Am I eligible for a heat pump grant? If you own your home in England or Wales and are replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating, you're probably eligible for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with no income test. Lower-income households may qualify for grants that cover the whole cost.
Key takeaways
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 off a heat pump in England and Wales, with no income test (Ofgem).
- Off-gas homes replacing oil or LPG get £9,000 on applications made by 31 March 2027.
- Social housing, developer new builds, homes that already have a heat pump and homes that had public funding for low-carbon heating are usually excluded.
- In England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant can pay for the whole heat pump if income is under £36,000 (or you get a means-tested benefit) and the EPC is D–G (GMCA).
- Scotland has its own grant: up to £7,500 plus an optional £7,500 interest-free loan (Home Energy Scotland).
- Ofgem can't pre-approve you: your MCS-certified installer checks eligibility and applies.
Am I eligible for a heat pump grant? Check in six questions
Answer a few questions about your home to see which heat pump grants you're likely to qualify for. It takes under a minute and doesn't collect any personal details.
Question 1 of 7
Where is the property?
What makes you eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
You're eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme if you own an existing home or small building in England or Wales and replace fossil-fuel or electric heating with a heat pump fitted by an MCS-certified installer. These are Ofgem's main conditions (Ofgem BUS guidance v5.1):
- You own the property (owner-occupier, private landlord, business or charity)
- It's in England or Wales and isn't a developer new build (some self-builds qualify)
- You're replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating, not an existing heat pump
- The fossil-fuel boiler is fully removed
- No public funding has already paid for low-carbon heating at the address
- You'll own the heat pump outright (third-party-owned finance isn't allowed)
- An MCS-certified installer applies, and you confirm consent with Ofgem within 14 days
The full process is in our Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2026 guide. If your home is old or solid-walled, see BUS eligibility for older properties.
Who isn't eligible for a heat pump grant?
You usually can't get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in these situations. Some have other routes.
| Situation | BUS eligible? | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant | No — the owner must apply | Ask your landlord; low-income grants can cover rented homes |
| Social housing or shared ownership | No | Your housing provider's Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund programme |
| Developer new build | No | Self-builds can get £7,500 |
| Already has a heat pump | No | — |
| Public money already paid for low-carbon heating | Usually not | Ask your installer to check |
| Northern Ireland | No — England and Wales only | Warm Homes Loan Scheme is UK-wide |
| Scotland | No | Home Energy Scotland grant and loan |
Looks like you're eligible?
We'll confirm it at a free survey, deduct the grant from your quote and apply to Ofgem for you.
Who is eligible for low-income heat pump grants?
In England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant can pay for a heat pump in full for lower-income households in homes rated EPC D to G. In Greater Manchester, for example, you qualify if household income is under £36,000, someone receives a means-tested benefit, or you live in one of the most deprived postcodes (GMCA). Councils run it, so the exact routes vary.
From 2027/28 these grants become a single low-income scheme under the Warm Homes Plan. You can't use a low-income grant and the BUS on the same heat pump. See Warm Homes Plan eligibility and, if you live in Greater Manchester, heat pump and boiler grants in Greater Manchester.
Is heat pump grant eligibility different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers England and Wales only; Scotland has its own grant and loan, and Northern Ireland isn't covered by the BUS.
| Nation | Main heat pump grant | Loan |
|---|---|---|
| England | BUS £7,500 (£9,000 off-gas oil/LPG); Warm Homes: Local Grant for low incomes | Warm Homes Loan Scheme |
| Wales | BUS £7,500 (£9,000 off-gas oil/LPG); Welsh Government low-income support | Warm Homes Loan Scheme |
| Scotland | Home Energy Scotland: up to £7,500 (+£1,500 rural) | Optional £7,500 interest-free loan |
| Northern Ireland | Not covered by the BUS | Warm Homes Loan Scheme (UK-wide) |
Sources: GOV.UK, Home Energy Scotland, Warm Homes Loan Scheme rules. If you heat with oil, read our oil boiler grant guide.
Do you need an EPC or insulation to be eligible?
You don't need insulation and you don't always need an EPC for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Since 28 April 2026, a valid EPC is used if you have one; if not, your installer can send a recent utility bill, fuel receipt or photos of your heating instead (Ofgem).
EPC still matters for low-income grants
Air-to-air rules are in our air-to-air heat pump grant guide, and if you're weighing up a new boiler, see what boiler grants are still available.
Heat pump grant eligibility FAQs
Am I eligible for a heat pump grant?
Probably, if you own your home in England or Wales and are replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating. The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme has no income test. You're usually not eligible if it's social housing, a developer new build, already has a heat pump, or public money has already paid for low-carbon heating there.
Is there an income limit for the heat pump grant?
No, not for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Income only matters for low-income grants such as the Warm Homes: Local Grant in England, where household income usually has to be under £36,000 (or someone receives a means-tested benefit) and the EPC must be D to G.
Do I need an EPC to get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Not always. Since 28 April 2026, if your home has a valid EPC the installer uses its reference number. If not, they can provide other evidence such as a utility bill dated within 3 months or photos of your current heating.
Do I need to insulate my home first?
No. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme no longer requires loft or cavity insulation first. Insulation still helps, because a heat pump sized for a poorly insulated home costs more to buy and run.
Can landlords get a heat pump grant?
Yes. Private landlords can claim the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant and must tell their tenants about the installation. In England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant can also fund private rented homes rated EPC D–E where the tenant meets the income test.
Can I get a heat pump grant in Scotland?
Yes, but not the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which covers England and Wales. Home Energy Scotland offers up to £7,500 for a heat pump plus an optional £7,500 interest-free loan, with an extra £1,500 for eligible rural homes.
Who qualifies for the £9,000 heat pump grant?
Off-gas-grid homes in England and Wales replacing oil or LPG heating with an air source or ground source heat pump, on applications made between 21 July 2026 and 31 March 2027. Self-builds get £7,500.
Can I check my eligibility with Ofgem?
No. Ofgem doesn't pre-approve applications. Your MCS-certified installer checks eligibility and applies, and Ofgem assesses it then.
Methodology and sources
Eligibility rules are taken from Ofgem's BUS property owner guidance v5.1 (July 2026), GOV.UK, GMCA's Warm Homes: Local Grant page, Home Energy Scotland and the DESNZ Warm Homes Loan Scheme rules (September 2026). The checker simplifies these rules and doesn't store your answers. We used primary sources only, because grant rules change often. Last checked 27 September 2026.
