The government published its response to the consultation on proposed amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations on 14 March 2024, confirming which changes it will make to the scheme in England and Wales1. The consultation ran from 9am on 31 August 2023 to 11:59pm on 12 October 2023 and drew 205 responses from organisations, trade bodies, industry professionals and members of the public1.
Under the outcome, the requirement for a valid Energy Performance Certificate generated in the last 10 years is retained, but the requirement to have no outstanding recommendations for loft and cavity wall insulation on that EPC will be removed1. Biomass boilers with an integrated cooking function become newly eligible for support1. The approach to commissioning dates also changes: an application will not be eligible if it is made for a system commissioned more than 120 days ahead of the application, where previously any system installed after scheme launch was eligible1.
On capacity, the government said it did not consult on a new limit for shared ground loops but that many responses and wider industry feedback raised it. The capacity limit for individual systems stays at 45kW, while the limit for shared ground loops rises to 300kW1. The response links this to making ground source heat pumps more financially viable, alongside the increased grant level of £7,5001.
The government also said it will future-proof the regulations by differentiating grant levels for properties off the gas grid and self-build properties. It said that because a grant uplift for all properties was recently introduced, it will not vary grant levels for these properties when the regulations come into force, but will be able to do so in future if necessary1.
"We will maintain the capacity limit for individual systems at 45kW, but the capacity limit for shared ground loops will be increased to 300kW, to help make ground source heat pumps more financially viable, alongside the increased grant level of £7,500."
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| EPC insulation recommendations | No outstanding loft and cavity wall insulation recommendations required | Requirement removed; valid EPC from last 10 years retained |
| Biomass boilers with integrated cooking function | Not eligible | Newly eligible |
| Commissioning date | Any system installed after scheme launch eligible | Not eligible if commissioned more than 120 days ahead of application |
| Shared ground loop capacity limit | Not stated in the outcome | 300kW |
| Individual system capacity limit | 45kW | 45kW |
Why it matters for households
The EPC change removes a barrier that affected homes whose certificates carried outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations, which is a common position for older properties. A valid EPC is still needed, so the certificate itself remains part of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility picture. Households weighing a biomass boiler now have a wider set of eligible models, including those that also cook. The 120-day commissioning rule tightens the sequence between installation and application, which bears on how the application works and on voucher redemption. The higher shared ground loop limit is aimed at larger ground source installations serving more than one property, which is relevant where homes share a loop rather than each having a separate system. The grant level referred to in the response is £7,500, and the grant amount remains as previously set.
What happens next
The government said it will announce the timing of these changes in the coming weeks and provide guidance for installers and consumers on how the changes will affect the application process1. No date for the regulations coming into force has been reported.