Yes, it is still running – you haven’t missed it!
These are the two questions we hear most often when the Boiler Upgrade Scheme comes up, and the answers are genuinely reassuring. There is a lot of confusion about whether the scheme is still available, what it covers now that the rules have been updated, and how the process actually works. This guide cuts through all of it.
So What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, usually shortened to BUS, is a government grant that reduces the upfront cost of switching from a fossil fuel or direct electric heating system to a low-carbon alternative. It is funded by the government, administered by Ofgem, and available to homeowners in England and Wales.
Launched in April 2022 and updated several times since, the scheme is currently funded through to at least 2028, with the government committing to increase funding year on year to 2029/30. Far from winding down, it is growing.
The grant is applied directly to your installation cost before you pay anything. You do not claim it back. You simply pay less upfront, and your MCS-certified installer handles the application to Ofgem on your behalf.
How Much is the Grant?
As of 16 May 2026, the current grant amounts confirmed by Ofgem are:
Air-to-water heat pumps: £7,500 Ground source heat pumps (including water source and shared ground loops): £7,500 Air-to-air heat pumps: £2,500 (residential properties only, see note below) Biomass boilers: £5,000 (rural, off-gas-grid properties only)
A significant update for homes on oil or LPG: The government has announced a temporary increase to £9,000 for eligible homes currently heated by oil or LPG switching to a heat pump. This uplift is expected from July 2026 and runs until March 2027. It does not apply to gas-heated homes. At the time of writing the exact start date has not been confirmed, so if your home is on oil or LPG, speak to our team now so we can plan your installation and be ready to apply as soon as the uplift is live.
What Has Changed Recently?
EPC requirements have been relaxed. A valid Energy Performance Certificate is no longer strictly required. Homeowners without a current EPC can now provide alternative evidence: a recent utility bill dated within the last three months, photographs of the existing heating system, or the certificate number of an expired EPC if one is available. Where a valid EPC does exist, it must still be submitted.
Air-to-air heat pumps are now included. From 28 April 2026, air-to-air heat pumps became eligible for a £2,500 grant for residential properties. There is an important caveat though: the MCS certification process for air-to-air installations has not yet been established, meaning no MCS-certified installer can currently apply for the BUS grant for this technology. We are monitoring this closely and will update customers as soon as it changes.
Multi-technology installations are now permitted. Heat pumps can be installed alongside non-fossil-fuel supplementary heating, such as storage heaters, heat batteries or direct electric heating, provided the heat pump alone is still sized to meet the full space heating demand of the property.
Who is Eligible?
You are likely eligible if:
- You own your home in England or Wales and it is not a standard new build
- Your property currently has a fossil fuel heating system or direct electric heating with no heat pump installed
- You have not previously received government funding specifically for a heat pump or biomass boiler
- Your chosen installer is MCS certified
You are not eligible if:
- Your property is social housing, shared ownership or a standard new build
- The property is outside England and Wales
- The grant has already been used for the same property
- The installation is a hybrid system combining a heat pump with a fossil fuel boiler (these are explicitly excluded)
Self-build properties can be eligible, provided the home was built mainly using the labour or resources of the first owner and has never been owned by a business.
The One-Per-Property Rule
The BUS grant is available once per property.
There is no second application for the same address.
Didn’t mean to scare you there – this is not a reason to rush, but it is a compelling reason to make sure everything is done correctly when you do act: the system properly surveyed, correctly sized, and installed by someone who will still be there to maintain it years from now.
A grant spent on a poorly specified installation or an installer who vanishes once the job is done cannot be reclaimed.
How Does the Process Work?
Your installer checks whether your property and chosen system are eligible. They assess your home, confirm the technology and walk you through the requirements.
Once you agree a quote, your installer applies to Ofgem for a voucher on your behalf. The grant is shown as an upfront discount on your quote, so you can see clearly what you are paying before and after it is applied. Ofgem contacts you directly to confirm your consent and verify eligibility. You have 14 days to respond. Once the installation is complete and commissioned, your installer claims the grant from Ofgem.
The grant is not an automatic entitlement. Ofgem confirms eligibility as part of the process, and applications are subject to checks. Your installer should assess eligibility clearly before anything is installed.
Why Your Choice of Installer Matters as Much as the Grant
The BUS can only be applied for by an MCS-certified installer. MCS certification is not just a badge: it requires adherence to specific technical standards covering system design and installation quality. It is also a condition of the grant, full stop.
Blue Flame is MCS certified and has been installing and maintaining heat pumps across Cornwall alongside our gas, oil and LPG work for over 30 years. We carry out proper heat loss surveys before specifying any system, account for Cornwall’s coastal environment when recommending equipment, and we do not disappear once the installation is done.
Our membership plans include annual servicing and emergency cover to keep the system running well for the long term, and the BUS application is handled by us on your behalf.
Talk to Us
If you are thinking about a heat pump, the best first step is a conversation. Call us on 01326 378122 or get in touch online to speak with one of our in-house experts. We can tell you whether your property is likely to suit a heat pump, what the installation would cost before and after the grant, and how the timing works given the upcoming £9,000 uplift for oil and LPG homes.
No sales pitch, no pressure. Just a straight answer from people who know what they are talking about.
You can also find out more about our renewables installations and membership plans on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme still running in 2026? Yes. The scheme is open and actively funded, with the government committed to increasing funding year on year through to 2029/30. The current scheme runs until at least 2028.
Do I need an EPC to apply? Not necessarily. Since April 2026, homeowners without a valid EPC can provide alternative evidence such as a recent utility bill, photographs of the existing heating system, or an expired EPC certificate number. Where a valid EPC does exist, it must still be submitted.
Can I apply for the grant myself? No. The BUS is installer-led. Your MCS-certified installer applies to Ofgem on your behalf and deducts the grant value from your installation cost upfront.
Is the grant guaranteed once applied for? No. Eligibility is confirmed by Ofgem as part of the process and is not automatic. Your installer should assess eligibility before the installation begins.
Can the grant be used for a hybrid heat pump and boiler system? No. Hybrid systems combining a heat pump with a fossil fuel boiler are explicitly excluded from the scheme.
Can I claim the grant more than once? No. The grant is available once per property, which is one reason getting the installation right first time matters so much.
Is Blue Flame MCS certified? Yes. Blue Flame is MCS certified and manages the Boiler Upgrade Scheme application on your behalf as part of the installation process. Contact us to find out if your property is eligible.
Busting a Few Heat Pump Myths
“Are heat pumps reliable?”
A well-specified and correctly installed heat pump from a reputable manufacturer is a robust piece of kit. Many of the most trusted systems come from Scandinavian and Nordic manufacturers who have been engineering heat pumps to work in temperatures that make a Cornish winter look quite forgiving. Lifespans of 20 years or more are achievable with proper annual servicing.
“Will my running costs go down?”
This depends on your property, insulation, system specification and usage, and we will not tell you otherwise. What we can say is that a correctly sized heat pump produces significantly more heat energy than it consumes. Some of the installations we have completed in Cornwall are regularly achieving performance figures that would make an old gas boiler feel quite sheepish.
“What about the upfront cost?”
This is exactly what the BUS grant exists to address. After a £7,500 grant, the net cost of an air-to-water heat pump installation for a typical home is considerably closer to a conventional boiler replacement than most people expect. For oil and LPG homes, once the £9,000 uplift is in force, that gap closes further still.