UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2026

Heat Pump Grants UK: £2,500, £7,500 & £9,000 Support

Find out which heat pump grant could apply to your home, who qualifies and how much you may still need to pay after current government support.

£ £7,500 standard
heat pump grant
↑ £9,000 for eligible
oil & LPG homes
⌂ £2,500 eligible
air-to-air grant
David Tooth, author at Heat Pump Guide UK
Written by David Tooth • Independent UK heat pump researcher • Updated September 2026

QUICK ANSWER

Which Heat Pump Grant Could You Get?

In England and Wales, the main government support is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The amount depends primarily on the technology being installed and, for the enhanced grant, the heating system you are replacing.

£

£7,500 Standard Grant

For eligible air-to-water and ground source heat-pump installations in England and Wales.

↑

£9,000 Oil & LPG Grant

For qualifying off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG with an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump.

⌂

£2,500 Air-to-Air Grant

For eligible residential air-to-air heat-pump installations that meet the Boiler Upgrade Scheme requirements.

The quickest way to identify the likely grant

If you are installing a conventional air-to-water heat pump, start with £7,500. If you are off the mains gas grid and currently heat the property with oil or LPG, check whether the enhanced £9,000 amount applies.

If you are considering an eligible whole-home air-to-air heating system, the available BUS grant is £2,500.

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AT A GLANCE

Heat Pump Grants Available in 2026

System / Situation Grant Key Point
Air-to-water heat pump £7,500 Standard BUS grant
Ground source heat pump £7,500 Includes eligible water-source systems
Off-grid oil or LPG property £9,000 Enhanced air-to-water / ground-source support until 31 March 2027
Air-to-air heat pump £2,500 Eligible residential installations
Biomass boiler £5,000 More restrictive eligibility rules
Two major changes took effect in 2026. Eligible air-to-air heat pumps became supported at £2,500 from 28 April 2026, while qualifying off-grid oil and LPG replacements became eligible for £9,000 support from 21 July 2026.
HOW THE SCHEME WORKS

What Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, usually shortened to BUS, is the main government scheme supporting low-carbon heating installations in England and Wales.

It can provide funding towards eligible:

Air-to-Water

The type most UK homeowners mean when they talk about an air source heat pump connected to radiators and hot water.

Ground & Water Source

Eligible ground-source and water-source heat-pump systems can also receive BUS support. If you are considering this route, see our ground source heat pump cost guide for how groundworks and boreholes affect the budget after a grant.

Air-to-Air

Eligible residential air-to-air heating systems have been included in BUS since April 2026.

Biomass

Biomass boilers can qualify in more limited circumstances where the scheme conditions are met.

You normally do not claim the money back yourself

BUS is an installer-led scheme. An appropriately certified installer normally applies for the voucher and redeems it after the installation.

The grant should be passed to you as an upfront reduction in the price rather than asking you to pay the grant amount first and reclaim it later.

THE STANDARD GRANT

£7,500 Towards an Eligible Heat Pump

Most eligible air-to-water and ground source heat-pump installations in England and Wales currently receive £7,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

The grant reduces the installation cost, but you should still compare the complete specification behind different quotations.

✓
Check the grant on the quotation Make sure the £7,500 is shown clearly rather than hidden inside an unclear headline price.
✓
Compare the complete installation Radiators, cylinder, electrics, controls and commissioning can materially change the remaining price.
✓
Do not judge on grant value alone System design still affects comfort, efficiency and future running costs.
Heat pump installer beside an air source heat pump at a UK home
✓ The installer normally applies for the BUS voucher on your behalf.
ENHANCED OFF-GRID SUPPORT

£9,000 Heat Pump Grant for Oil and LPG Homes

From 21 July 2026 until 31 March 2027, certain off-gas-grid properties replacing heating oil or LPG can receive an enhanced £9,000 grant.

1. Off the Gas Grid

The property must not have a mains gas connection for the enhanced grant to apply.

2. Currently Heated by Oil or LPG

The £9,000 amount specifically targets eligible properties replacing heating oil or LPG.

3. Eligible Heat Pump

The enhanced amount applies to eligible air-to-water or ground source systems — not air-to-air.

4. Normal BUS Rules Still Apply

Being off-grid and using oil or LPG does not override the scheme’s wider property, system and installation requirements.

Important: the £9,000 grant is not available for air-to-air heat pumps. Eligible air-to-air systems remain at £2,500.
AIR-TO-AIR SUPPORT

£2,500 Air-to-Air Heat Pump Grant

Eligible residential air-to-air heat-pump installations in England and Wales can now receive £2,500 through BUS.

This is not simply a £2,500 air-conditioning grant

Reversible air-to-air systems can provide heating and cooling, but installing a single cooling unit in one room does not automatically qualify for government funding.

The installation must be an eligible air-to-air heat-pump system that meets the Boiler Upgrade Scheme’s residential heating and technical requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Who Can Usually Get a Boiler Upgrade Scheme Grant?

Exact eligibility depends on the property, the existing heating system and the replacement technology, but the main requirements can be summarised quite simply.

✓
You own the property Eligible owners can include owner-occupiers and, in qualifying circumstances, landlords and second-home owners.
✓
The property is in England or Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate funding arrangements.
✓
You are replacing an eligible heating system BUS is intended to support qualifying low-carbon replacements rather than replacement of an existing low-carbon system.
✓
The new system meets BUS requirements The technology, output and installation must satisfy the relevant scheme standards.
✓
An appropriately MCS-certified installer is used Your installer normally handles the grant application process.
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COMMON EXCLUSIONS

Who Usually Cannot Get a BUS Grant?

Most Standard New Builds

Ordinary developer-built new properties generally do not qualify, although eligible self-build properties can.

Social Housing

Social housing is generally outside the normal BUS property-owner route.

Existing Low-Carbon Heating

BUS cannot normally be used simply to replace an existing low-carbon heating system.

Hybrid Heat Pumps

Fossil-fuel hybrid heat-pump systems are not supported through the standard BUS grant.

You can normally receive only one Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant per property.
THE PROCESS

How Do You Apply for a Heat Pump Grant?

You normally do not complete the main voucher application yourself. The installer handles most of the process.

1. Check Eligibility

Establish which grant route appears relevant to your property and existing heating system.

2. Compare Installers

Obtain quotations from appropriately certified installers and compare both price and system design.

3. Property Assessment

The installer assesses heat loss, emitters, hot water and other requirements before specifying the system.

4. Review the Quote

Check the proposed equipment, total cost and BUS grant amount before proceeding.

5. Installer Applies

The installer applies to Ofgem for the BUS voucher and you confirm the required consent and property details.

6. Installation & Redemption

After the eligible installation is completed, the installer redeems the voucher.

You should not normally finance the grant yourself

The grant value should be reflected in the amount you pay rather than requiring you to fund the full installation and wait for a government reimbursement.

Before accepting a quotation, see our 15 questions to ask when comparing heat pump quotes .

WHAT COULD YOU PAY?

Heat Pump Cost After the Grant

These examples simply show what remains after deducting the fixed BUS grant from an example installation quotation.

Example Installation After £7,500 After £9,000
£10,000 £2,500 £1,000
£12,000 £4,500 £3,000
£15,000 £7,500 £6,000
£18,000 £10,500 £9,000
These are calculations, not typical-price claims. Your real quotation depends on heat loss, heat-pump size, radiators, cylinder requirements, electrics, controls, pipework and installation complexity.
EXTRA COSTS

What Can You Still Need to Pay for After the Grant?

A large grant does not necessarily make the entire project free. The final quotation depends on the work your home requires.

Radiators

Some emitters may need enlarging or replacing so the property can be heated efficiently at lower flow temperatures.

Radiator Guide →

Hot-Water Cylinder

Homes moving away from a combi boiler may need a suitable cylinder and associated plumbing work.

Electrical Work

Cabling, isolators, consumer-unit work or other electrical changes may be required.

Pipework & Controls

Existing heating layouts can require pipework alterations, controls and additional commissioning work.

Paying for the rest: the Warm Homes Loan Scheme

The government-backed Warm Homes Loan Scheme offers low- and zero-interest loans through approved lenders for heat pumps, solar panels and home batteries anywhere in the UK. Its September 2026 rules planned an initial consumer launch phase from September 2026, so check which lenders are currently taking part.

A heat pump loan can sit alongside a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant and cover the cost above it. Loan caps include £20,000 for an air-to-water heat pump and £15,000 for solar and battery storage. Products and installers must be MCS certified. Interest rates vary by lender and depend on credit checks.

Already have solar panels or a battery? They do not affect your Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility, which depends on owning the property and replacing a fossil fuel heating system. Heat pumps, solar panels and batteries are also zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027. Loan and VAT details checked 21 October 2026. See our heat pump with solar panels and battery guide.
SCOTLAND

Heat Pump Grants in Scotland

Scotland does not use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Homeowners instead have access to the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan.

£

Up to £7,500 Grant

Available towards qualifying heat-pump installations under the Scottish scheme.

+

Optional Loan Funding

Additional interest-free loan funding can be available towards eligible installation costs.

⌂

Rural Uplift

Qualifying rural and island properties can receive an additional £1,500 grant uplift.

Eligibility differs from BUS. The main homeowner route applies to an existing Scottish property that is the applicant’s only or principal private residence.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Heat Pump Grants in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland does not participate in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, so homeowners should not assume the £7,500 BUS grant applies.

Heating and energy-efficiency support is provided through separate Northern Ireland programmes, with eligibility depending on the household and the measure being installed.

Check the current official support available before making financial assumptions about a heat-pump project.

UPFRONT VS RUNNING COST

Does a Grant Mean a Heat Pump Will Be Cheaper to Run?

No — the grant and the running cost are separate questions.

A grant reduces the upfront installation cost. It does not change how much electricity the heat pump uses once installed.

Running costs depend on property heat loss, system design, seasonal efficiency, flow temperature, radiator sizing, controls, hot-water usage, commissioning and your electricity tariff.

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HEAT PUMP GRANT QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the heat pump grant in 2026?

In England and Wales, eligible air-to-water and ground source heat pumps normally receive £7,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Eligible air-to-air systems receive £2,500. Qualifying off-grid oil and LPG properties can receive £9,000 towards an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump until 31 March 2027.

Can I get £9,000 towards a heat pump?

Potentially. The enhanced £9,000 grant applies to qualifying off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG heating with an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump.

Can I get £2,500 towards air conditioning?

Not simply for adding conventional room cooling. The £2,500 BUS grant applies to eligible residential air-to-air heat-pump installations that satisfy the scheme requirements.

Do I apply for BUS myself?

Normally no. The scheme is installer-led and an appropriately certified installer normally applies for and redeems the voucher on behalf of the property owner.

Can landlords qualify?

Eligible property owners can include landlords where the property, existing heating system and new installation meet the scheme rules.

Can new-build homes get BUS?

Most ordinary new-build properties are not eligible, although qualifying self-build properties can be.

Are heat pump grants available in Scotland?

Yes, but Scotland uses a separate scheme. Eligible homeowners can receive up to £7,500 grant funding towards a heat pump, with a £1,500 rural uplift available in qualifying areas and optional loan funding also available.

INDEPENDENT GUIDANCE

About the Author

David Tooth, author at Heat Pump Guide UK
David Tooth
Independent UK heat pump researcher

Practical independent guidance for UK homeowners comparing heat-pump grants, costs, systems and installers.

NEXT STEPS

What Should You Check Next?

Once you know which grant may apply, look at the full cost and likely running costs rather than judging the project on the grant alone.

Installation Costs

See what heat pumps currently cost and how the £7,500 or £9,000 grant changes the amount remaining.

Heat Pump Cost Guide →

Running Costs

Compare current electricity and gas costs and understand the efficiency needed for a heat pump to compete.

Heat Pump Running Costs →

£9,000 Grant

Read the dedicated guide if you currently heat an off-grid property with oil or LPG.

£9,000 Grant Guide →

£2,500 Air-to-Air Grant

Understand the new support available for eligible residential air-to-air heat-pump systems.

£2,500 Grant Guide →