£9,000 heat pump grant opens to oil and LPG households

Households in England and Wales that are off the gas grid and currently heat their homes with oil or LPG can now receive a £9,000 grant towards an air-source heat pump.

The increased support is available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme from 21 July. Eligible property owners begin by obtaining a quote from an installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. The installer then applies for the grant on the household’s behalf.

The government has also announced £50 million in targeted help for vulnerable, low-income households in rural areas. Heat pumps can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and may lower running costs when paired with suitable tariffs and a well-insulated home, although savings will vary by property.

This matters because rural households often face fewer heating choices and higher upfront costs when replacing old systems. The larger grant makes cleaner heating more accessible to people who might otherwise be unable to afford the switch. Readers should care because home heating is a major source of emissions and a significant household expense.