Who can apply for a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?
Homeowners, private landlords and self-builders may apply for a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for an eligible property in England or Wales. The installer submits the application on the property owner’s behalf, after confirming that the heat pump and home meet the scheme’s requirements.
Eligibility depends on two things: you must have authority to approve the work, and the property must meet the Boiler Upgrade Scheme rules. The installer must also confirm that the proposed heat pump is suitable for the home.
Homeowners can apply through their installer. This includes owners of houses, flats and rural properties. An off-gas-grid home is not excluded. If your existing heating uses oil or LPG, it may meet the scheme’s requirement for replacing a fossil-fuel system.
Private landlords can apply for eligible rental properties. The landlord remains responsible for approving the installation and meeting the scheme conditions. A tenant cannot normally apply for the grant independently, even if they pay the heating bills. Leaseholders and owners of flats may also need permission from a freeholder or managing agent before external equipment or shared pipework can be installed.
Social housing providers may apply under the scheme’s separate rules. The provider must show that it has authority to carry out the work and that the property meets the relevant technical and funding conditions.
The property must usually be in England or Wales. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is not the scheme used for homes in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Different funding arrangements apply in those nations, so the location must be confirmed before an assessment proceeds.
The home normally needs a valid Energy Performance Certificate. The EPC must not contain outstanding recommendations for cavity wall or loft insulation, unless the property is exempt from that requirement. This does not mean every home needs perfect insulation before a heat pump can be considered. It means the specific EPC conditions must be checked first.
Older houses can still qualify. Solid-wall construction, an older heating system, an oil boiler or an LPG boiler does not automatically rule out funding. These features do affect the design, however. We look at heat loss, room sizes, insulation, radiator output, pipework and the available electrical supply before confirming that a heat pump is appropriate.
New-build homes are generally treated differently. A property that has been built and sold as a new home will not usually qualify through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Some self-build properties may be eligible, provided they meet the scheme’s definition and the other conditions. We check the property’s status rather than assuming that a recently completed home is included.
The replacement system must be an eligible low-carbon heating installation. The grant is not for repairing an existing boiler, replacing it with another gas or oil boiler, or installing ordinary electric heaters. The proposed heat pump must meet the scheme’s technical requirements, and the installation must be completed by an installer certified for the relevant work.
Your current heating system also matters. We record what is being replaced and how it supplies heat and hot water. An oil boiler, LPG boiler or mains-gas boiler may be relevant to the application, but the existing equipment must meet the scheme’s definition. We confirm this during the survey and explain any evidence needed.
Permission for the work is part of eligibility in practice. You need the legal right to approve the installation, including any changes to the external wall, roof, garden, plant room, consumer unit or heating controls. A listed building, leasehold flat or property in a sensitive planning area may need additional consent. Planning restrictions do not automatically prevent an application, but they can affect the design and timing.
The grant does not make every part of the project free. The final price can include the heat pump installation, radiators, hot-water cylinder, electrical alterations, insulation work, controls, groundwork and making good. We identify these items in the quotation, so you can see which costs relate to the funded installation and which remain yours.
Funding cannot be treated as guaranteed simply because a property has an EPC or an oil boiler. The scheme has rules about the applicant, the property, the existing heating and the proposed equipment. The grant position can also change, so we check the current requirements before submitting an application.
We begin with the property rather than the grant. The survey records the existing heating, insulation, radiators, pipe routes, electrical arrangements and space for the heat-pump equipment. If the home needs preparatory work, we explain why. If a heat pump is not suitable, we say so rather than force the design to fit the funding.
Once the project meets the requirements and you decide to proceed, we complete the grant paperwork as part of the installation process. You receive a written quotation before work starts, including the expected contribution from you and any work outside the grant.
The grant is linked to an eligible installation, not simply to the person who owns the property. We first establish who has authority to approve the heating changes and who needs to be involved in the decision.
That matters when a home is rented, leasehold or jointly managed. Bringing the relevant decision-maker into the assessment early helps prevent delays when the proposed system, quotation and grant paperwork are prepared.
