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Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility and net cost checker
Answer a few questions to see whether you are likely to qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) in England or Wales, how much grant applies and your likely cost afterwards.
Defaults from our data file, last updated 2026-10-20.
Estimates only, not financial advice. Results use average UK figures and the assumptions shown. Your real costs depend on your home, tariff, region and installer quotes. Always get several quotes from certified installers and check current tariff rates before deciding.
What the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a government grant in England and Wales, run by Ofgem, that takes money off the cost of replacing fossil-fuel heating with a low-carbon system. According to GOV.UK (checked 20 October 2026), you can get one grant per property:
- £7,500 towards an air source (air-to-water) heat pump
- £7,500 towards a ground source heat pump, including water source and shared ground loops
- £5,000 towards a biomass boiler
- £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump
Until March 2027 there is an extra £1,500 towards an air or ground source heat pump if your property is heated by oil or LPG and has no mains gas connection. Hybrid systems (a heat pump working with a gas boiler) are not eligible. Systems must meet minimum efficiency standards, and the maximum capacity is 45 kWth for individual systems.
Who is eligible
GOV.UK says you must own the property, which includes a business property, a second home or a property you rent to tenants, and you must be replacing a fossil-fuel heating system such as oil, gas, electric or LPG. Having had insulation funding before doesn't stop you. Your installer must commission and install the heat pump within 120 days of applying.
You cannot get a grant for most new builds, social housing, a property that has already had government funding for a heat pump or biomass boiler, or to replace an existing low-carbon system. A finished new build that you moved into with a fossil-fuel boiler may qualify. Self builds can qualify if they have never been owned by a business. Biomass boilers have extra rules: the property must be off the gas grid and rural, and the boiler needs an emissions certificate.
How to apply
You don't apply yourself. You choose an MCS-certified installer, who checks your property, gives you a quote and applies for the grant on your behalf. Ofgem then contacts you to confirm you agreed to the application. The grant is paid to the installer and taken off your bill, so you only pay the difference. Get more than one quote, because prices vary widely and some installers absorb the grant into higher prices.
How to read your result
The checker applies the published GOV.UK rules to your answers. A "yes" means you appear to meet the basic criteria. It doesn't guarantee a grant, because your installer and Ofgem make the final decision and also check things like the efficiency of the system. Your "cost after grant" is simply your quote minus the grant (never below zero). For example, a £12,500 air source heat pump install in a gas-heated home becomes £5,000. For an oil-heated home with no mains gas it becomes £3,500 with the £1,500 extra.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
The BUS doesn't apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland runs a separate grant and loan scheme for heat pumps. In Northern Ireland, support is available through other schemes. Check the official websites for current amounts.
Rules change, so check before you commit
Grant amounts and conditions have changed several times since the scheme began in 2022. We check GOV.UK each quarter and show the "last updated" date on this page, but always confirm with your installer before signing a contract.
FAQs
How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?
£7,500 for air or ground source heat pumps, £5,000 for biomass boilers and £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps, plus an extra £1,500 until March 2027 for air or ground source heat pumps in oil- or LPG-heated homes without mains gas (GOV.UK, October 2026).
Can landlords get the grant?
Yes. GOV.UK lists properties you rent out to tenants as eligible, as long as you own them. Social housing is excluded.
Do I need insulation first?
There is no general insulation requirement on GOV.UK's eligibility page, though your installer will assess your home's heat loss and may recommend improvements.
Is the grant available for hybrid heat pumps?
No. GOV.UK states hybrid systems combining a heat pump with a gas boiler are not eligible.
Who applies for the grant?
Your MCS-certified installer applies, and the grant is deducted from your bill.
Related calculators
Sources
- GOV.UK – Boiler Upgrade Scheme: what you can get
- GOV.UK – Boiler Upgrade Scheme: check if you're eligible
- Ofgem – Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- MCS – Find a certified installer
- Energy Saving Trust – Air source heat pumps
Estimates only, not financial advice. Results use average UK figures and the assumptions shown. Your real costs depend on your home, tariff, region and installer quotes. Always get several quotes from certified installers and check current tariff rates before deciding.