Quick answer: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives Yorkshire homeowners a £7,500 government grant towards an air source heat pump in England and Wales. You need a valid EPC and a fossil-fuel system to replace. An MCS-certified installer applies for the grant on your behalf and deducts it from your quote.
What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a government grant run by Ofgem that helps homeowners in England and Wales swap a fossil-fuel boiler for a low-carbon heating system. For Yorkshire households the headline figure is a £7,500 grant towards an air source heat pump — the same amount is available for a ground source heat pump. The grant is paid to your installer and comes straight off the price you pay, so there is no waiting for a rebate after the work.
The scheme is designed to reduce the upfront cost of switching away from gas, oil or LPG heating. It is administered through MCS-certified installers like air source heat pump installers, who handle the paperwork end to end. You can read the full mechanics on our Boiler Upgrade Scheme guide.
| Detail | Boiler Upgrade Scheme (2026) |
|---|---|
| Grant — air source heat pump | £7,500 |
| Grant — ground source heat pump | £7,500 |
| Where it applies | England & Wales (incl. Yorkshire) |
| Who applies | Your MCS-certified installer, on your behalf |
| How it's paid | Deducted from your installation quote |
| Batteries / solar PV eligible? | No — heat pumps only |
| Administered by | Ofgem (gov.uk) |
Figures indicative — verified June 2026; confirm current terms on gov.uk before committing.
Am I eligible? BUS rules for Yorkshire homeowners
Eligibility is straightforward but specific. To qualify for the £7,500 grant on an air source heat pump, your property and project generally need to meet the following conditions:
- Location: the property must be in England or Wales — which covers all of Yorkshire, from Hull and the East Riding through to North Yorkshire.
- Replacing a fossil-fuel system: the heat pump must replace an existing fossil-fuel heating system, such as a gas, oil or LPG boiler. New-build homes are generally excluded.
- Valid EPC: you need a valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property (more on this below).
- MCS certification: both the installer and the heat pump must be MCS certified for the grant to be claimed.
- Property type: the scheme is open to owner-occupied homes, private landlords and small non-domestic properties, subject to the standard rules.
You do not need to be on any particular income level — unlike the council-run ECO4 and LA Flex schemes (which target low-income and EPC D-G households and run to 31 March 2026), BUS is open regardless of income, provided the property and system criteria are met.
The EPC rule explained
Your property needs a valid EPC to access the grant. Historically the EPC also needed to have no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, so it is worth checking your certificate before you start. Most Yorkshire homes already have an EPC from a previous sale or rental; if yours has expired (EPCs last 10 years) or has outstanding insulation recommendations, your installer will flag this during the survey. A good MCS installer will tell you exactly what, if anything, needs sorting before the application can proceed.
How an MCS installer claims the £7,500 for you
The single most important thing to understand is that you do not apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme yourself. The grant is claimed by an MCS-certified installer on your behalf, and the value is taken off your quote. Here is the typical sequence:
- Survey and quote. Your installer assesses heat loss, radiators and hot water needs, then designs a heat pump system sized for your home.
- EPC check. They confirm you have a valid EPC and that the property qualifies.
- Grant application. The installer applies to Ofgem for the £7,500 voucher before work begins.
- Installation. The air source heat pump is fitted, commissioned and registered with MCS.
- Grant redemption. The £7,500 is redeemed and shown as a deduction on your final invoice — you only pay the balance.
For Yorkshire homeowners, working with a local MCS-certified team matters: heat loss surveys and aftercare are far easier with an installer that covers your area. YEERS is a Hull-based, MCS-certified installer serving Hull, East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and we manage the full BUS application as part of the job.
What does an air source heat pump cost after the grant?
The £7,500 grant makes a meaningful dent in the upfront cost. Air source heat pump prices vary with property size, radiator upgrades and hot water cylinder requirements, so always rely on a surveyed quote rather than a headline number. As an indicative guide for a typical Yorkshire home:
| Item | Indicative figure |
|---|---|
| BUS grant deducted | £7,500 |
| VAT on installation | 0% until 31 March 2027 (reverts to 5% on 1 April 2027) |
| Yorkshire annual solar yield (4kW PV, for comparison) | ~3,400–3,650 kWh/yr |
Indicative only — verified June 2026. Your final price depends on your survey.
A useful bonus: 0% VAT applies to domestic heat pumps (and solar PV and battery storage, including standalone batteries since 1 February 2024) until 31 March 2027, after which it reverts to 5% on 1 April 2027 (HMRC VAT Notice 708/6). Some installers incorrectly quote 31 January 2027 — the correct date is 31 March 2027, so you have until then to benefit from the zero rate.
Heat pumps and solar: a stronger Yorkshire home
Many Yorkshire homeowners pair a heat pump with solar PV to cut running costs further. While batteries and solar are not BUS-eligible, they benefit from the same 0% VAT window, and a well-sized 4kW array generating around 3,400–3,650 kWh a year in Yorkshire can offset much of a heat pump's electricity draw. Add a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff and any surplus you export is paid for — Octopus Outgoing Fixed sits around 15p/kWh in 2026, with time-of-use tariffs (such as Intelligent Octopus Flux or Outgoing Agile) paying more at peak, up to around 27p/kWh. SEG rates are indicative — verified June 2026; check the current rate with your supplier, and an export tariff needs MCS certification plus a smart meter. If you want one team for solar, battery, heat pump and EV charging, that's exactly what YEERS provides, backed by a 10-year workmanship warranty.
Timeline: how long does it take?
From first enquiry to a working heat pump, most straightforward Yorkshire installations complete within a few weeks. The grant application is submitted before work starts and is handled entirely by your installer, so it rarely adds delay. The realistic stages are: survey and design, EPC confirmation, grant pre-approval, then installation and commissioning over a few days on site. Because the £7,500 is deducted at invoice, there is no lengthy rebate wait afterwards.
Ready to see your numbers? Learn more about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or get a tailored quote from our air source heat pump installers — we'll confirm your eligibility and handle the £7,500 grant for you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in 2026?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides a £7,500 grant towards an air source heat pump in England and Wales, including across Yorkshire. The same £7,500 is available for a ground source heat pump. The grant is deducted directly from your installation quote by your MCS-certified installer.
Do I apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme myself?
No. You do not apply directly. An MCS-certified installer applies to Ofgem for the grant on your behalf before work begins, then redeems it and shows the £7,500 as a deduction on your final invoice, so you only pay the balance.
What are the eligibility rules for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in Yorkshire?
Your property must be in England or Wales, you must have a valid EPC, and the heat pump must replace an existing fossil-fuel system such as a gas, oil or LPG boiler. Both the installer and the heat pump must be MCS certified. There is no income limit.
Do I need an EPC to claim the £7,500 grant?
Yes. A valid Energy Performance Certificate is required. EPCs last 10 years, and your certificate may need no outstanding insulation recommendations. Your MCS installer will check this during the survey and tell you if anything needs addressing before applying.
Can I get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for a solar battery?
No. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers air source and ground source heat pumps only. Solar panels and battery storage are not BUS-eligible, although they do qualify for 0% VAT on installation until 31 March 2027, after which it reverts to 5%.
How long does a heat pump installation take after applying?
Most straightforward Yorkshire installations complete within a few weeks, covering survey and design, EPC confirmation, grant pre-approval, then a few days of installation and commissioning. Because the £7,500 is deducted at invoice, there is no lengthy rebate wait afterwards.
Last updated June 2026 · YEERS — MCS-certified renewable installers, Hull & Yorkshire.
