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Updated 25 Oct 2026. Every figure on this page has its source and the date we checked it.
That's the headline. Below is the detail: who qualifies, how claiming works, what you'll likely pay, and the dates that matter.
It's the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS for short). It's a government grant that takes money off the price of a low-carbon heating system. Ofgem runs it for England and Wales.
You don't get a cheque. The grant comes off your installer's quote, so you pay less up front. People search for it as the "heat pump grant", but the official name is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
An air source heat pump (a unit outside your home that pulls heat from the air, even in winter) is what most people get. Ground source heat pumps (which take heat from pipes buried in your garden) qualify for the same £7,500. Biomass boilers can get £5,000 in some cases. (GOV.UK, checked 25 Oct 2026)
You can tick these off in about a minute. (Sources: GOV.UK, what you can get and GOV.UK, check if you're eligible, checked 25 Oct 2026)
If you ticked all six, you're very likely eligible. Your installer will confirm it when they apply.
There are three amounts. Which one you get depends on the type of heat pump and how your home is heated now.
| Grant | Who it's for | Type of heat pump | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £7,500 | Most eligible homeowners in England and Wales | Air source or ground source | No end date published | GOV.UK BUS, checked 25 Oct 2026 |
| £9,000 (£7,500 + £1,500 extra) | Homes heated by oil or LPG and with no mains gas connection | Air source or ground source only | Extra £1,500 until March 2027 | GOV.UK BUS, checked 25 Oct 2026 |
| £2,500 | Eligible homeowners choosing air-to-air | Air-to-air (blows warm air, no radiators or hot water) | No end date published | GOV.UK BUS, checked 25 Oct 2026 |
A few things worth knowing about the £9,000:
If you're on mains gas, the figure to plan around is £7,500.
The good news: you don't apply. Your installer does. (GOV.UK, checked 25 Oct 2026)
Tip: never pay the grant amount yourself and "claim it back". It should come off the price from the start.
Here's what people actually paid, from the government's own figures.
Air source heat pumps (air-to-water): the median reported installation cost in 2025/26 was £13,021, based on 30,590 installs. (DESNZ, Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics: August 2026, Table A1.3A, England and Wales, checked 25 Oct 2026)
Take off the £7,500 grant and that's roughly £5,521.
Ground source heat pumps: the median was £26,200 in 2025/26, from 367 installs. (Same source, checked 25 Oct 2026) After £7,500, that's roughly £18,700.
Cost varies with the size of heat pump your home needs. Bigger homes need bigger units. These are 2025/26 medians from the same table:
| Air source heat pump size | Median reported cost, 2025/26 | Number of installs |
|---|---|---|
| 4kW to 6kW | £11,494 | 4,206 |
| 6kW to 8kW | £12,164 | 8,054 |
| 8kW to 10kW | £12,686 | 8,526 |
| 10kW to 12kW | £13,943 | 3,994 |
| 12kW to 14kW | £15,365 | 2,824 |
Source: DESNZ, Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics: August 2026, Table A1.3A, checked 25 Oct 2026.
Some honest caveats, so you know what these numbers are:
So use these as a sense check, not a price. The only way to know your number is to get quotes.
That depends on your current fuel and how efficient your heat pump is. The Energy Saving Trust says heat pumps are "more than three times more efficient than a gas or oil boiler". (Energy Saving Trust, checked 25 Oct 2026)
But electricity costs more per unit than gas. Under the current Ofgem price cap (Oct to Dec 2026), electricity is 26.32p/kWh and gas is 7.97p/kWh. (Ofgem price cap, Oct to Dec 2026, checked 25 Oct 2026) That's about 3.3 times the price.
At today's prices, running costs can be similar to or slightly higher than a new gas boiler, and a time-of-use tariff can tip it in your favour (Energy Saving Trust, checked 25 Oct 2026). How well it's installed makes a difference too. Against oil or LPG, the sums can look different. Our heat pump calculator is coming soon and will run these sums for your home.
The next price cap is announced on 25 Nov 2026. We'll update these figures when it is.
These are facts, not a countdown. Plan around them if they apply to you.
Getting quotes, surveys and an install date all take time. If the off-gas extra or 0% VAT matters to you, leave yourself some room.
Not this one. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers England and Wales only.
Scotland has the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan. It offers a grant of up to £7,500 for a heat pump, with an extra £1,500 for rural and island homes. An interest-free loan of up to £7,500 is also available as an option. (Home Energy Scotland, checked 25 Oct 2026)
Northern Ireland isn't covered by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Check NI Energy Advice for what's currently available.
Yes, if you're a private landlord and the property meets the other rules. Social housing is excluded. Your installer applies in the same way. (GOV.UK, check if you're eligible, checked 25 Oct 2026) More in our guide for landlords.
Not directly. The grant goes to the property owner. You could share this page with your landlord.
It depends on your home and your current fuel. Here's the honest version:
Run your own numbers before you decide. Don't take anyone's word for it, including ours.
Sometimes. Heat pumps run at lower temperatures, so some rooms may need bigger radiators. The Energy Saving Trust lists radiator upgrades as a factor in both install and running costs. Your installer should check and tell you. (Energy Saving Trust, checked 25 Oct 2026)
Rarely. It's a fixed amount off the price. For most homes there will be a balance to pay.
You cannot get a grant for a hybrid heat pump. (GOV.UK, Boiler Upgrade Scheme, checked 25 Oct 2026)
Two free things that might help:
Sources (all checked 25 Oct 2026)
