How does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme work for heating contractors?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) gives property owners in England and Wales a fixed grant towards a low-carbon heating system. That's £7,500 for most heat pumps, rising to £9,000 for some off-gas-grid homes. As the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installer, you apply on the owner's behalf with their consent, deduct the grant from the quote, and claim it from Ofgem.

In 2026, the government extended the scheme to 2030 and dropped the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirement from 28 April. A £9,000 uplift for qualifying oil and LPG replacements followed on 21 July 2026. Each technology has a fixed grant value, as listed in the GOV.UK grant table:

• Air-to-water heat pump: £7,500 off the installation cost
• Ground source heat pump (GSHP), including water source and shared ground loops: £7,500 off the installation cost
• Air-to-air heat pump: £2,500 off the installation cost, for residential properties only
• Biomass boiler: £5,000 off the installation cost, in limited circumstances
• Off-gas-grid uplift: £9,000 for an air-to-water heat pump or GSHP replacing a heating system fuelled by oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

You deduct the full grant upfront on the quote and show it on the invoice, as Ofgem requires. The customer pays the balance and does not receive any cash.

What changed in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in 2026?

The government extended the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2030 from 28 April 2026, under the amendment regulations. Ofgem issues vouchers while the budget for the financial year lasts. From the same date, a property no longer needs a valid EPC, according to the Ofgem installer guidance. If a valid one exists, you provide its number; if not, you provide alternative evidence, set out in the eligibility section below. For BUS purposes, a valid EPC is the most recent one for the property and no more than 10 years old.

The £9,000 uplift applies to applications properly made from 21 July 2026 until 31 March 2027. It covers air-to-water heat pumps and GSHPs in off-gas-grid homes and non-residential buildings where the heating system being replaced runs on oil or LPG, as the Ofgem installer guidance sets out. To qualify for the uplift, the property must:

• Not be fuelled by mains gas, and a capped or clamped supply still counts as gas
• Have no record of a gas meter point
• Not be connected to a heat network
• Not be a new build, with self-builds also excluded

Ofgem decides whether the uplift applies when it assesses the application, so the installer portal has no option to select it. A property that misses the uplift conditions can still get the standard £7,500 if it meets the other criteria. Check the fuel type and gas meter history at survey, so you can tell the customer early whether the higher grant is likely.

Why the Boiler Upgrade Scheme matters to heating contractors

BUS creates a direct pipeline of funded heat pump and biomass installation work for MCS certified contractors across England and Wales. Customers who could not afford to switch away from fossil fuel heating can now do so with government support, which opens up work for you.

Contractors who understand BUS eligibility and the application process can quote correctly and avoid the cost of rejected applications. A rejected application means a re-survey, a revised quote, and a difficult conversation with a customer who expected the job to go ahead. That friction starts at the quoting stage. When scope is unclear or evidence is missing from the outset, pricing becomes a guess and delivery suffers.

Ofgem can reject an application, or revoke a voucher, for reasons that sit within your control, as its installer guidance explains:

• The grant is not deducted upfront: failing to deduct the full grant from the quote can lead to rejection or revocation
• The owner does not consent in time: consent must arrive within 14 days of Ofgem's email, or the application expires and may be rejected
• Eligibility evidence is missing: an application is only properly made once Ofgem has everything it needs to assess eligibility

Knowing what disqualifies a property before you visit protects your team's time and your quote-to-installation conversion rate.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility: what to check before you quote

BUS eligibility depends on the property, the owner, and the existing heating system. Run these checks against the gov.uk eligibility criteria and the Ofgem installer guidance before you commit to a site visit. The core eligibility requirements are:

• Property location: must be in England or Wales
• Property type: homes and non-residential buildings can qualify for air-to-water heat pumps, GSHPs, and biomass boilers; air-to-air heat pumps are for residential properties only
• Ownership: the applicant must own the property, including one rented to tenants, a second home, or business premises, and you (the installer) apply on their behalf with their consent; a landlord must tell tenants how the installation affects them
• System ownership and finance: the owner must become the legal owner of the heat pump or biomass boiler, so hire-purchase, conditional sale, and consumer hire agreements are not eligible, while payment plans and unsecured personal loans can be
• Social housing: properties under section 68 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 are excluded, though a Right to Buy property that is now privately owned may qualify
• Current heating system: must be fossil fuel or electric heating; a property whose existing heating includes a heat pump is not eligible
• Previous funding: a property that has already received government funding for a heat pump or biomass boiler, including a previous BUS grant, is not eligible
• New builds: developer new builds are excluded, though a finished new build with a fossil fuel boiler may qualify
• Self-builds: heat pumps only, if built mainly with the first owner's labour or resources, never owned by a business, and outside any excluded development

What evidence replaces the EPC?

Where a valid EPC exists, you provide the certificate number. Where it does not, the Ofgem installer guidance asks for the following where available:

• A utility bill (gas or electric heating) or fuel receipt (oil, LPG, or coal) dated within the last three months, showing the installation address
• Photographs of the existing heating system, showing the heat source, its make and model, and where it sits
• The expired EPC number, if one is available

If you cannot supply that evidence, Ofgem will ask for alternatives case by case. MCS standards still apply to every job, including the system design and pre-sale information requirements, as the guidance notes.

Does the grant change with the size of the job?

The grant value stays fixed regardless of the size or cost of the installation. As an illustration, a £20,000 GSHP job receives the same £7,500 as a £12,000 one. Separately, VAT Notice 708/6 zero-rates the installation of heat pumps in residential accommodation until 31 March 2027, so confirm the VAT treatment of each job before you finalise the quote.

What technical requirements must a BUS installation meet?

Every BUS-funded system must meet the MCS standards approved for the scheme, use a new heat pump or biomass boiler, and fully replace the existing fossil fuel or electric heating. The Ofgem Product Eligibility List helps you spot products that meet the MCS standards, but it is an administrative tool: it is not exhaustive, it does not check SCOP, and an application can still be rejected where a product appears on it.

The key technical rules for heat pumps, from the Ofgem installer guidance, are:

• Efficiency: air-to-water heat pumps and GSHPs need an in situ seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of at least 2.8, calculated with the MCS SCOP calculator, which Ofgem checks against the MCS installation certificate
• Capacity: a maximum of 45kWth for a single system, or 70kWth for a multi heat pump (cascade) system
• Shared ground loops: a maximum of 300kWth in total, with no connected heat pump above 45kWth
• Sizing: the heat pump must be able to meet the full space heating needs of the property
• Supplementary heating: fossil fuel hybrids are not eligible, so any supplementary appliance alongside a heat pump must not burn fossil fuel

Timing matters too. The Ofgem installer guidance strongly recommends waiting for the voucher before you commission. Commissioning first is allowed at your own risk, and the voucher application must then be properly made within 120 days of the commissioning date. Later applications are ineligible, including re-applications.

When does a biomass boiler qualify?

Biomass boilers qualify only in a narrow set of rural properties, as the Ofgem installer guidance sets out. The property and system must meet every one of these conditions:

• The property sits outside any settlement of more than 10,000 people
• The property is not connected to the gas grid, and a capped or clamped supply still counts as connected
• The boiler holds a valid emissions certificate
• The boiler meets the full space heating and hot water needs on its own, with no supplementary appliances
• The property is not a self-build
• The boiler capacity does not exceed 45kWth

What installers need to confirm before submitting a BUS application

Your business must hold current MCS certification for the technology you are installing, and a temporary certification number does not count. Without it, you cannot submit a BUS voucher application. You must also belong to an approved consumer code, such as RECC or HIES. If you are on the MCS redeveloped installer scheme, MCS:2025 itself counts as the approved consumer code.

Beyond certification, four responsibilities in the installer guidance sit with you before submission:

• Property survey and evidence: confirm the current heating type and system suitability, then gather the EPC number or alternative evidence, plus evidence of the previous heating system
• Homeowner consent: you apply on the applicant's behalf with their consent, so agree the application and tell them to expect Ofgem's email, an identity check, and a possible audit visit
• System design and SCOP: follow MCS design standards, and make sure the in situ SCOP reaches 2.8 for air-to-water heat pumps and GSHPs
• Quote presentation: show the full installation cost and the BUS grant deduction on the quote and the invoice; Ofgem also asks for the total with and without the grant and the cost of the heat pump or boiler unit, so those figures must match the quote you give the owner

If you are new to the scheme, sign up with Ofgem to create your BUS installer account. You complete an account creation form and send it with proof of identity, proof of home address, and a business bank statement. Ofgem advises doing this two to three weeks before your first application. Getting these steps right first reduces the risk of rejection and protects the time your team has already invested in the job.

How the Boiler Upgrade Scheme application process works

You manage every stage of the application on the property owner's behalf, in a fixed sequence set out in the Ofgem installer guidance. The process runs in this order:

1. Survey the property, confirm eligibility, and gather supporting evidence
2. Provide a quote showing the full cost with the BUS grant deducted
3. Submit the voucher application through the Ofgem BUS installer portal
4. The owner consents through the link in Ofgem's email within 14 days, or the application expires and may be rejected
5. Ofgem issues the voucher, valid for three months for air-to-water, air-to-air, and biomass systems, or six months for GSHPs
6. Complete the installation, commission the system, and issue the MCS installation certificate within the voucher window
7. Submit the voucher redemption application; once Ofgem approves it, Ofgem pays you

Track each job's voucher issue date against your installation schedule. If a voucher expires, you can reapply, but where the system is already commissioned the 120-day limit still applies to the new application, as the guidance explains.

What records does Ofgem expect you to keep?

Ofgem audits BUS installations by desk review or site visit, and the installer guidance requires you to keep copies of the information behind each voucher and redemption application for six years from the date you made it. Keep surveys, quotes, evidence of the previous heating system, MCS certificates, and invoices where you can retrieve them quickly.

Two further rules in the Ofgem guidance protect your claim:

• Grant amount: you must not request or accept the grant amount from the customer
• Other funding: the installation cannot also receive other public grant funding, including the Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

The Ofgem page for installers lists the current scheme requirements, so check it before each new application.

Managing Boiler Upgrade Scheme jobs without losing paperwork

Each BUS job carries a set of documents: evidence of the previous heating system, the quote, the MCS installation certificate, the invoice, and the voucher reference. When those documents sit across email threads and shared drives, they take longer to pull together for a redemption or an audit.

Joblogic keeps them on one job record, whether your team works in HVAC or plumbing and heating. A quote carries labour and parts costs as line items, and once the owner accepts it, it converts into a live job. Engineers attach photos and documents to the job from the mobile app on site, so the evidence is on the record before they leave the property. Invoices generate from the completed job.

Joblogic also records the installed heat pump or biomass boiler as an asset, with its service history from the first visit, in the asset register. That asset record becomes the foundation for planned maintenance contracts and warranty visits, which extend the commercial value of a BUS installation well beyond the first job.

Heat pumps that contain F gas are also subject to the F-gas leak check rules: equipment holding 5 tonnes of CO2e or more needs regular leak checks, while hermetically sealed equipment holding under 10 tonnes is exempt. Where a system needs them, Joblogic's F-gas compliance feature lets engineers record each leak check on mobile and keeps the F-gas logbook for the asset up to date.

Contractors who set up planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedules against those assets at installation have visits raised automatically at the agreed frequency. PPM contracts are available on the Premium and Enterprise plans; the plan comparison shows what each plan includes. Joblogic's maintenance management platform keeps those asset registers and schedules in one place for office and field teams.

If you need dedicated compliance management, Joblogic Compliance (powered by Clik) is a separate product that keeps compliance documents organised and ready for an audit.

What should heating contractors do next with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The 2026 changes remove the EPC barrier, and the £9,000 uplift runs only until 31 March 2027. The uplift is only for off-gas-grid customers on oil or LPG, so identify them in your customer list now.

The rules that cost you money are the timing ones: the 14-day consent window, the voucher expiry, and the 120-day commissioning limit. Build those dates into how you schedule and track every BUS job, and keep your records for the full six years.

To see how one job record can hold every BUS document from quote to redemption, book a demo with one of our specialists.

Frequently asked questions

Does a property that already has a heat pump qualify for a BUS grant to replace it?

No. The existing system must be fossil fuel or electric heating without a heat pump. A property that has already received government funding for a heat pump or biomass boiler, including a previous BUS grant, is also ineligible, as the Ofgem installer guidance sets out.

Can a private landlord claim a BUS grant for a rental property they do not live in?

Yes, if they own the property, including one rented to tenants. The applicant must own the property, and you (the installer) apply on their behalf with their consent. A landlord must tell tenants how the installation affects them. Social housing under section 68 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 is excluded. See the gov.uk eligibility criteria and the Ofgem guidance.

What happens if the homeowner does not respond to the Ofgem consent email within 14 days?

The application expires and may be rejected. You can make a new application, so ask the owner to watch for Ofgem's email and consent through the link promptly. The 14-day consent window is set by Ofgem.

Does the BUS grant value change based on how much the installation costs?

No. The grant is fixed by technology: £7,500 for an air-to-water heat pump or GSHP, £5,000 for biomass, and £2,500 for air-to-air. The £9,000 uplift applies only where Ofgem confirms a qualifying oil or LPG replacement in an off-gas-grid property. The current values are on GOV.UK.

Can customers pay for a BUS-funded heat pump with finance?

Yes, if the property owner becomes the legal owner of the heat pump. Payment plans and unsecured personal loans can be eligible. Hire-purchase, conditional sale, and consumer hire agreements are not, according to the Ofgem installer guidance.

Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme available in Scotland or Northern Ireland?

No. The scheme covers England and Wales only. In Scotland, property owners can apply for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan instead.

When does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme end?

The scheme has been extended to 2030, following the amendment regulations that came into force on 28 April 2026. Ofgem issues vouchers while the budget for the financial year lasts, so check Ofgem's guidance before you promise a customer a date.

Can the BUS grant be combined with other grants?

No. You cannot combine a BUS grant with other public grant funding, including the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), for the same installation. The Ofgem installer guidance lists this as a grant funding restriction.