Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Up to £9,000 off your heat pump
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is the government's heat pump grant for homeowners in England and Wales. It pays £9,000 when you replace oil or LPG heating (until 31 March 2027), and £7,500 for other eligible homes. Taken straight off your quote; we handle the Ofgem application.
How does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme change the numbers?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is the government's heat pump grant. It pays up to £9,000 toward swapping a fossil fuel boiler for an air source heat pump. Run by Ofgem and taken straight off your quote before you pay.
Off-gas-grid homes replacing oil or LPG heating get the full £9,000 until 31 March 2027 (GOV.UK: £9,000 heat pump grant announcement). Homes replacing mains gas or electric heating get £7,500, and the survey confirms which rate applies to you.
A ~£12,900 system drops to ~£5,400 after the standard grant, lower still on the £9,000 rate. 0% VAT stacks on top, finance covers what's left, and heat pumps cost less to run than gas. See our heat pump installations for the systems BUS covers.
Live in a residential park home? The EPC rule that used to block park homes was removed in April 2026; see our park home grants page.
What does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cover?
One quote, no extras. The grant covers the heat pump, the install, and the BUS application paperwork.
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The heat pump itself
An A+++ rated heat pump from Samsung, Vaillant, Ideal, or Trianco. Sized to your property and how you live in it.
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MCS-certified installation
Fitted in-house by our certified engineers. Includes commissioning, MCS certificate, warranty registration, and a full handover pack.
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The Ofgem BUS application
We submit your application, chase Ofgem on your behalf, and deduct the grant straight off your quote. You don't touch a form.
Who qualifies for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Four checks for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. If your home and heating system tick all of them, you're in.
Property in England or Wales
BUS covers homes in England and Wales. In Scotland, look at Home Energy Scotland for the equivalent support.
Replacing a fossil fuel system
You must be replacing a gas, oil, LPG, or electric heating system. The property and installer still have to meet the published BUS rules on gov.uk. New builds don't qualify.
Valid EPC
You need a valid Energy Performance Certificate. There's no minimum rating, and since May 2024, no insulation requirement either.
MCS certified installer
An MCS certified installer must do the work. From 28 April 2026, only MCS installers can submit BUS applications to Ofgem.
How do you apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
We handle the Ofgem Boiler Upgrade Scheme application. You sign one form, we do the rest.
- 01
Get a quote from us
We're MCS certified, so we can apply for BUS on your behalf. The grant comes off the quote up front. You see the real number, not a "before grant" figure.
- 02
We survey and design
An engineer comes out to spec the system, find the best spot for the outdoor unit, and flag anything that needs prep work. We submit the BUS application around the same time.
- 03
Installation day
We fit and commission the system, then close out the BUS paperwork with Ofgem. You pay the balance, with the grant already off.
What do people get wrong about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Four common BUS misconceptions, cleared up against the published rules.
- Scheme name
Is BUS a free boiler scheme?
No. Despite the name, BUS pays for a heat pump, not a gas boiler. The “boiler upgrade” means swapping a fossil-fuel boiler for a low-carbon heat pump. Free boiler schemes for low-income households are separate, means-tested programmes.
- Insulation rule
Do I need to insulate my home before I qualify?
No, not since May 2024. The government scrapped the loft and cavity-wall insulation requirement. You still need a valid Energy Performance Certificate, but there’s no minimum EPC rating and no insulation rule to clear.
- Who applies
Do I apply for the BUS grant myself?
No. Your MCS-certified installer files the application with Ofgem and deducts the grant from your quote before you pay. From 28 April 2026, only MCS-certified installers can submit BUS applications (Ofgem: Boiler Upgrade Scheme rules).
- Where it applies
Is BUS available across the UK?
No. BUS covers England and Wales only. In Scotland, the equivalent route is Home Energy Scotland: heat pump grant + interest-free loan, which pairs a grant with an interest-free loan. Northern Ireland has no direct equivalent in 2026.
What do homeowners ask about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Straight answers on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and what to expect.
How much is the BUS grant for a heat pump?
Up to £9,000 toward an eligible air source heat pump in England and Wales when you meet the Boiler Upgrade Scheme rules: £9,000 until 31 March 2027 for off-gas-grid homes replacing oil or LPG heating (until 31 March 2027), £7,500 for other eligible homes. The amount is set by government and applied for by your MCS-certified installer; it comes off your installation quote before you pay, so there is nothing to claim back yourself. The scheme also covers some other low-carbon technologies at different rates, but at UKEM we focus on air source heat pumps.
How much does a heat pump cost after the grant?
After the £7,500 BUS grant, a fully fitted air source heat pump typically lands around £5,400 to £10,800 out of pocket, depending on the property; oil and LPG homes on the £9,000 rate until 31 March 2027 pay £1,500 less again. What pushes the number up or down: the size of your home, the model you pick, and prep work like radiator upgrades. Your quote shows the exact figure with the grant already off.
Can I combine BUS with finance?
Yes. BUS and finance stack cleanly. The grant, £7,500 or £9,000 for oil and LPG homes until 31 March 2027, comes off your quote first, then fixed-rate finance covers the balance. On a £12,900 installation the standard grant leaves roughly £5,400 to spread over monthly payments. Your written quote shows both figures before you commit.
Will a heat pump work in my home?
Most UK homes work for an air source heat pump. You need a garden, yard, or external wall for the outdoor unit. Modern systems run down to -20°C without losing efficiency. During the survey, our engineer confirms the right size and the best spot, based on your heating and hot water demand.
How long does installation take?
For a BUS heat pump, allow around two weeks from quote to install across mainland England and Wales. The on-site fitting usually takes 2 to 4 days, depending on system size and any radiator or pipework upgrades. We confirm the timeline when we survey.
When does the BUS scheme end?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme runs until 2030, with an annual budget cap each year. The higher £9,000 rate for oil and LPG homes is time-limited: it has been live since 21 July 2026 and ends 31 March 2027, so off-gas-grid households have a firm deadline to work to. Earlier applications are also safer because funding can pause once the year allocation is spent. The rules were last overhauled in April 2026; our update covers what changed.
Read the full grants FAQ for BUS, Park Home Grants, OZEV, and ECO4 in one place.
