Is there a heat pump grant in Greater Manchester? Yes: the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme for most homeowners, and up to £30,000 through GMCA's Warm Homes: Local Grant for lower-income households. Grants for new gas boilers have largely closed.
Key takeaways
- £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant off an air source or ground source heat pump, with no income test (Ofgem).
- £9,000 for off-gas homes on oil or LPG until 31 March 2027, but only 2,122 Greater Manchester households heat with oil alone.
- GMCA's Warm Homes: Local Grant pays up to £15,000 for heating plus £15,000 for other upgrades for eligible owner-occupiers, and doesn't fund gas or oil boilers (GMCA).
- GM ECO4 Flex is closed to new applications and ECO4 ends in December 2026 (GMCA ECO FAQs).
- The Warm Homes Loan Scheme can fund the balance after the BUS grant, up to £20,000 for an air source heat pump (DESNZ scheme rules).
- 1,767 BUS heat pump grants have been paid in Greater Manchester: 15 per 10,000 households against 35.2 for England (DESNZ, Aug 2026).
Which heat pump and boiler grants are open in Greater Manchester?
Two heat pump grants are open to Greater Manchester homeowners in 2026: the national Boiler Upgrade Scheme and GMCA's Warm Homes: Local Grant. A new government loan scheme can cover what's left. Apart from Rochdale's Eco-Matters Healthy Homes Grant for vulnerable residents, there's no open scheme in Greater Manchester that funds a new gas boiler.
| Scheme | What you get | Who qualifies | Status | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) | £7,500 off a heat pump (£9,000 off-gas oil/LPG, £2,500 air-to-air) | Most homeowners and private landlords; no income test | Open, funded to 2029/30 | Your MCS installer applies |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant (GM-wide) | Up to £15,000 heating + £15,000 other upgrades | EPC D–G and income under £36,000, means-tested benefits or a low-income postcode | Open | GMCA Retrofit Portal |
| Warm Homes Loan Scheme | Loan for the balance, up to £20,000 for an air source heat pump | Owner-occupiers and private landlords; credit-checked | First consumer phase from Sept 2026 | Participating lenders |
| ECO4 (GM Flex route) | Heating and insulation package | Low income or health condition, EPC D–G | Closed to new GM applications; ECO4 ends Dec 2026 | No longer accepting |
| Warm Homes Plan low-income grants | Solar, batteries, insulation, heat pumps | Low-income households | Replaces WH:LG from 2027/28 | Not open yet |
How does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme work in Greater Manchester?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme works the same in Manchester as anywhere in England: your MCS-certified installer takes £7,500 off the price of an air source or ground source heat pump and claims it back from Ofgem. There's no income test and no insulation condition. You confirm consent when Ofgem emails you, and the installer has 3 months to fit an air source heat pump.
Most Greater Manchester homes are on mains gas (78.1% heat with gas alone), so they get the standard £7,500. The £9,000 rate is only for off-gas homes replacing oil or LPG, on applications made between 21 July 2026 and 31 March 2027. With only 2,122 oil-only households across the city region, it matters most in rural parts of Wigan, Oldham and Rochdale.
Our national Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2026 guide covers the full eligibility checklist and the 7-step application, and is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme a scam? explains how to spot fake callers.
Who qualifies for the Warm Homes: Local Grant in Greater Manchester?
You qualify for GMCA's Warm Homes: Local Grant if your home is rated EPC D–G and your household meets one income route. It's the only scheme in Greater Manchester that can pay for a whole heat pump, and it can add insulation and solar on top.
- Owner-occupied home rated EPC D, E, F or G (private rented: D–E, or F–G with a registered exemption)
- Combined gross household income under £36,000, OR
- Someone in the home receives a means-tested benefit (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, ESA, JSA or Income Support), OR
- You live in an eligible postcode in the lowest two income deciles (IMD 2025), OR you meet ECO4 Flex Route 2
| Applicant | Energy improvements | Low-carbon heating | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner-occupier, or landlord's first property | 100% up to £15,000 | 100% up to £15,000 | £30,000 |
| Landlord's second and later properties | 50% up to £7,500 | 50% up to £7,500 | £15,000 |
Eligible heating includes air source and ground source heat pumps and high heat retention storage heaters. Energy improvements include loft, cavity, solid wall and underfloor insulation, glazing, solar PV and battery storage. Gas and oil boilers are not eligible (GMCA scheme page).
Apply through the GMCA Retrofit Portal, which GMCA promotes as Feel the Benefit. Private landlords must be supporters of the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter (NRLA); see our Warm Homes Plan guide for landlords. For the wider picture, read the Warm Homes Plan Greater Manchester guide and Warm Homes Plan eligibility.
Every borough also has an area-based Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme, where officers contact households in selected low-income neighbourhoods directly (GMCA).
| Borough | Area-based scheme run by | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | a delivery partner that GMCA lists as still to be appointed | To be confirmed |
| Stockport | GMCA | localgrant@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk |
| Bolton | GMCA | localgrant@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk |
| Wigan | GMCA | localgrant@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk |
| Oldham | GMCA | localgrant@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk |
| Rochdale | Rochdale Council's Eco-Matters team | eco-matters@rochdale.gov.uk |
| Bury | Bury Council's Private Sector Housing team | privatesectorhousing@bury.gov.uk |
| Salford | GMCA | localgrant@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk |
| Trafford | GMCA | localgrant@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk |
| Tameside | Tameside Council (contact details still to be confirmed by GMCA) | To be confirmed |
Can you still get a boiler grant in Greater Manchester?
Not for a new gas or oil boiler in most cases. The exception is Rochdale, where the council's Eco-Matters Healthy Homes Grant can pay for boiler replacement for residents on means-tested benefits, with a long-term health condition or with household income under £36,000, funded to 31 March 2027 (Rochdale Borough Council). The Warm Homes: Local Grant excludes gas and oil boilers, and GMCA says its ECO4 Flex route is closed because "all three installers have now exhausted their funding" (GMCA ECO FAQs). ECO4 itself was extended from March 2026 to December 2026 and then ends.
If your boiler has broken and you're on a low income, the grant-funded replacement is now a heat pump, through the Warm Homes: Local Grant (up to £15,000) or the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500). Insulation-only schemes have also wound down: see which insulation grants are still available and Warm Homes Plan vs ECO4. Our national guide to grants for a new boiler covers the rest of the UK.
Be wary of 'free boiler' cold calls
Can a Warm Homes loan pay the rest of a heat pump in Greater Manchester?
Yes. The government's Warm Homes Loan Scheme is designed to sit alongside the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, lending the cost above your £7,500 grant. Its first consumer phase started in September 2026 through participating lenders, with more lenders joining in early 2027 (DESNZ scheme rules, September 2026).
- Loan cap of £20,000 for an air source heat pump (before the BUS grant is deducted), and £15,000 each for solar PV and batteries
- No government income threshold: lenders run their usual affordability and credit checks
- Government funding reduces the interest rate on loans of three years or longer, but each lender sets its own rate
- Owner-occupiers and private landlords can apply; the heat pump must be installed by an MCS-certified installer
- Insulation isn't covered as part of a heat pump loan, but radiators, pipework and cylinders are
We check every grant for you
Free survey, the £7,500 BUS grant deducted on your quote, and a Warm Homes: Local Grant check if your household may qualify.
How much does a heat pump cost in Greater Manchester after grants?
After the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, most Greater Manchester homes pay from nothing for a small, well-insulated home up to about £7,500 for a large detached house. Households that qualify for the Warm Homes: Local Grant can pay nothing for the heat pump, up to £15,000.
| Property type | Typical installed cost | After £7,500 BUS grant | With Warm Homes: Local Grant (if eligible) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-bed terrace or flat | £7,000–£10,000 | £0–£2,500 | £0 up to £15,000 |
| 3-bed semi-detached | £9,000–£13,000 | £1,500–£5,500 | £0 up to £15,000 |
| 4-bed detached | £11,000–£15,000 | £3,500–£7,500 | £0 up to £15,000 |
| Oil-heated home (£9,000 BUS rate) | £11,000–£15,000 | £2,000–£6,000 | £0 up to £15,000 |
These are Alliant's typical Greater Manchester ranges. Nationally, the median BUS-funded air source heat pump cost £12,908 in April–June 2026, with half between £11,128 and £15,627 (DESNZ BUS statistics). Hot water cylinders, radiator upgrades and electrical work are confirmed at survey. Our guide to spotting an inflated heat pump quote shows what a fair price looks like.
How many heat pump grants has each Greater Manchester borough had?
1,767 heat pumps in Greater Manchester were paid a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant between May 2022 and June 2026, or 15 per 10,000 households. Take-up rose 21% last year, from 534 grants in 2024/25 to 647 in 2025/26, but it's still less than half the England rate of 35.2 (DESNZ/Ofgem BUS statistics, August 2026).
| Borough | BUS grants paid (May 2022 – Jun 2026) | Per 10,000 households | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | Change | Oil-only homes (£9,000 rate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trafford | 243 | 25.2 | 53 | 97 | +83% | 107 |
| Stockport | 271 | 21.4 | 79 | 92 | +16% | 238 |
| Bury | 145 | 18.0 | 40 | 59 | +48% | 182 |
| Manchester | 320 | 14.9 | 103 | 112 | +9% | 193 |
| Rochdale | 120 | 13.3 | 40 | 40 | +0% | 257 |
| Bolton | 151 | 12.7 | 47 | 43 | -9% | 250 |
| Salford | 146 | 12.7 | 45 | 63 | +40% | 161 |
| Wigan | 177 | 12.4 | 67 | 70 | +4% | 297 |
| Oldham | 95 | 10.2 | 29 | 30 | +3% | 269 |
| Tameside | 99 | 9.9 | 31 | 41 | +32% | 168 |
Trafford nearly doubled its grants last year (53 to 97) and leads the city region. Bolton was the only borough where grants fell. Tameside and Oldham have housing that suits heat pumps but the lowest take-up, so there's the most room to grow there. Each borough page has local housing, EPC and cost data: start from our Greater Manchester heat pump installers page.
Methodology and sources
BUS figures are heat pump grants paid (vouchers redeemed) by local authority from the DESNZ/Ofgem Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics, August 2026 release (Tables Q1.2 and A1.7), covering May 2022 to June 2026. Rates per 10,000 households use Census 2021 household counts (1,178,240 across the 10 boroughs), and oil-only homes are from Census 2021 table TS046. Grant rules are from Ofgem's BUS guidance v5.1, GMCA's Warm Homes: Local Grant and ECO pages, and the DESNZ Warm Homes Loan Scheme rules (September 2026). We used primary sources only, because grant rules change often. The next BUS statistics release is due on 29 October 2026. Data checked 2026-09-27.
Get a heat pump quote with your grant checked
Answer seven quick questions and we'll come back within one working day. We apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for you and check whether a Warm Homes: Local Grant would cover more.
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Heat pump grant FAQs for Greater Manchester
Is there a heat pump grant in Manchester?
Yes. Homeowners across Greater Manchester can get £7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with no income test. Lower-income households with an EPC of D–G can get up to £15,000 for heating plus £15,000 for other upgrades through the GMCA Warm Homes: Local Grant, which can pay for the whole heat pump.
Can I get a free boiler in Manchester?
Probably not in 2026, unless you live in Rochdale, where the council's Eco-Matters Healthy Homes Grant can fund boiler replacement for eligible vulnerable residents until March 2027. The Greater Manchester Warm Homes: Local Grant does not fund gas or oil boilers, and GMCA's ECO4 Flex route is closed to new applications because installers have used their funding. ECO4 itself ends in December 2026. The grant-funded way to replace an old boiler is a heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or the Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Can I get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Warm Homes: Local Grant together?
Not for the same heat pump. Ofgem asks you to confirm that no other public funding has been used for the installation. If you qualify for the Warm Homes: Local Grant it usually covers more, including insulation; if you don't, the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is your route.
How do I apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant in Greater Manchester?
Use the eligibility checker on the GMCA Retrofit Portal (gmca.retrofitportal.org.uk), which GMCA also promotes as Feel the Benefit. It asks about your home, EPC and household circumstances and routes eligible applications to the delivery team.
Do I get the £9,000 heat pump grant in Greater Manchester?
Only if your home is off the gas grid and currently heated by oil or LPG, and the application is made by 31 March 2027. Just 2,122 Greater Manchester households were heated by oil alone in Census 2021 (0.18%), mostly in Wigan, Oldham and Rochdale. Homes on mains gas get the standard £7,500.
Can landlords in Greater Manchester get heat pump grants?
Yes. Private landlords can claim the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for properties they own. The Warm Homes: Local Grant covers private rented homes rated EPC D–E (F–G with a registered exemption) where the tenant qualifies, if the landlord signs up as a supporter of the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter. Landlords get 50% funding, up to £7,500 each for energy and heating improvements, on second and later properties.
Is there a loan to cover the rest of the heat pump cost?
Yes. The government's Warm Homes Loan Scheme started its first consumer phase in September 2026 through participating lenders. It can cover the cost above your Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, with a cap of £20,000 for an air source heat pump before the grant. There's no income threshold, but lenders run normal credit checks and set their own rates.
Which Greater Manchester borough has the most heat pump grants?
Trafford, with 25.2 Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grants per 10,000 households between May 2022 and June 2026, followed by Stockport (21.4) and Bury (18.0). Tameside (9.9) and Oldham (10.2) have the lowest take-up. Greater Manchester overall has 15.0 per 10,000 against 35.2 for England.
