fossil fuel boiler with a heat pump.
Who can get it
- Homeowners and small business owners in England and Wales.
- You own the property, and it currently has a fossil fuel system — gas, oil, LPG — or electric heating that is not a heat pump.
- Your installer must be MCS certified and belong to an approved consumer code such as RECC or HIES.
How you actually get the money
You do not. Your installer applies on your behalf and the grant is taken off your quote before you pay. There is no cheque, no waiting, and nothing to reclaim. If a quote does not show the grant deducted, ask why.
What changed in 2026
The requirement for a valid EPC with no outstanding insulation recommendations has been removed. Previously a note about loft or cavity wall insulation could block a grant entirely, which stopped a lot of otherwise sensible installations. That barrier is gone.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers England and Wales only. Scotland runs its own support through Home Energy Scotland, which offers grants and interest-free loans on different terms — often more generous. Northern Ireland has separate arrangements again.
Before you apply
The grant helps with the purchase. It does not change whether the thing is cheap to run — that depends on your radiators.
Check the running cost first