The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is the government's heat pump grant for homeowners in England and Wales. Up to £7,500 off, taken straight off your quote. We handle the Ofgem application.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is the government's heat pump grant. It pays up to £7,500 toward swapping a fossil fuel boiler for an air source heat pump. Run by Ofgem and taken straight off your quote before you pay.
A ~£12,000 system drops to ~£4,500 after the grant. 0% VAT stacks on top, finance covers what's left, and heat pumps cost less to run than gas.
One quote, no extras. The grant covers the heat pump, the install, and the BUS application paperwork.
An A+++ rated heat pump from Samsung, Vaillant, Ideal, or Trianco. Sized to your property and how you live in it.
Fitted in-house by our certified engineers. Includes commissioning, MCS certificate, warranty registration, and a full handover pack.
We submit your application, chase Ofgem on your behalf, and deduct the grant straight off your quote. You don't touch a form.
Four checks for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. If your home and heating system tick all of them, you're in.
BUS covers homes in England and Wales. In Scotland, look at Home Energy Scotland for the equivalent support.
You must be replacing a gas, oil, LPG, or electric heating system. The property and installer still have to meet the published BUS rules on gov.uk. New builds don't qualify.
You need a valid Energy Performance Certificate. There's no minimum rating, and since May 2024, no insulation requirement either.
An MCS certified installer must do the work. From 28 April 2026, only MCS installers can submit BUS applications to Ofgem.
We handle the Ofgem Boiler Upgrade Scheme application. You sign one form, we do the rest.
We're MCS certified, so we can apply for BUS on your behalf. The grant comes off the quote up front. You see the real number, not a "before grant" figure.
An engineer comes out to spec the system, find the best spot for the outdoor unit, and flag anything that needs prep work. We submit the BUS application around the same time.
We fit and commission the system, then close out the BUS paperwork with Ofgem. You pay the balance, with the grant already off.
Four common BUS misconceptions, cleared up against the published rules.
No. Despite the name, BUS pays for a heat pump, not a gas boiler. The “boiler upgrade” means swapping a fossil-fuel boiler for a low-carbon heat pump. Free boiler schemes for low-income households are separate, means-tested programmes.
No, not since May 2024. The government scrapped the loft and cavity-wall insulation requirement. You still need a valid Energy Performance Certificate, but there’s no minimum EPC rating and no insulation rule to clear.
No. Your MCS-certified installer files the application with Ofgem and deducts the grant from your quote before you pay. From 28 April 2026, only MCS-certified installers can submit BUS applications (Ofgem: Boiler Upgrade Scheme rules).
No. BUS covers England and Wales only. In Scotland, the equivalent route is Home Energy Scotland: heat pump grant + interest-free loan, which pairs a grant with an interest-free loan. Northern Ireland has no direct equivalent in 2026.
Straight answers on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and what to expect.
Up to £7,500 toward an eligible air source heat pump in England and Wales when you meet the Boiler Upgrade Scheme rules. The amount is set by government and applied for by your MCS-certified installer; it comes off your installation quote before you pay, so there is nothing to claim back yourself. The scheme also covers some other low-carbon technologies at different rates, but at UKEM we focus on air source heat pumps.
After the £7,500 BUS grant, a fully fitted air source heat pump often lands around £4,000 to £5,000 out of pocket, depending on the property. What pushes the number up or down: the size of your home, the model you pick, and prep work like radiator upgrades. Your quote shows the exact figure with the grant already off.
Yes. The grant comes off first, then finance covers what's left. On a £12,000 installation after a £7,500 grant, you are financing £4,500. You can spread that over monthly payments.
Most UK homes work for an air source heat pump. You need a garden, yard, or external wall for the outdoor unit. Modern systems run down to -20°C without losing efficiency. During the survey, our engineer confirms the right size and the best spot, based on your heating and hot water demand.
Allow around two weeks from quote to install. The fitting itself takes 2 to 4 days, depending on the system and any prep work.
BUS runs to 2030. Each year has its own budget, so the earlier you apply, the less chance of hitting a funding cap.
