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Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales)

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a grant for people in England and Wales replacing a fossil fuel heating system with an eligible heat pump or, in certain cases, a biomass boiler.

Region scope England and Wales
Editorial status Active

Eligibility

Eligibility checklist

  • You must own the property, including certain second homes, business buildings or properties let to tenants.
  • You must be replacing a fossil fuel heating system such as oil, gas, electric or LPG.
  • The property must have a valid EPC.
  • The installer must be MCS certified.
  • The work must be completed within the scheme timing rules after the application.
  • Biomass support has additional off-grid, rural and emissions conditions.

Apply

Steps to apply

  1. Contact suitable MCS certified installers and get quotes.
  2. Ask the installer to confirm whether your property and proposed system are eligible.
  3. Agree the quote with the installer you want to use.
  4. The installer applies on your behalf through Ofgem.
  5. Ofgem may contact you to confirm the installer is acting for you.
  6. If approved, the grant value is taken off the amount you pay for installation.

Documents

Required documents

  • Proof that you own the property.
  • A valid EPC.
  • Property details relevant to the installation.
  • For self-build cases, proof such as title deeds may be needed.
  • Installer and quotation details.

Value / benefit

What the support usually covers

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme can make the economics of a heat pump project much more workable, but it does not remove the need to compare full installation costs.

Pitfalls

Common pitfalls

  • Assuming any installer can apply.
  • Assuming the grant is paid directly to you in cash.
  • Assuming new build properties qualify automatically.
  • Missing the biomass-specific rural and off-grid rules.
  • Treating the EPC as optional.

Alternatives

Alternatives worth checking

  • If you are in Scotland, check the current Home Energy Scotland routes rather than this scheme.
  • If you are in Northern Ireland, check local energy-saving support because the old boiler replacement route is closed.
  • If your property does not qualify, start with efficiency upgrades and installer advice before ruling out a future low-carbon system.

Official sources

The links we checked first.

Change log

Change history

  1. April 1, 2026

    Refreshed eligibility summary and source links after editorial verification.

Editorial notes

Additional context

The body copy below lets editors capture nuance, edge cases, or source clarifications without turning the page into a wall of text.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme helps eligible property owners in England and Wales replace fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or, in more limited cases, a biomass boiler.

This is not a cash-for-any-boiler scheme. It is a structured grant with property rules, installer rules and system rules. In practice, the safest path is to confirm eligibility before you commit to the work.