The £7,500 Heat Pump Government Grant

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme explained in plain English — what it is, who qualifies, and how it works

What Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme — often called the BUS grant — is money from the UK government that helps homeowners replace their old gas, oil, or LPG boiler with a heat pump. The idea is simple: the government wants to help people move away from fossil fuels, and to make that easier they will pay £7,500 towards the cost of your heat pump installation.

You do not receive the £7,500 as cash. Instead, it is deducted directly from your installation bill. So if your heat pump costs £14,000 to install, you only pay £6,500. The government pays the rest straight to your installer.

Flow Energy handles the grant application on your behalf. You do not need to fill in any government forms or deal with any paperwork — we take care of all of it.

How Does the Money Work?

Here is a simple example of how the grant reduces what you pay:

Total installation cost

£14,000

BUS grant deducted

− £7,500

You pay

£6,500

The grant is paid by the government directly to Flow Energy after your system is commissioned and signed off. You never need to handle the grant money yourself — it simply comes off your bill.

Do I Qualify?

Most homeowners in England, Scotland, and Wales who are replacing a fossil fuel boiler will qualify. Here are the key criteria in plain English:

You own the property

The grant is available to homeowners. If you own your home outright or have a mortgage, you qualify on this point. Landlords can also apply for properties they own.

You are replacing an existing heating system

Your current heating system must be a gas, oil, or LPG boiler — or electric storage heaters. You cannot use the grant to replace an existing heat pump.

Your property is in England, Scotland, or Wales

The scheme covers the whole of Great Britain. Properties in Northern Ireland are not eligible under this scheme.

Your property has a valid EPC

Your home needs a current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If you do not have one, we can arrange this as part of the process. The EPC does not need to show a high rating — it just needs to exist and be current.

No outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation on your EPC

If your EPC recommends loft insulation or cavity wall insulation and those works have not been done, you will need to complete them first — or provide evidence that they are not suitable for your property (for example, if you have solid walls). This is the most common reason people are initially ineligible, but it is usually straightforward to resolve.

The installation is carried out by an MCS-accredited installer

The heat pump must be installed by a company that holds MCS accreditation. Flow Energy is MCS accredited, so this is taken care of automatically.

Who does not qualify?

New-build properties — the scheme is for existing homes only

Properties replacing an existing heat pump

Properties in Northern Ireland

Properties where the installer is not MCS accredited

Not Sure If You Qualify?

Do not worry — the quickest way to find out is to get in touch. We check grant eligibility as part of every enquiry, and we will tell you honestly whether you qualify and what, if anything, needs to be done first.

The most common issue we come across is outstanding insulation recommendations on an EPC. In most cases this can be resolved quickly, and we can advise you on the best way to do that.

If you are not eligible right now, we will explain why and what steps would make you eligible in the future. There is no obligation and no pressure.

How the Process Works

From first enquiry to grant paid — here is what to expect

Get an online estimate

Use our quote tool to get an instant estimate based on your property's EPC data. This gives you a ballpark figure including the grant deduction before you commit to anything.

Book a survey

If the estimate looks right for you, book a full heat loss survey. This is a detailed technical visit where we design your system properly and confirm the final price.

We apply for the grant

Once you accept the quote and pay your deposit, we submit the grant application to Ofgem on your behalf. You do not need to do anything — we handle all the paperwork.

Installation

We install your heat pump system, typically over 4–5 days. The £7,500 grant is already factored into your agreed price — you do not pay it and wait for a refund.

Commissioning and grant payment

Once the system is commissioned and signed off, we submit the completion paperwork to Ofgem. The £7,500 is then paid directly to Flow Energy, closing out the grant. Your bill is already settled — nothing more to do.

Ready to Claim Your £7,500 Grant?

Contact Flow Energy today to arrange a survey. We will check your eligibility, handle the grant application, and install your system from start to finish.

Request a Survey