Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) Calculator
Check whether you qualify for the £7,500 BUS heat pump grant in 60 seconds. Works for England, Wales, Scotland (HES) and Northern Ireland — current 2026 rules.
gov.uk current rules
£7,500 BUS grant · check eligibility
England, Wales, Scotland (HES) & Northern Ireland rules all covered — current for 2026, valid through 2028.
Quick answer: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) gives you £7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump in England and Wales. It's deducted from your invoice by your MCS installer — you never see the money. Eligibility: own your home, valid EPC, no outstanding insulation recommendations. Scotland uses the parallel Home Energy Scotland scheme (also up to £7,500). NI uses the smaller Boiler Replacement Scheme. Extended to 2028.
Your grant amount
£7,500
Boiler Upgrade Scheme — England
Status
Eligible ✓
Apply by
March 2028
Looking good. Your installer will apply for the grant on your behalf and deduct £7,500 from your invoice. Allow 4-8 weeks from quote to grant approval.
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The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme explained
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is the UK government's main domestic heat pump grant. Launched May 2022 and extended in the 2024 Spring Statement, it pays out a flat grant per installation:
- £7,500 for an air source heat pump
- £7,500 for a ground source heat pump (including water source)
- £5,000 for a biomass boiler (rural off-gas-grid homes only)
The grant is paid directly to your MCS-certified installer by Ofgem after the system is commissioned. You never handle the money — it's simply deducted from your invoice.
Eligibility — the four things that matter
- You own the property (or are the landlord of a private rental). Tenants can't apply directly.
- The property has a valid EPC (issued in the last 10 years).
- The EPC has no outstanding insulation recommendations — specifically loft insulation and cavity wall insulation must already be done or marked "not recommended" by the EPC assessor. Other recommendations (LED bulbs, draught proofing) don't block the grant.
- The installer is MCS-certified for the heat pump type they're installing.
What's NOT eligible for BUS
- Hybrid heat pumps (heat pump + gas boiler combo) — no grant since April 2023
- New build properties under 12 months old — assumed to come with heat pump by design
- Holiday homes and second homes not used as primary residence
- Properties with outstanding EPC insulation recommendations
- Self-installs — must be MCS-certified installer
- Heat networks (district heating connections)
Scotland — Home Energy Scotland scheme
Scotland runs its own version: the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan. It offers:
- £7,500 grant for an ASHP or GSHP
- Up to £1,500 bonus for rural and island properties
- Optional 0% interest loan for the remaining cost (up to £12,500)
Apply through Home Energy Scotland, not Ofgem. Their team books a free home survey before approving funding.
Northern Ireland — Boiler Replacement Scheme
NI's Boiler Replacement Scheme is smaller and only available to homeowners with annual income under £40,000. Grant amounts: £400–£1,700 typically. Heat pump-specific funding is being developed but not yet rolled out at BUS scale.
Wales — same as England
Welsh homeowners use the same BUS scheme as England — same £7,500 grant, same eligibility rules, same Ofgem-administered process. Apply through your MCS installer.
How the process works step-by-step
- Get an EPC if you don't have a valid one (~£60–£120 from a registered DEA)
- Complete any outstanding insulation recommendations on the EPC (loft, cavity wall)
- Get 3 quotes from MCS-certified installers — they'll typically apply for the grant pre-approval at quote stage
- Choose your installer and sign the contract (grant is already deducted from the quote)
- Installation takes 2–4 days for ASHP, 1–2 weeks for GSHP
- MCS commissioning & certificate issued same day
- Installer submits grant claim to Ofgem (or HES for Scotland)
- Grant paid to installer typically within 4–6 weeks
From first quote to grant-paid: 10–14 weeks is realistic in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?
Homeowners and private landlords in England and Wales with a valid EPC (no outstanding loft or cavity-wall insulation recommendations) qualify for the £7,500 BUS grant when installing an MCS-certified air source or ground source heat pump. Scotland uses Home Energy Scotland (also up to £7,500). Northern Ireland uses the Boiler Replacement Scheme (smaller amounts).
How do I claim the BUS grant?
You don't claim it yourself — your MCS-certified installer applies for the grant on your behalf and deducts it from your invoice. You just choose an installer, agree the quote (which already shows the grant deduction), and the installer handles all the Ofgem paperwork. No bank transfers, no forms for you to complete.
Is the BUS grant ending?
No. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme was extended in the 2024 Spring Statement to run until at least 2028, with funding boosted from £150m/year to £295m/year. There's no immediate expiry. However, individual yearly funding can run out if demand spikes — there have been occasional 1-2 month pauses in past years. Apply when you're ready; don't wait for an end date.
What if my EPC has insulation recommendations?
You must address them before claiming BUS. Most common blockers: loft insulation (£300–£500), cavity wall insulation (£500–£1,500). After installation, get a new EPC — once it shows the recommendation as complete, you can apply for BUS. Allow 4–6 weeks for the EPC update.
Can I get BUS as a tenant?
Not directly — the grant goes to the property owner. If you're renting, your landlord can apply (the property must be a private rental, not social housing). Some landlords are open to it: the heat pump adds property value and improves EPC rating, both upside for them. Ask in writing.
Can I combine BUS with other grants?
Yes for ECO4 (low-income insulation grants — these can be used to clear EPC recommendations first). No for double-dipping on heat pump grants — you can't claim BUS and HES Scotland for the same install. Local authority schemes (such as Greater London Authority's heat pump pilot) sometimes stack with BUS — check with your installer.
What if my installer goes bust mid-install?
MCS-certified installers are required to be members of a Consumer Code (HIES, RECC, etc.) which includes deposit protection and finishing-the-job insurance. If they fail before commissioning, the Code's insurer takes over and finds another installer to complete the job — BUS grant is preserved.