Boiler Upgrade Scheme Scotland
Boiler Upgrade Scheme Guide ·
Boiler Upgrade Scheme Scotland: Why It Doesn't Apply, and What to Use Instead
No, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is not available in Scotland. This is one of the most searched questions about the scheme, and the confusion is understandable: BUS is heavily promoted as a UK-wide heat pump grant, but it is legally restricted to England and Wales under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) Regulations 2022. Scotland was never included in its scope, and there are no plans to extend it.
Important: InstantGrant is an independent grant information and application-support service. We are not the UK government, Ofgem, Home Energy Scotland, or any funding body. All figures on this page are verified against Ofgem's published BUS scope and Home Energy Scotland's current scheme terms as of 12 September 2026. Always confirm current details directly with Home Energy Scotland before proceeding.
This guide explains exactly why BUS does not cover Scotland, what Scottish homeowners use instead, how the alternative compares in value, and what changed with the Great British Insulation Scheme closure in March 2026.
Why the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Does Not Cover Scotland
Energy policy for home heating grants is largely devolved in the UK, which means Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each run their own funding structures rather than sharing a single UK-wide scheme. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is specifically funded and administered for England and Wales only, through Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Scotland's devolved government funds its own equivalent through Home Energy Scotland instead, which is why searching for a Scottish BUS installer or trying to apply through Ofgem as a Scottish resident will not work.
What Scottish Homeowners Use Instead
Scotland has its own grant structure for low-carbon heating, and in some respects it is more generous than BUS for homeowners without an income test.
Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan
This is the direct equivalent to BUS for Scottish homeowners. It provides a grant of up to £7,500 for an air source or ground source heat pump, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500 on top, bringing total available support to £15,000. No income test applies, meaning any homeowner in Scotland can access it regardless of earnings. Rural and off-grid properties can also access an additional uplift. Contact Home Energy Scotland free on 0808 808 2282 for an assessment.
Warmer Homes Scotland
This route is for households in or at risk of fuel poverty, or with a vulnerability such as a long-term health condition. It funds heating and insulation measures fully, with no cost to the household, and is delivered through the same Home Energy Scotland advice line rather than a separate application system.
ECO4 in Scotland
ECO4 does operate in Scotland, unlike BUS, because it is funded through a UK-wide obligation on energy suppliers rather than through Ofgem's BUS budget specifically. Scottish households on qualifying means-tested benefits with a home rated EPC D to G can access fully funded heating measures through ECO4 in the same way as households in England and Wales. ECO4 closes 31 December 2026.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme vs Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan
Boiler Upgrade Scheme | Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan | |
|---|---|---|
Where | England and Wales only | Scotland only |
Grant amount | £7,500 (£9,000 oil/LPG until March 2027) | £7,500 grant, plus up to £7,500 optional loan |
Total available | Up to £9,000 | Up to £15,000 (grant plus loan) |
Income test | No | No |
Who applies | MCS-certified installer on your behalf | Homeowner applies directly |
Administered by | Ofgem | Home Energy Scotland |
The headline difference worth noting: Scotland's scheme can provide more total funding once the optional loan is included, though the loan portion must be repaid, unlike the BUS grant.
What Changed With the Great British Insulation Scheme
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) covered England, Scotland, and Wales, and was sometimes confused with BUS because both were promoted as government energy schemes around the same period. GBIS provided free or subsidised insulation, not heat pump funding, and closed to new referrals on 31 March 2026. Scottish homeowners who previously might have combined GBIS insulation with a Home Energy Scotland heat pump grant should now check current insulation support through Home Energy Scotland directly, as GBIS is no longer a live option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme available in Scotland? No. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is legally restricted to England and Wales under its founding regulations. Scotland has its own system, the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan, which provides up to £15,000 in combined grant and loan funding for heat pump installations.
Why can't Scottish homeowners just apply for BUS directly? Ofgem, which administers BUS, only accepts applications for properties located in England or Wales. There is no application route for Scottish properties under BUS, regardless of an installer's certification or the homeowner's circumstances.
Is the Scottish alternative better or worse than BUS? It depends on your priorities. The Home Energy Scotland grant portion alone (£7,500) matches BUS. The additional £7,500 loan option can push total support higher than BUS, but that portion must be repaid, whereas the entire BUS grant is non-repayable.
Does ECO4 work in Scotland if BUS does not? Yes. ECO4 operates across England, Scotland, and Wales because it is funded through a supplier obligation rather than a devolved government budget. Scottish households on qualifying benefits with an EPC D to G rating can access it in the same way as elsewhere in Great Britain.
Is the Great British Insulation Scheme still available in Scotland? No. GBIS closed to new applications across all of Great Britain, including Scotland, on 31 March 2026. Scottish homeowners looking for insulation support should check Home Energy Scotland's current offering instead.
How InstantGrant Can Help
If you are in Scotland and have been researching the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the route you actually need is Home Energy Scotland. InstantGrant is an independent grant information and application-support service that can help you understand which Scottish scheme fits your circumstances before you contact Home Energy Scotland directly.
We are not Ofgem, Home Energy Scotland, or any installer. We do not award grants and we do not guarantee any outcome.
Check your eligibility at instantgrant.co.uk