£9,000 Heat Pump Grant 2026: Who Qualifies and How It Works
Last updated: September 2026
Eligible off-grid homes in England and Wales that currently use oil or LPG for heating can now get up to £9,000 towards an air-to-water or ground source heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
The enhanced grant adds £1,500 to the standard £7,500 support and is currently available until 31 March 2027. This guide explains exactly who qualifies, which heat pumps are covered and how the application process works.
• Independent UK heat pump researcher
• Reviewed for accuracy
Quick Answer: Who Can Get the £9,000 Heat Pump Grant?
The £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is not available to every household.
To qualify for the enhanced amount, your property must generally:
- be in England or Wales;
- be off the mains gas grid;
- currently use oil or LPG as its heating fuel;
- be replacing that heating system with an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump; and
- meet the wider Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility rules.
The important distinction
The normal Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is still £7,500 for eligible air-to-water and ground source heat pumps. The £9,000 figure is the standard £7,500 grant plus an extra £1,500 for qualifying off-gas-grid homes currently heated by oil or LPG.
How Much Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in 2026?
The amount available depends on the heating technology and, for the enhanced grant, the property’s existing fuel and gas-grid status.
| Heat Pump Type | Standard Grant | Eligible Oil/LPG Off-Grid Home |
|---|---|---|
| Air-to-water air source heat pump | £7,500 | £9,000 |
| Ground source heat pump | £7,500 | £9,000 |
| Air-to-air heat pump | £2,500 | £2,500 |
| Biomass boiler | £5,000 | £5,000 where scheme rules are met |
The enhanced £9,000 amount does not apply to air-to-air heat pumps. If you are considering heating and cooling rather than a wet central-heating replacement, see our Air-to-Air Heat Pumps UK guide.
Why Has the Grant Increased to £9,000?
The government introduced the additional £1,500 support for eligible oil and LPG households in July 2026.
The policy is aimed particularly at properties away from the mains gas network, where households can be more exposed to changes in heating oil or LPG prices.
Official figures published in August 2026 showed strong demand following the change. A record 8,150 households applied for a heat pump in July 2026, an increase of 81% compared with June and 112% compared with the same month the previous year.
Who Qualifies for the £9,000 Grant?
The enhanced £9,000 support has more specific requirements than the standard Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
Your existing heating must be oil or LPG
The additional £1,500 is available where the heating system being replaced is fuelled by oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
If your property currently uses mains gas, coal or direct electric heating, you may still qualify for standard Boiler Upgrade Scheme support, but not the £9,000 oil/LPG uplift.
Your property must be off the mains gas grid
Simply choosing not to use an existing gas supply is not enough. Ofgem’s rules for the enhanced grant require the property to qualify as an off-gas-grid property.
A property with an existing mains gas connection or gas meter record may therefore fail the enhanced-grant test even if the household currently heats the home using another fuel.
You must be installing the correct type of heat pump
The £9,000 amount applies to eligible:
- air-to-water air source heat pumps; and
- ground source heat pumps.
It does not increase the separate £2,500 grant available for eligible residential air-to-air heat pumps.
Who Can Get the Standard £7,500 Grant Instead?
The standard £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant remains available for many other eligible properties installing an air-to-water or ground source heat pump.
For example, a homeowner replacing a gas boiler may qualify for £7,500 but would not qualify for the additional £1,500 oil/LPG uplift.
Typical £9,000 Case
- England or Wales
- No mains gas connection
- Oil or LPG heating
- Eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump
Typical £7,500 Case
- England or Wales
- Eligible property
- Replacing another qualifying heating system
- Air-to-water or ground source heat pump
Can Oil-Heated Homes Get the £9,000 Grant?
Yes. Oil-heated homes are one of the main groups targeted by the enhanced grant.
If your property is in England or Wales, is genuinely off the mains gas grid and currently uses oil heating, you may qualify for up to £9,000 towards an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump.
This may make switching considerably more attractive from an upfront-cost perspective, particularly in rural properties where oil has traditionally been the main heating option.
However, an older rural property can also have a relatively high heat demand. Before deciding, the heat-loss calculation, radiator sizing and required flow temperature matter at least as much as the grant itself.
See our full guide to switching from oil to a heat pump.
Can LPG-Heated Homes Get £9,000?
Yes. Eligible off-gas-grid households replacing LPG heating can also receive the additional £1,500, taking the total Boiler Upgrade Scheme support to £9,000 for an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump.
LPG properties are often already away from the mains gas network, but the property’s exact eligibility still needs to be checked by the installer.
If LPG is your current heating fuel, read our detailed guide to replacing an LPG boiler with a heat pump.
Can Gas-Heated Homes Get £9,000?
No. A home connected to and heated by mains gas does not qualify for the additional oil/LPG grant uplift.
Eligible gas-heated properties can still potentially receive the standard £7,500 towards an air-to-water or ground source heat pump.
If you currently use gas, see Gas Boiler to Heat Pump UK for the wider cost and suitability considerations.
Can You Get £9,000 for an Air-to-Air Heat Pump?
No. The enhanced £9,000 support is for eligible air-to-water and ground source heat pumps.
Eligible residential air-to-air systems currently have their own Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant of £2,500.
This distinction matters because air-to-air systems work differently from conventional air-to-water heat pumps. They usually provide warm or cool air through indoor units rather than heating water for radiators and a hot-water cylinder.
How Do You Apply for the £9,000 Heat Pump Grant?
You normally do not make the Boiler Upgrade Scheme application directly yourself. The scheme is installer-led.
The process is generally:
- Find MCS-certified installers and obtain suitable quotes.
- Confirm your property is eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and, where relevant, the enhanced £9,000 amount.
- Agree the installation and quote.
- Your installer applies to Ofgem for the grant voucher on your behalf.
- Ofgem contacts you to confirm your consent and the installer’s involvement.
- The grant is deducted from your price rather than being paid to you as cashback afterwards.
You should see the grant on the quote
The grant value should be deducted from the amount you pay for the eligible installation and should appear on the quotation and invoice.
How Much Could You Pay After a £9,000 Grant?
The grant is a fixed contribution, not a guarantee that the installation will cost a particular amount.
Here are simple examples showing how the arithmetic works:
| Example Quote | Enhanced BUS Grant | Amount Remaining |
|---|---|---|
| £10,000 | £9,000 | £1,000 |
| £12,000 | £9,000 | £3,000 |
| £15,000 | £9,000 | £6,000 |
| £18,000 | £9,000 | £9,000 |
These are calculations rather than typical prices. Real installation costs vary with property heat loss, heat-pump size, radiator or emitter upgrades, hot-water requirements, electrical work, pipework and installation complexity.
For current installation-cost guidance, see Air Source Heat Pump Cost UK.
What Other Boiler Upgrade Scheme Rules Still Apply?
Qualifying for the oil/LPG uplift does not remove the normal Boiler Upgrade Scheme conditions.
At a high level:
- You must own the property you are applying for.
- The property must be in England or Wales.
- The installation must replace an eligible existing heating system.
- The installer must be MCS certified for the relevant technology.
- Most new-build properties are excluded, although eligible self-builds can qualify.
- Social housing is not eligible.
- You cannot normally receive support where government funding has already been provided for the same heat pump or biomass installation.
- Hybrid heat-pump systems are not eligible for the grant.
You can receive only one Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant per property.
Do You Need a Perfectly Insulated Home to Qualify?
No. Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility does not mean your home must already have every possible insulation measure completed.
That said, insulation and heat loss are still important when deciding whether a heat pump is likely to perform efficiently.
A well-designed system should be based on the property’s actual room-by-room heat loss. The installer can then assess the heat pump size, radiator or emitter output and suitable flow temperatures.
When Does the £9,000 Heat Pump Grant End?
The enhanced £1,500 grant for eligible off-gas-grid oil and LPG properties is currently available until 31 March 2027.
That is separate from the wider Boiler Upgrade Scheme timetable. The enhanced rate is therefore time-limited even though other forms of BUS support may continue beyond that date.
If you think you qualify, do not assume that beginning to research a heat pump close to the deadline will guarantee access to the higher amount. Surveys, system design, installer availability and the formal application process all take time.
Does the £9,000 Grant Mean a Heat Pump Will Save You Money?
No. The grant reduces the upfront installation cost. It does not guarantee lower energy bills.
Whether a heat pump costs less to run than your existing oil or LPG system depends on several factors, including:
- the heat loss of the property;
- the seasonal efficiency achieved by the heat pump;
- required flow temperature;
- radiator or underfloor-heating sizing;
- hot-water demand;
- controls and weather compensation;
- installation and commissioning quality;
- how you use the heating; and
- your electricity tariff compared with the cost of your existing fuel.
For a fuller comparison, read our Heat Pump Running Costs UK guide.
Is It Worth Switching While £9,000 Is Available?
For an eligible oil or LPG household already considering a heat pump, the extra £1,500 materially reduces the upfront cost compared with the standard grant.
That makes this a sensible time to investigate the numbers, but the decision should still be based on the individual property rather than the grant alone.
Before committing, I would want to know:
- the room-by-room heat-loss calculation;
- the proposed design flow temperature;
- which radiators or emitters need changing;
- the expected seasonal efficiency;
- what hot-water changes are required;
- the full price before and after the grant; and
- what controls and commissioning are included.
£9,000 Heat Pump Grant FAQ
Is the heat pump grant now £9,000 for everyone?
No. The standard Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant remains £7,500 for eligible air-to-water and ground source heat pumps. The £9,000 amount applies to qualifying off-gas-grid properties currently heated by oil or LPG.
Can I get £9,000 to replace an oil boiler?
Potentially. If your property is in England or Wales, is off the mains gas grid, currently uses oil and meets the wider scheme rules, an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump can qualify for £9,000 support.
Can I get £9,000 to replace an LPG boiler?
Yes, eligible off-gas-grid LPG-heated properties can qualify for the enhanced £9,000 amount when installing a qualifying air-to-water or ground source heat pump.
Can I get £9,000 if I have a gas boiler?
No. Eligible gas-heated properties may qualify for the standard £7,500 grant, but not the additional £1,500 oil and LPG uplift.
Does the £9,000 grant apply to air-to-air heat pumps?
No. Eligible residential air-to-air heat pumps currently have a separate £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
When does the £9,000 grant end?
The enhanced £9,000 grant for qualifying off-gas-grid oil and LPG properties is currently available until 31 March 2027.
Do I apply for the £9,000 grant myself?
Normally no. You choose an MCS-certified installer, and the installer makes the Boiler Upgrade Scheme application on your behalf. The grant should appear as a discount on the amount you pay.
Sources & Further Reading
Grant values and eligibility requirements in this article were checked against current UK government and Ofgem information.
Related Guides
What Should You Check Next?
If you think you may qualify for the £9,000 grant, the next step is understanding the full installation cost and whether a heat pump suits your property.
