Heat-pump grants offer £9,000, with fuller help needed for low-income homes

Eligible households replacing oil or LPG heating in England and Wales can get £9,000 towards a heat pump. National Energy Action has told Gilbert why some people still need a different kind of help to make the switch.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme’s extra £1,500, above the usual £7,500 air-source or ground-source grant, is available until March 2027 for properties without a mains gas connection. An installer applies on the household’s behalf, with the grant deducted from the installation price.

Asked whether the larger grant had made switching practical for low-income households unable to afford the remaining cost, the charity’s head of policy and public affairs, Matt Copeland, replied on 27 October: “BUS still remains out of reach for the people we support”.

He pointed instead to fully funded schemes such as the Warm Homes: Local Grant. In England, eligible households can receive council-arranged improvements, potentially including a heat pump, without paying for the agreed work. Funding availability and a home survey determine what can be offered: a route worth checking with your council.

Sources

• GOV.UK — original grant announcement, 26 June 2026
• GOV.UK — Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants
• GOV.UK — how the grant is applied
• Matt Copeland, National Energy Action — written response to Gilbert, 27 October 2026
• GOV.UK — Warm Homes: Local Grant eligibility and application