Boiler Upgrade Scheme Overhauled from April 2026: £9,000 Grants, Air-to-Air Heat Pumps, and No EPC Required

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) received its biggest shake-up on 28 April 2026, and it changes the maths for thousands of UK homeowners. The headline grant for air source and ground source heat pumps remains £7,500 for most properties, but certain homes can now claim up to £9,000. On top of that, air-to-air heat pumps are finally eligible, and you no longer need an Energy Performance Certificate to apply.

What Actually Changed on 28 April 2026?

Let's cut through the noise. Three major changes landed at the end of April, and each one matters for different reasons.

First, the grant uplift. Homes in specific categories, including those off the gas grid or in certain rural and hard-to-treat properties, can now receive £9,000 towards their heat pump installation rather than the standard £7,500. That extra £1,500 could be the difference between affording the switch and putting it off another year.

Second, air-to-air heat pumps are now an eligible technology under the BUS. Before 28 April 2026, only air-to-water and ground source systems qualified. This is a big deal because air-to-air units tend to be cheaper to buy and install, which means the grant covers a larger proportion of the total cost.

Third, the EPC requirement has been scrapped. Previously, you needed a valid Energy Performance Certificate for your property before your installer could apply. That's gone. The government recognised it was slowing applications down and creating unnecessary cost for homeowners who'd already decided to install a heat pump.

Who Gets the £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme Grant?

Not everyone qualifies for the higher amount, so it's worth understanding the criteria.

The £9,000 grant is targeted at homes that are harder or more expensive to decarbonise. If your property is off the mains gas grid, you're in the running. Homes heated by oil, LPG, or electric storage heaters are exactly the kind the government wants to move first, and the higher grant reflects the typically higher installation costs these properties face.

There's also talk of the uplift applying to older, less thermally efficient homes where heat pump systems need to work harder. Specific eligibility details are confirmed through your MCS certified installer at the point of application, so don't assume you qualify or don't qualify without checking.

For the majority of homes on the gas grid with relatively standard heating setups, the grant stays at £7,500. That's still a substantial amount. A typical air source heat pump installation runs between £10,000 and £14,000 before the grant, so you're looking at out-of-pocket costs starting from around £2,500 to £6,500 depending on the system and property.

Why Are Air-to-Air Heat Pumps Now Eligible?

Honestly, this one's been a long time coming. Air-to-air heat pumps have been popular across Europe for years, particularly in Scandinavia where they're fitted in millions of homes. They work by blowing warm air directly into rooms rather than heating water that flows through radiators.

The main advantage is cost. A single-split air-to-air unit can cost as little as £2,000 to £3,500 installed. With a BUS grant of £7,500 or even £9,000, many homeowners could have the installation fully covered or even have grant money left over (though the grant won't exceed the actual cost of the system).

There are trade-offs. Air-to-air systems don't heat your hot water, so you'd still need an immersion heater, a separate hot water heat pump, or another solution for showers and taps. They also work best in well-insulated, open-plan spaces. But for a flat, a bungalow, or a home that already has a hot water solution in place, they're a genuinely practical option.

Multi-split systems that serve several rooms push the price higher, typically £5,000 to £8,000 installed, but even then the grant covers most or all of it.

The EPC Requirement Is Gone. What Does That Mean for You?

If you applied for the BUS before 28 April 2026, you'll remember the EPC hurdle. You needed a certificate dated within the last ten years, and if you didn't have one, you had to pay £60 to £120 for an assessor to visit. It wasn't the end of the world, but it added time, cost, and an extra step that put some people off.

The government removed it because the data showed it was a barrier, not a benefit. Most homeowners applying for a heat pump grant had already done their homework on insulation and efficiency. Requiring them to get an EPC first was just box-ticking.

This doesn't mean insulation doesn't matter. Your MCS installer will still assess your home's heat loss and recommend appropriate insulation improvements. The difference is this assessment happens as part of the installation design rather than as a separate bureaucratic step.

How Does the £7,500 BUS Grant Work for Standard Homes?

The core mechanics of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme haven't changed, even with the overhaul. Here's how it works.

You find an MCS certified heat pump installer. They visit your home, design a system, and give you a quote. If you're happy, they apply for the BUS grant on your behalf through Ofgem's portal. Once approved, the grant is deducted from your bill, so you only pay the difference.

You don't receive the money yourself. It goes straight to the installer. This keeps things simple and means you never have to find the full amount upfront.

Here's a quick example. Sarah lives in a three-bedroom semi in Nottingham, still on a gas boiler from 2009. Her installer quotes £11,200 for an air-to-water heat pump with a hot water cylinder. The £7,500 BUS grant is applied, so Sarah pays £3,700. She sets up a 0% finance plan through the installer and pays it off over 24 months at about £154 a month.

The scheme runs until at least March 2028 based on current government commitments, but the number of vouchers per quarter is limited. Waiting too long in any given quarter risks missing out if allocation runs dry.

"I'm Worried Heat Pumps Won't Heat My Home Properly"

This is the objection that comes up more than any other, and it deserves a straight answer.

Modern heat pumps work perfectly well in UK homes, including older ones. The key is correct sizing and design. A poorly designed system will underperform, just like a gas boiler that's too small for the property would. The difference is that heat pumps run at lower flow temperatures than boilers, so your installer may recommend larger radiators in some rooms or suggest underfloor heating where possible.

In the real world, there are now over 250,000 heat pumps operating in UK homes, and satisfaction rates consistently sit above 80% in government surveys. The systems that disappoint tend to be ones where the installer cut corners on the heat loss survey or where the homeowner wasn't given proper advice on how to use the system.

And the inclusion of air-to-air heat pumps in the BUS actually helps here. If you've got a home that's tricky for a wet system, an air-to-air unit gives you another option entirely.

The single most important thing you can do is choose a good installer. MCS certification is the baseline, but checking reviews, asking for references, and getting at least three quotes will protect you from a bad job.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?

The £9,000 BUS grant is available for eligible properties, primarily those off the gas grid or classified as hard-to-treat homes. Your MCS certified installer checks your eligibility and applies on your behalf. You don't need to apply to Ofgem directly.

Can I get a grant for an air-to-air heat pump in 2026?

Yes. Since 28 April 2026, air-to-air heat pumps are eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. The system must be installed by an MCS certified installer, and the grant amount cannot exceed the total installation cost.

Do I still need an EPC to apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

No. The EPC requirement was removed on 28 April 2026. You no longer need a valid Energy Performance Certificate to apply for the BUS grant. Your installer will still carry out a heat loss assessment as part of the installation design process.

What's the difference between air-to-air and air-to-water heat pumps?

Air-to-water heat pumps heat water that flows through radiators or underfloor heating and also provide hot water for taps and showers. Air-to-air heat pumps blow heated air directly into rooms and don't provide hot water, so you'll need a separate solution for that. Air-to-air systems are typically cheaper to install.

How long will the Boiler Upgrade Scheme last?

The BUS is currently funded until March 2028. The government has allocated annual budgets through that date, but quarterly voucher allocations can run out. If you're planning to apply, it's worth getting quotes sooner rather than later to secure your place in the queue.

Find Your Local MCS Certified Installer

The BUS overhaul has made heat pumps accessible to more homeowners than ever before. Whether you're after the standard £7,500 grant, the £9,000 uplift, or want to explore the newly eligible air-to-air option, the first step is the same: find a qualified installer you trust. Use heatpumpinstallerdirectory.co.uk to search for MCS certified heat pump installers in your area, compare quotes, and get the process started while grant funding is still available.