The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme – Renewable Heating Subsidy

Believe it or not, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is almost a year old. Below are responses to some of the most commonly asked questions we’ve seen on the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme scheme.

As we’re sure you can imagine, we’ve seen lots of questions on the scheme. Considering air source or ground source heating and not familiar with the BUS scheme? Head over to our Boiler Upgrade Scheme webpage for further info on the ins and outs.

Am I eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is open to all homeowners and small businesses. The BUS scheme gives all homes and small businesses the opportunity to install a renewable heating solution.

The scheme isn’t means tested and can be claimed by anyone who’s property meets the scheme’s criteria.

The property is a second home or a holiday let, can I claim the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

Again, yes!

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme can be claimed on any property you own, whether you live there, it’s a second home, rented out or even a business. You can claim the BUS scheme only once per property but can be claimed on multiple properties by one customer.

Furthermore, self builds are also eligible. If you are building a home to occupy or to rent, then the BUS scheme can be claimed. New build developments aren’t currently eligible at this time.

How much can I claim from the BUS Scheme?

GreenGenUK is MCS-approved to install air source and ground source heat pumps under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Customers installing air source heating can claim £7,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Visit our Air Source Heat Pump page for more info on how air source heating can benefit you.

Customers installing ground source heating can claim £7,500 towards the cost of their installation. Visit our Ground Source Heating page to see how a ground source heat pump installation could benefit you.

In a retrofit scenario where we are replacing an existing system, the Upgrade Scheme payment is deducted from the amount the customer pays. If your project is a new build, the subsidy is claimed when the project is signed off and an EPC can be issued.

If you opt for an air source heat pump or ground source heat pump installation through GreenGen, we will deal with all the BUS application paperwork on your behalf. Taking the stress out of it for you!

Is there a limit on how many people can claim the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

Yes. The pot for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is £450,000,000. Effectively, there is 30,000 vouchers per year for three years. Vouchers are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis – once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Will my home meet the requirements of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The great thing about the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme is it’s very easy to access for everyone. Most people’s home will meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme right away.

With recent changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) it’s made it easier for homeowners to access grants for heat pump installations. As of March 2024, the requirement for homes to have loft or cavity wall insulation, which was previously part of the eligibility criteria, has been removed. Now, homeowners only need to provide a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to qualify for the £7,500 grant​.

​The only other things you need are to be replacing a fossil fuel system and to install through an MCS-approved installation – such as GreenGen!

Where can I get an EPC?

Firstly, it’s always worth checking to see if your home already has an EPC. If you’ve bought or rented out your property recently, the chances are it will. Use the link below to search the government’s EPC register where you can check:

Find an Energy Performance Certificate

If you need a new certificate, one of GreenGen’s in-house assessors can discuss this with you. You’ll also be able to use the above website to find a list of assessors near to your property.

I have electric heating, can I claim a BUS voucher?

Yes! As long as your home is currently heated by a fossil fuel system – oil boiler, gas boiler, electric radiators, night storage heaters, fuel stoves etc. – then you can claim up to £7,500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Basically, any home not already heated by a renewable system can be eligible.

Does the system need to supply heating and hot water?

Your proposed air source or ground source system will need to supply all of your property’s primary space heating and hot water load. Secondary inputs are fine, such as wood burners or immersion heaters, but hybrid setups will not be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

I am small business, can I claim the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

Yes… and also no.

The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme is available on both domestic and non-domestic renewable heating installations. However, system output must not exceed more than 45kWth. In reality, this means an office building might be eligible whereas as a large warehouse might not.

Are you a business considering air source or ground source heating? One of GreenGen’s designers will be able to advise on whether your premises will be eligible.

Looking for more details?

Have a question on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme that we’ve not cleared up here? Give us a call or fill out the enquiry form and one of our experts will be happy to offer some advice.