Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives you up to £7,500 towards swapping your fossil fuel boiler for a heat pump. It covers England and Wales, and it's one of the more generous government schemes we've seen for homeowners. Funding is confirmed through to at least December 2027, so the window is wide open.
Grant amounts
Overview
Ofgem runs the BUS on behalf of the government. The idea is simple: get more UK homes off gas and oil boilers and onto heat pumps. The budget for 2025/2026 is £295 million, and that number went up again in April 2026.
Here's where it gets interesting. The scheme doesn't end until 31 December 2027, and Ofgem has already confirmed operational extensions into 2028. That kind of long-term commitment is rare for government grant programmes, and it gives installers and homeowners genuine planning certainty.
Eligibility
The eligibility rules are simpler than most people expect. If you've got a gas boiler and own your home, you're probably eligible. Here's the full list:
- You own the property (self-builds count too)
- You're replacing a fossil fuel or electric heating system
- Your installer must be MCS-certified
- You need a valid EPC from the last 10 years (this rule is being relaxed from April 2026)
- New-build developer homes don't qualify
- Social housing isn't eligible
- No insulation requirements, those were scrapped in 2026
How to Apply
One thing to watch out for: you don't apply for this grant yourself. It's an installer-led voucher system, which means your installer does the paperwork. In practice, this means:
- 1Find an MCS-certified heat pump installer
- 2Get a quote, and the installer includes the BUS grant deduction
- 3Your installer submits a voucher application to Ofgem for you
- 4Once Ofgem approves it, the grant comes straight off your bill
- 5You only pay what's left after the grant
Key Dates
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in 2026?
You can get £7,500 knocked off the cost of an air source or ground source heat pump. Biomass boilers get a £5,000 grant, and the newer air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries get £2,500 each.
Who is eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
If you own your home and you're replacing a fossil fuel or electric heating system, you're probably eligible. You'll need an MCS-certified installer and a valid EPC from the last 10 years, though that EPC rule is being relaxed from April 2026. New-build developer homes and social housing don't qualify.
When does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme end?
It's funded through to 31 December 2027, and Ofgem has confirmed operational extensions into 2028. The budget for 2025/2026 sits at £295 million, with increases confirmed in April 2026. So there's no rush to panic, but don't sit on it forever either.
How do I apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
You don't apply yourself. Your MCS-certified installer handles the whole thing, submitting a voucher application to Ofgem on your behalf. The grant gets deducted from your quote upfront, so you only ever pay the remaining balance.
Do I need insulation to qualify for the BUS?
Not any more. Frankly, the removal of the insulation requirement in 2026 was overdue. Previously you had to hit minimum insulation standards before qualifying, which blocked a lot of people. That barrier is gone now.
Source
Everything on this page comes from GOV.UK and Ofgem. View on GOV.UK