The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a UK Government grant, administered by Ofgem, that helps eligible homeowners in England and Wales reduce the cost of installing renewable heating. It pays £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump. It is a grant rather than a loan, so there is nothing to repay, and following the April 2026 regulations the scheme now runs until 2030.

No. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is not means-tested. Eligible homeowners can apply regardless of income, provided their property and heating system meet the scheme requirements.

The £9,000 rate applies only to properties that are off the mains gas grid and currently heated by oil or LPG. It is a temporary £1,500 uplift on the standard £7,500 grant, and it applies to installations from 21 July 2026 until 31 March 2027. Every other eligible property, including any home connected to mains gas, receives the standard £7,500.

Off gas grid means more than simply not using gas at the moment. The property must have no mains gas connection and no record of a gas meter point, so an old capped or clamped supply still counts as being on mains gas. The uplift does not apply to air-to-air heat pumps or biomass boilers. We confirm which rate applies to your property before anything is booked.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers more than one technology. An air-to-water heat pump, the usual choice, attracts £7,500, and a ground source heat pump is also £7,500. An air-to-air heat pump, which heats and cools but does not produce hot water, attracts £2,500 and became eligible on 28 April 2026. A biomass boiler attracts £5,000, but only in rural properties that are not connected to the gas grid.

One thing worth knowing early: hybrid systems that keep a gas boiler alongside the heat pump are not eligible for any grant. The existing system has to be removed or permanently decommissioned. We will tell you at survey stage which route suits your property.

No. The requirement for a valid Energy Performance Certificate, and for any outstanding insulation recommendations to be cleared first, was removed from the scheme in April 2026. Where a property has no EPC, we supply alternative evidence such as proof of your current heating fuel. If you do happen to have a valid EPC, we include the certificate number with the application. Either way, we handle it.

A full installation typically costs between £9,000 and £16,000 before the grant, depending on the size and age of the property and whether radiators or the hot water cylinder need upgrading. After the £7,500 grant and with 0% VAT, most homeowners pay somewhere between £3,500 and £7,000. You receive a fixed price after the free survey, with no obligation to proceed.

Yes, provided the system is designed properly for your home, which is what the survey is for. We calculate the heat loss of each room and size the unit and radiators around it. Heat pumps work down to minus 20 degrees and run at a lower flow temperature than a boiler, so the house holds a steady warmth rather than heating up and cooling down through the day.

Comparable to a fridge freezer. Modern units sit around 40 to 45 decibels a metre away. With double glazing you will not hear it indoors, and it runs quieter in warmer months because it is not working as hard. Positioning is decided at survey stage with noise in mind.

In England, an air source heat pump normally falls under permitted development and does not need planning permission. Permission is required if the property is listed, or sits in a conservation area, an area of outstanding natural beauty, or a national park.

In Wales, the rules are different and planning permission is generally required for an air source heat pump. Your local authority will confirm what applies to your property.

We check which applies to you before installation is scheduled, so this never becomes your problem to work out.

Two to four days for most homes. Larger properties, or installations that need significant pipework or radiator changes, can take a little longer. Dates are agreed with you in advance, and we leave the property clean with the system commissioned and explained.