A landlord considering a heat pump should begin with the current Boiler Upgrade Scheme rules and a survey of the property. Our September 2023 archive covered an earlier change in support; its old deadlines and eligibility wording should not be used for a new application.
What the current guidance says
GOV.UK describes the scheme as available in England and Wales. Property ownership can include a home rented to tenants, but other eligibility conditions still apply. The guidance excludes social housing and properties which have already received government support for a heat pump or biomass boiler, with specific rules for new builds and self-builds.
At the time of checking, the published grants include £7,500 for an air-to-water or ground-source heat pump, £5,000 for a biomass boiler and £2,500 for an air-to-air heat pump. Different technologies have different conditions; these are not interchangeable offers.
The government also lists an additional £1,500 for eligible air-source or ground-source installations until March 2027 where a property uses oil or LPG and has no mains gas connection. Confirm the applicable amount before accepting a quotation.
How the application works
The official process starts with quotations from MCS-certified installers and an eligibility check. The chosen installer applies to Ofgem on the owner’s behalf. The grant reduces the installation price and should appear on the quotation and invoice. It is not a reason to ignore the total cost or assume the whole project will be funded.
Questions worth asking
Ask what the proposed design needs beyond the heat pump itself: emitters, hot-water arrangements, electrical work, access and any permissions. Request a clear explanation of the expected operation, maintenance and assumptions behind running-cost estimates. Compare quotations on the same scope of work.
For an occupied rental home, plan access and disruption with the tenant. Agree how temporary loss of heating or hot water will be managed and provide a useful demonstration of the controls afterwards. Keep the commissioning paperwork, warranties and service contacts with the property records.
Funding rules do not determine whether a particular design is suitable for a particular building. Get property-specific advice before proceeding. This article was checked against GOV.UK’s scheme, eligibility, grant and application pages on 5 November 2026; check them again when applying.