Boiler Upgrade Scheme UK: 2026 Guide
The installer applies to Ofgem, but the property owner must understand and confirm the application. The grant is not cash paid to the household; it reduces the amount charged for the eligible installation.
Ofgem says the temporary £9,000 support applies to eligible off-gas-grid air-to-water or ground-source installations until 31 March 2027. Do not assume an oil- or LPG-heated home qualifies until the installer checks every condition.
When assessing boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide, energy Saving Trust gives a typical air-source heat-pump installation cost of around £12,000 and says heat pumps can be more than three times as efficient as gas or oil boilers. Within boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide, performance in a particular home is governed by heat loss, flow temperature, emitter size, controls and commissioning; the product badge alone cannot guarantee low running costs.
BUS is not a quality shortcut. The design still needs correct heat loss, emitters, controls and commissioning. Verify the installer’s MCS status and compare the gross price before grant so that the support is visible.
What changes the answer
Property eligibility
Existing heating, ownership, building status and the proposed technology affect the route.
Installer eligibility
An MCS-certified installer for the relevant technology manages the voucher process.
Grant amount
Match the exact technology and property circumstances to Ofgem’s current published amount.
Quotation display
Show gross installed cost, grant deduction and customer contribution as separate lines.
Voucher timing
Do not allow work or deadlines to proceed on an assumed approval; ask for the current voucher status.
Evidence retention
Keep consent, voucher, MCS certificate, invoice, commissioning and payment records.
Illustrative worked example
Illustrative example — an eligible Welsh home receives a £13,200 gross air-to-water heat-pump quote. With the standard £7,500 BUS grant, customer contribution is £13,200 − £7,500 = £5,700. A separate eligible off-gas-grid property receiving the temporary £9,000 level would contribute £4,200. The £1,500 difference belongs to the grant level, not an installer discount. Ofgem and the installer must confirm eligibility.
Rules and responsibilities for this topic
Location
BUS applies in England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland use different support arrangements.
Application
The installer creates the application and voucher, while the owner confirms consent and should check all submitted details.
Technology conditions
Each supported technology has scheme rules, and biomass is limited to specified rural circumstances and emissions requirements.
How to make a sound decision
Start the boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide assessment with evidence from the property rather than a national average. Gather boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide evidence from recent bills, interval data where available, photographs, dimensions and details of the existing heating or electrical system. Write down which boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide outcome matters most, such as lower annual cost, reduced emissions, greater comfort or backup capability, because one quotation may not optimise all of them.
Compare at least three boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide proposals on an identical scope. Put the boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide equipment, enabling work, access, electrical changes, controls, commissioning, monitoring, warranties and aftercare into the same table. Where a boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide line is excluded, obtain a price or a clear explanation; a cheaper headline can become the dearer completed project when essential work appears later.
Stress-test the boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide calculation by reducing forecast performance and changing the tariff assumptions. Keep boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide capital cost, finance cost, maintenance, export income and avoided imports as separate lines. Simple payback for boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide is installed cost divided by annual benefit, but it is only a screening tool and cannot guarantee future tariffs, weather, household behaviour or product life.
Before accepting a boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide proposal, check the named installer, product certification, network or planning route, cancellation rights and complaints process. Save the signed boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide design, performance estimate, data sheets, approvals, photographs and commissioning records. Those boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide documents help with warranty claims, future maintenance and a later house sale.
Allow time to read the boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide paperwork away from a sales visit. Check that the final boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide contract agrees with the surveyed design and that every verbal promise appears in writing. Record who will handle permissions, metering, notifications and remedial work for boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide. If the boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide evidence conflicts, pause the order and obtain independent advice instead of guessing which assumption is correct.
Questions to ask the installer
- Which published grant amount applies to this property?
- What is the gross price before the voucher?
- Which eligibility condition have you checked?
- When does the voucher expire?
- What happens if Ofgem rejects or audits the claim?
- Which MCS certificate and handover records will I receive?
Put every boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide answer into the quotation or design pack so the evidence forms part of the comparison and proposed contract.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?
Ofgem currently lists £7,500 for eligible air-to-water, ground-source and water-source heat pumps, £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps and £5,000 for biomass. Certain eligible off-gas-grid heat pumps can receive £9,000 until 31 March 2027. Ask for this boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide point to be confirmed in the written design or funding evidence before you commit.
Does the homeowner apply for BUS?
The installer applies and manages the voucher through Ofgem. The property owner is asked to confirm consent and should verify the technology, price and property information. Never sign a blank or inaccurate consent declaration. Ask for this boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide point to be confirmed in the written design or funding evidence before you commit.
Can landlords use the scheme?
Some property owners, including private landlords, can qualify when the property and installation meet the rules. Social housing and new-build exclusions or special conditions may apply. Check the current Ofgem property-owner guidance before contracting. Ask for this boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide point to be confirmed in the written design or funding evidence before you commit.
Can BUS pay for a replacement gas boiler?
No. The scheme supports specified low-carbon heating technologies, not a new fossil-fuel boiler. The installation must meet the relevant rules and normally replace an eligible existing heating arrangement. Ask for this boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide point to be confirmed in the written design or funding evidence before you commit.
Is the £9,000 grant permanent?
No. Ofgem describes the enhanced amount for eligible off-gas-grid properties as available until 31 March 2027. Funding and rules can change, so check the official page and voucher timing before relying on it. Ask for this boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide point to be confirmed in the written design or funding evidence before you commit.
Use the next step
Test the boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide assumptions before requesting or accepting quotations. Check funding routes and keep the boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide result beside each installer’s written evidence.
Independent sources
- Energy Saving Trust, Air source heat pumps (accessed 3 October 2026) — consulted for boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide.
- Ofgem, Boiler Upgrade Scheme (accessed 3 October 2026) — consulted for boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide.
- Ofgem, Price-cap unit rates (accessed 3 October 2026) — consulted for boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide.
- MCS, Standards and tools library (accessed 3 October 2026) — consulted for boiler upgrade scheme uk 2026 guide.
Last updated .