The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero opened a consultation on 30 April 2025 on proposed amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and on certification requirements for clean heat schemes1. The consultation ran from 11am on 30 April 2025 to 11:59pm on 11 June 2025 and applied to England, Scotland and Wales1. It was published in two parts: Part 1 on amendments to the BUS, and Part 2 on certification of clean heat installations1.
Part 1 sought views on expanding eligibility for low carbon heating technologies, allowing new heat pump purchase options alongside the grant, reviewing barriers in the consumer installation journey, and enhancing consumer protection by simplifying certification requirements and requiring installers to deduct grants upfront2. Part 2 sought views on requiring the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) as the sole certification scheme for clean heat installations delivered through the BUS, Energy Company Obligation 4, Warm Homes: Local Grant and Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, and on removing the option for multiple certification schemes to certify installations2.
The consultation document states that the BUS had supported the installation of over 49,000 heat pumps and biomass boilers, amounting to £328 million in grants, and that the scheme "needs to grow significantly in the coming years"2. It also notes that the Clean Heat Market Mechanism launched on 1 April 2025, that the government announced almost doubling the budget to £295 million for 2025/26 on 21 November, and that it launched the "Warm and Fuzzy" heat pump marketing campaign in March 20252.
"We're seeking views on proposed amendments to the existing Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and to certification requirements for BUS and other clean heat schemes."
The consultation asked whether to allow property owners access to third-party ownership finance products alongside the scheme, whether to amend eligibility so BUS-funded heat pumps can be installed alongside other low carbon technologies, and whether to expand grant support to technologies not currently supported, such as air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries2. It also asked whether to mandate that installers deduct the grant value upfront rather than reimburse property owners after the grant value is received from Ofgem2.
Why it matters for households
The BUS provides capital grants towards the upfront cost of air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers, with all installers currently required to be members of MCS or an equivalent certification scheme and of a consumer code approved by the Secretary of State2. The proposals under discussion could change which technologies are eligible, how the grant is paid, and which certification route installers must use. For a household considering a heat pump, the grant amount and the application process are the practical points affected by these proposals. The consultation also covers the EPC requirement and whether a home with a gas boiler can access support. The certification proposals would apply across the BUS, ECO4 and the Warm Homes schemes, so the consumer protection arrangements for installations under those schemes would be aligned1.
What happens next
The consultation has concluded1. The government response to Part 2 was published on 31 October 2025, and the response to Part 1 was published on 18 November 20251. The government has decided to proceed with removing the option for multiple certification schemes to certify installations under the BUS, ECO4, Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund and Warm Homes: Local Grant1. This does not impact clean heat measures not currently required to be certified by MCS, such as heat networks, which will be covered by the forthcoming Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme, or measures covered by PAS 20301. The government describes this as an interim step ahead of longer-term system reforms to the consumer protection landscape, with detail to be set out as part of the Warm Homes Plan1.
Sources2 cited
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certification requirements for clean heat schemes - GOV.UK, gov.uk
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Certification Requirements Consultation, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk