The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) ran until 31 December 2025 for applicants in England and Wales, according to an industry funding summary published by the Solid Wall Insulation Guarantee Agency1. The scheme offered households up to £7,500 towards replacing a boiler with an air source or ground source heat pump, or £5,000 towards a biomass boiler2.
The grant was claimed through an MCS accredited installer, who made the application on the householder's behalf2. Applicants needed a valid Energy Performance Certificate issued within the last 10 years with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation2. Hybrid systems, such as a heat pump installed alongside a backup gas boiler, were not covered2.
Accounts of the closing date differ. The Solid Wall Insulation Guarantee Agency lists the scheme as running from 26 May 2022 to April 20251. A Which? guide published on 17 September 2025 states the scheme was then set to run until the end of December 20272. A Warmzilla guide published on 26 September 2025 states the scheme ran until 31 December 20253. The government has not been reported as confirming a single position across these accounts.
The grant amounts and eligibility rules were widened during the scheme's life. The incentive rose from £5,000 to £7,500 and the rules were simplified during 2023 and 20243. Private landlords and second home owners were eligible1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grant for air source or ground source heat pump | Up to £7,5002 |
| Grant for biomass boiler | £5,0002 |
| Nations covered | England and Wales3 |
| Application route | MCS accredited installer applies on the householder's behalf2 |
| EPC requirement | Valid certificate from the last 10 years, no outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations2 |
| Hybrid systems | Not covered2 |
Why it matters for households
For a home that heats with gas, oil or direct electric, the BUS was the main route to public money for a heat pump, and it was paid at a fixed rate rather than as a means tested benefit. Its closure removes that route for anyone who had not applied by the closing date. The cost of a new or replacement boiler typically runs between £600 and £2,500 depending on the model and system type2, so the gap between a like for like boiler swap and a low carbon alternative is now wider for households that missed the window.
Other funding streams remain. The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is funded by the largest energy suppliers and covers insulation, heating improvements and, in some cases, renewable measures such as heat pumps or solar panels, with homes rated D to G typically qualifying3. The Great British Insulation Scheme, also called ECO+, was scheduled to run until March 2026 and covers homes in council tax bands A to D in England and A to E in Scotland and Wales with EPC ratings of D and below2. The Warm Homes: Local Grant, launched in April 2025, is delivered through local authorities in England and covers insulation, solar panels and low carbon heating for homes rated D to G3. None of these replaces the BUS on the same terms.
For a household weighing up a heat pump, the practical position is that the capital contribution that made the switch closer to cost neutral has ended, while the running cost case depends on the property, the system and the tariff. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is the subject of a fuller guide, and the grant amount and eligibility rules are set out separately. Households with a gas boiler can check the gas boiler position, and those comparing schemes can read BUS or ECO4 for a heat pump and BUS versus ECO4. Social housing providers have a separate page on social housing eligibility. Grant support in England and Wales is covered by nation, as are Scotland and Northern Ireland.
What happens next
No successor scheme to the BUS has been reported. The Great British Insulation Scheme was scheduled to run until March 20262, and ECO4 was listed as running from July 2022 to March 20261. The Warm Homes: Local Grant is delivered through local authorities in England, with applications made through council websites or GOV.UK3.