Boiler Upgrade Scheme Eligibility Checker UK 2026 | Heat Pump Grants & Costs
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Boiler Upgrade Scheme Eligibility Checker UK 2026: Claim Your £7,500 Heat Pump Grant
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is offering eligible UK homeowners a £7,500 government grant to replace an old gas or oil boiler with a modern heat pump. This guide walks you through the eligibility criteria, compares heat pump running costs against gas boilers, ranks the best UK heat pump brands for 2026, and tells you exactly what to expect from installation — so you can make a fully informed decision today.
Quick Answer: Most UK homeowners who own their property, have a valid EPC, and do not already have a heat pump are eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme £7,500 grant in 2026. You must use an MCS-certified installer and apply before your installation date. Use our free eligibility checker to confirm your status in under two minutes.
What Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a government-backed programme administered by Ofgem that provides upfront capital grants to help UK homeowners replace fossil-fuel heating systems with low-carbon alternatives. As of 2026, the headline grant is £7,500 for an air source or ground source heat pump. The grant is paid directly to your MCS-certified installer and deducted from your invoice — so you never need to handle the money yourself.
The scheme forms a key pillar of the UK Government's Heat and Buildings Strategy, which targets the installation of 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028. With energy prices remaining volatile and the gas boiler phase-out deadline drawing closer, there has rarely been a better moment to act.
For a full breakdown of the scheme rules, visit our dedicated Boiler Upgrade Scheme guide.
💰 £7,500 BUS Grant — Available Now
Eligible homeowners can claim a £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in 2026. Grants are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis per installer quota. Don't miss out — check whether your home qualifies today.
✅ Check My BUS Eligibility — Free & InstantAm I Eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme? (Full Checklist)
Below is the complete eligibility checklist for 2026. You must meet all of the following criteria to receive the BUS grant:
- ✔ You own the property (privately owned or self-build; landlords may also apply for tenanted properties in some circumstances).
- ✔ The property is located in England or Wales (Scotland has its own separate schemes).
- ✔ You are replacing an existing fossil-fuel heating system — gas boiler, oil boiler, or electric storage heaters.
- ✔ The property has a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation that have not been completed.
- ✔ You have not previously received a BUS grant for this property.
- ✔ Your chosen installer holds a current MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certification and will submit the BUS voucher on your behalf.
- ✔ Installation takes place after the voucher is issued (never before — this is the most common mistake).
Who is not eligible? New-build properties (which must meet current Part L building regulations without a grant), properties outside England and Wales, and any home where a BUS grant has already been redeemed are excluded from the scheme.
If you are unsure about your EPC status or insulation recommendations, our eligibility checker will flag any issues instantly.
Heat Pump vs Gas Boiler: Running Cost Comparison UK 2026
One of the most common questions we receive is whether a heat pump is actually cheaper to run than a gas boiler. The honest answer is: it depends on your home's insulation, your heat pump's COP (Coefficient of Performance), and current energy tariff rates. Using April 2026 Ofgem price cap figures — electricity at approximately 24.5p/kWh and gas at 6.1p/kWh — here is how the numbers stack up for a typical UK semi-detached home requiring 12,000 kWh of heat per year:
| Metric | Air Source Heat Pump (CoP 3.0) | Modern Gas Boiler (90% efficiency) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy consumed to deliver 12,000 kWh heat | 4,000 kWh electricity | 13,333 kWh gas |
| Unit rate (April 2026 price cap) | 24.5p/kWh | 6.1p/kWh |
| Estimated annual fuel cost | £980 | £813 |
| Standing charges (approx. annual) | £108 (electricity only) | £108 + £190 (gas + electricity) |
| Total estimated annual cost | £1,088 | £1,111 |
| Carbon emissions (kg CO₂ per year) | ~900 kg | ~2,400 kg |
Figures are illustrative estimates based on April 2026 Ofgem price cap rates and typical UK property data. Your actual costs will vary. Use our running cost calculator for a personalised figure.
As the table shows, a well-installed air source heat pump operating at a CoP of 3.0 can already match or undercut gas boiler running costs in 2026, even before accounting for the removal of the gas standing charge. Heat pumps with a higher seasonal CoP (3.2–3.8) in well-insulated homes can save homeowners £200–£400 per year compared with a gas boiler.
For a tailored estimate specific to your property, try our free heat pump running cost calculator.
Best Heat Pump Brands in the UK — 2026 Comparison
Choosing the right manufacturer is almost as important as choosing the right installer. Below is our editorial comparison of the leading air source heat pump brands available to UK homeowners in 2026, based on efficiency ratings, warranty terms, UK market support, and MCS-certified installation availability. For a deeper dive, visit our full air source heat pump comparison.