F Find Heat Pump

The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a government grant administered by Ofgem that pays £7,500 toward an air source or ground source heat pump installation in England and Wales. Out of 2,215 MCS-certified heat pump installers in the UK, 1,645 are registered to claim BUS on a customer's behalf.

The grant goes to the installer, not to you. You sign a contract for the gross price; the installer deducts £7,500 from the invoice and reclaims it from Ofgem. If an installer asks you to pay the full amount up front and "claim the grant yourself", they are not registered for BUS.

Who can apply

BUS is open to homeowners and small landlords in England and Wales. To qualify:

  • The property must be owned (not social housing) and have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) less than 10 years old.
  • The EPC must not have outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation. If it does, you need to install the insulation first or apply for an EPC exemption.
  • The property must be the one being upgraded (you can't claim for a property you're about to sell where the buyer will take possession before the installation).
  • New-builds and self-builds are excluded unless they are custom-builds where the homeowner is the end user.

How much you actually get

Air source heat pump (ASHP)
£7,500
Ground or water source heat pump (GSHP / WSHP)
£7,500
Biomass boiler
£5,000 (rural / off-grid properties only)

These figures applied from October 2023 when the original £5,000 / £6,000 rates were uplifted. Source: Ofgem BUS scheme rules.

The application process, step by step

  1. Find a BUS-registered installer. Not every MCS-certified installer is BUS-registered. Filter for "BUS approved" on our regional pages or ask directly.
  2. Get a quote. The quote should clearly show the gross price, the £7,500 BUS deduction, and the net price you actually pay.
  3. The installer applies to Ofgem. They submit your details, the EPC, and an installation address. Ofgem issues a grant voucher to the installer.
  4. You sign the contract. Only at this point. Don't pay deposits before the voucher is issued.
  5. Installation happens. The installer commissions the heat pump and issues an MCS certificate.
  6. The installer redeems the voucher. They submit the MCS certificate to Ofgem and receive the £7,500 within ~30 days.

Watch out for: installers who quote a "fully inclusive" price that doesn't break down the grant. Ask for a clear gross-minus-grant structure in writing. If the deal looks too good to be true, ask whether they're charging extra elsewhere — radiator upgrades, hot water cylinder, electrical works.

What if I'm in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

Wales is covered by BUS, same as England.

Scotland has its own scheme run by Home Energy Scotland. The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan can provide up to £7,500 as a grant plus an interest-free loan up to £7,500 (rural uplift adds another £1,500 in eligible postcodes). Different application route, but installers still need MCS certification.

Northern Ireland has no direct heat pump grant equivalent in 2026. ECO4 and the Affordable Warmth Scheme can sometimes contribute for eligible low-income households.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get BUS for a hybrid heat pump?

No. BUS covers full electric heat pumps only. Hybrid systems (heat pump plus retained gas boiler) are not eligible.

Can I get BUS if I have a wood-burning stove?

Yes — secondary heat sources don't affect BUS eligibility, as long as the heat pump is sized to meet the property's full heat demand on the design day.

Do I need to remove my old boiler?

Generally yes for ASHP / GSHP claims. The scheme is replacing fossil fuel heating, so the installer needs to confirm the new heat pump becomes the primary heating system.

How long does BUS last?

BUS was originally a three-year scheme running until 2025; in 2023 it was extended to 2028 with the increased £7,500 grant. Government policy can change; check Ofgem's BUS page before relying on dates.

Find a BUS-approved installer near you

Browse our regional pages to filter installers approved for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme:

→ Browse all UK regions

Sources