England Heat Pump Grant — £7,500 BUS
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is England's main domestic heat pump grant. Worth £7,500 for air source and ground source heat pumps, paid directly to your MCS-certified installer. Extended through 2028 with £1.5bn funding.
How the £7,500 grant works in England
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) launched in May 2022 and was extended in the 2024 Spring Statement through at least 2028, with funding boosted from £150m/year to £295m/year. It's administered by Ofgem and claimed by MCS-certified installers.
| Heat pump type | Grant | Eligible? |
|---|---|---|
| Air source heat pump (ASHP) | £7,500 | ✓ Yes |
| Ground source heat pump (GSHP) | £7,500 | ✓ Yes |
| Biomass boiler (rural only) | £5,000 | ✓ Off-gas-grid only |
| Hybrid heat pump | £0 | ✗ Excluded since April 2023 |
| High-temperature ASHP (R290) | £7,500 | ✓ Yes |
BUS eligibility in England — the four rules
- You own the property in England (or you're a private landlord — not council). Tenants can't apply directly.
- Property has a valid EPC (issued in the last 10 years). Find yours at gov.uk EPC finder.
- EPC has no outstanding insulation recommendations — loft and cavity wall insulation must be done OR marked "not recommended" by the assessor.
- Installer is MCS-certified for the specific heat pump type.
How to apply for BUS in England
Unlike Scotland's HES (where you apply first), BUS is applied for by your installer on your behalf. You don't fill out any forms or visit Ofgem's website. The flow:
Get a valid EPC
If yours is >10 years old or doesn't exist, book a DEA (£60-£120, 1 week turnaround).
Get 3 MCS quotes
Find installers via mcscertified.com. Each will pre-check BUS eligibility at quote stage.
Choose installer
The quote already shows £7,500 deducted. Sign contract, pay deposit if required.
Installer submits BUS pre-approval
Ofgem confirms eligibility within ~2 weeks. Installer schedules install.
Install + MCS commissioning
2-4 days for ASHP, 1-2 weeks for GSHP. MCS certificate issued same day.
Grant paid to installer
Ofgem releases £7,500 to installer within 4-6 weeks of commissioning.
Common BUS blockers in England
The most common reasons applications get held up:
- Outstanding EPC recommendations — fix loft/cavity insulation, then get a fresh EPC
- EPC expired (over 10 years old) — book a new DEA
- Listed building without Listed Building Consent — apply to local planning first
- Article 4 conservation area needing planning permission — apply to council (typical decision: 8 weeks)
- Non-MCS installer quote — switch to MCS-certified firm
- Brand new build (under 12 months) — not BUS-eligible
BUS vs HES Scotland — what's the difference?
| Feature | BUS (England/Wales) | HES (Scotland) |
|---|---|---|
| Grant amount | £7,500 | £7,500 + £1,500 rural bonus |
| 0% loan available? | No | Yes, up to £12,500 |
| Who applies? | Installer (auto) | You first, then installer |
| Free home survey? | No | Yes (required) |
| Income test? | No | No |
| End-to-end time | 10-14 weeks | 8-12 weeks |