The name trips a lot of people up. Despite the word "boiler", the government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme won't pay for a new gas boiler. It helps homes in England and Wales switch to low-carbon heat, mostly heat pumps.

There's no income test and no benefit check, which makes it very different from ECO4. Instead, eligibility depends on where you live, what heats your home today, and who fits the new system. A big rule change in April 2026 also let in many homes that were shut out before.

Which Homes Can Apply?

Your property must sit in England or Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland run separate support, so this grant doesn't reach them.

Ownership matters more than the type of building. These can usually apply:

• Homeowners, including those with a mortgage
• Private landlords
• Small businesses and charities with their own premises
• People building their own home

Social housing falls outside the scheme, as do most new homes built by developers. If you rent privately, your landlord makes the claim, not you.

Good news for anyone worried about means tests: a boiler upgrade scheme grant isn't means-tested. A family on a high income qualifies just as easily as a pensioner on a low one.

What Heating Must You Be Replacing?

Think of the grant as a swap. You take out an old fossil-fuel or electric system and put low-carbon heating in its place. Systems that count include:

• Mains gas boilers
• Oil or LPG boilers
• Coal or solid fuel heating
• Electric storage heaters or panel heaters

Already own a heat pump and want a newer one? That won't qualify, because nothing fossil-fuelled is being removed.

For a heat pump that runs radiators, the new system also has to cope with the whole home. It must supply all your space heating and hot water, not just a few rooms.

Do You Still Need an EPC or Insulation?

Not since 28 April 2026. Before that date, a valid Energy Performance Certificate was compulsory. Worse, an EPC that recommended loft or cavity wall insulation could block your application outright.

Both hurdles are gone now. If your home has no certificate, your installer gathers other proof that the property qualifies. You don't have to dig out paperwork yourself.

Still, skipping insulation is rarely smart. A heat pump works at lower temperatures than a boiler, so a draughty house can push your running costs up. Plugging the worst gaps first usually pays off.

How Much Could Your Home Receive?

The amount depends on the system you choose, and on the fuel it replaces.

Off-grid homes on oil gain the most right now. If that's you, the £9,000 window makes this the strongest moment to act since the scheme began.

People comparing air source heat pump government grants should note one more limit. You can't stack this grant with ECO4 funding for the same heating job.

Who Has to Fit the System?

Here's where plenty of claims fall apart. Only an installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) can apply for the grant, and they do it on your behalf.

The rules also protect your wallet. Your installer must take the full grant off the quote before you pay anything. If a firm asks you to pay the whole price and claim money back later, walk away.

Two quick checks before you sign:

1. Search the installer's name on the MCS website to confirm their certificate.
2. Make sure the quote shows the grant deducted as a separate line.

The scheme now runs until 2030, so there's no year-end rush. The temporary oil and LPG top-up is the exception.