Have you heard about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
We’re here to explain all you need to know about this government grant and how to check if you’re eligible to apply.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme was first launched in 2022 and is a £450million fund that offers grants to homeowners in England and Wales. The scheme covers part of the cost of replacing your current fossil fuel system, which includes oil, gas, or electric. It aims to replace fossil fuel systems with something more environmentally friendly, such as a ground source heat pump, air source heat pump, or biomass boiler.
Eligible households can receive a grant of £7,500 towards an air source heat pump or ground source heat pump, or £5,000 towards a biomass boiler. Grants were previously £5,000-£6,000 for heat pumps, but this figure was increased to £7,500 from 23rd October 2023.
Am I eligible?
You are likely to be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme if you meet the criteria below:
You are a homeowner in England and Wales (including if it’s a business, a second home, or a property you rent out to tenants)
Your home has a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) from the last 10 years, with no recommendations for cavity wall or loft insulation. If you’re not sure what your EPC is find out here [link to website] Find an energy certificate - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Your existing heating system must be powered by fossil fuels.
Have installed (or plan to install) your new heating system on or after 1 April 2022
Properties you cannot get a grant for:
Most new build properties.
Social housing.
A property that’s already been given government funding or support for a heat pump or biomass boiler.
What does the grant cover?
You can get one grant per property and current grants are available for:
£7,500 towards an air source heat pump
£7,500 towards a ground source heat pump (including water source heat pumps and those on shared ground loops)
£5,000 towards a biomass boiler
But what doesn’t the grant cover?
You cannot get a grant for a hybrid heat pump system (for example a combination of gas boiler and air source heat pump).
The system you install must meet certain standards, such as minimum efficiency levels (your installer can advise you on these).
The system’s maximum capacity must be less than 45kWth - anything over is not eligible.
How to apply:
Contact suitable MCS certified installers to get quotes for the work.
Confirm you’re eligible (your installer will tell you).
Agree a quote with your chosen installer.
The installer will apply on your behalf on the Ofgem website.
The value of the grant will be taken off the amount you pay for installation.
Ofgem will contact you to confirm that the installer is acting on your behalf. They might also contact you by phone or visit your property in order to check the installation.
MCS might contact you to carry out their own checks.
If you would like to find out whether your property would benefit from an air source heat pump, why not apply for a free Home Energy Plan?
The home energy survey can assist you by recommending the step-by-step changes needed to set your home up for a heat pump installation, including honest recommendations on which technologies will suit your property. The plan will cover the practicality of installing a heat pump (i.e. the position of the pump, size, hot water cylinder etc.), the estimated running costs and guidance on installation.