Heat Pump Grants UK

Heat Pump Grants UK 2026: Every Route Compared

Five government grant routes exist for heat pumps across the UK in 2026. They are not interchangeable and they do not serve the same audience. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is available to any eligible homeowner in England and Wales regardless of income. ECO4 is completely free but only for households on qualifying means-tested benefits. The Warm Homes Local Grant targets lower-income households through local councils in England. Scotland runs separate schemes entirely. Northern Ireland has its own programme. Knowing which one fits your situation before approaching any installer saves weeks of wasted process.

Important: InstantGrant is an independent grant information and application-support service. We are not Ofgem, DESNZ, any energy supplier, or any devolved government. We do not install heat pumps or award grants. All figures on this page are verified against Ofgem, GOV.UK, and instantgrant.co.uk live data as of 9 September 2026. Always confirm current eligibility with the relevant scheme body before committing to any work.

This guide compares every available heat pump grant route in 2026, explains what each actually gives you, and provides a decision framework to identify which route fits your household before you contact a single installer.

Heat Pump Grants UK: The Five Main Routes at a Glance

Route 1: Boiler Upgrade Scheme — £7,500 for Any Eligible Homeowner

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is the most accessible heat pump grant in England and Wales because it has no income test. Any homeowner or small business owner replacing a fossil fuel heating system with a qualifying heat pump can access it, regardless of their income or benefit status.

The grant is deducted from the installation invoice. You never handle the money. Your MCS-certified installer applies to Ofgem on your behalf after you agree the quote.

What the BUS Covers

Air-to-water heat pumps: £7,500

Ground source heat pumps: £7,500

Air-to-air heat pumps: £2,500 (eligible from 28 April 2026)

Oil and LPG homes: £9,000 for air-to-water or ground source until 31 March 2027

Biomass boilers in rural off-grid properties: £5,000

What the BUS Does Not Cover

Hybrid heat pump systems that work alongside a retained gas boiler are not eligible. You need to replace the fossil fuel system entirely. The grant also does not cover insulation, radiator upgrades, or other associated works — only the heat pump unit and its primary installation.

The Real Net Cost After BUS

For most households, BUS reduces the cost significantly but does not eliminate it. A typical air source heat pump costs £10,000 to £15,000 installed. After the £7,500 grant, you pay £2,500 to £7,500. A ground source heat pump costs £18,000 to £35,000. After the grant, you pay £10,500 to £27,500. This is the most important number to anchor expectations to before approaching installers.

Route 2: ECO4 — Completely Free for Qualifying Households

ECO4 is the only route where a household can receive a heat pump at genuinely no cost. The scheme is funded through the regulatory obligation placed on large energy suppliers and closes on 31 December 2026.

Who Qualifies for a Free Heat Pump Through ECO4

You or someone in your household must receive a qualifying means-tested benefit: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit, or Working Tax Credit. Your home must be rated EPC D to G.

If you do not receive qualifying benefits, your local council may refer you through ECO4 Flex if your household income is below their local threshold (typically £31,000 to £36,000) or if you have a health condition worsened by cold.

Why ECO4 Does Not Always Result in a Heat Pump

ECO4 follows a whole-house approach and a fabric-first requirement. The PAS 2035 Retrofit Assessment determines which measures your property receives. If insulation alone can achieve the required two-band EPC improvement for your property, the assessment may specify insulation only. Heat pumps are specified where they are the appropriate heating measure for the property's starting point and the package needed. You cannot specifically request a heat pump under ECO4.

ECO4 September 2026 Urgency

ECO4 closes 31 December 2026. The end-to-end process takes 10 to 18 weeks. New applications starting after mid-September 2026 risk not completing before the scheme ends. If you qualify, starting the process now is essential.

Route 3: Warm Homes Local Grant — Up to £30,000 for Lower-Income Households in England

The Warm Homes Local Grant is an England-only scheme delivered through local councils. It can fund heat pump installation as part of a wider energy improvement package for households with income under £36,000 or those in designated deprived postcode areas. The maximum package value is £30,000.

You do not apply directly for funding. Your council or its delivery partner manages the process, including a home assessment that determines which measures are appropriate. Heat pumps are funded where they are identified as the right low-carbon heating measure for the property. The scheme runs to March 2028.

Not every council is participating. Confirm whether your local authority is delivering the scheme before spending time on the eligibility check.

Route 4: Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan — Up to £15,000 for Scottish Homeowners

The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan is available to all Scottish homeowners regardless of income. No means test applies.

For heat pump installations, the scheme provides:

A grant of up to £7,500

An optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500

The combined maximum of £15,000 makes this more generous for eligible Scottish households than the BUS £7,500 available in England and Wales.

Unlike the BUS where the installer applies, Scottish homeowners apply directly through Home Energy Scotland. Once a funding offer is received, there are nine months to complete the installation. Contact Home Energy Scotland free on 0808 808 2282.

Hybrid heat pumps are not eligible. Only systems providing 100 percent of the property's heating and hot water requirements qualify.

Route 5: Warmer Homes Scotland — Fully Funded for Eligible Scottish Households

Warmer Homes Scotland is the Scottish Government's programme for lower-income and vulnerable households. It provides fully funded heat pump installation with no cap on total value for qualifying households. There is no income threshold — eligibility is based on receiving a qualifying benefit, being aged 75 or over, or having a disability or health condition worsened by cold.

Contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282. Advisers assess eligibility and, where appropriate, refer the household to Warmworks for a home survey and installation.

Route 6: NISEP — For Northern Ireland Households

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, ECO4, and the Warm Homes Local Grant do not apply in Northern Ireland. The NISEP (Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme) is the main route for heat pump grant support in NI, overseen by the Utility Regulator. NISEP operates on a first-come, first-served basis within each scheme year. Scheme managers include Bryson Energy, SSE Airtricity, Power NI, and Budget Energy. Contact the NI Energy Advice line free on 0800 111 44 55.

Choosing the Right Heat Pump Grant: A Decision Framework

Can You Combine Heat Pump Grants?

Yes, in specific circumstances. Two important combinations are worth knowing:

ECO4 insulation followed by BUS heat pump: A household can receive ECO4-funded insulation (for which they qualify through benefits) and separately access the BUS grant for a heat pump. The two schemes cannot fund the same measure, but they can fund different measures on the same property. Starting ECO4 insulation now while planning a BUS heat pump installation is a sensible sequence given ECO4's December 2026 closing date.

BUS and Warm Homes Local Grant cannot be combined for the same heat pump installation. If the Warm Homes Local Grant is funding a heat pump through your council, you cannot also claim BUS for the same installation.

The Air-to-Air Heat Pump Grant

Air-to-air heat pumps became eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in April 2026 with a £2,500 grant for domestic installations in England and Wales. These systems move warm air directly through fan units rather than heating water through radiators. They do not provide domestic hot water. For properties heated entirely by electric storage heaters or panel heaters where hot water is already served separately, air-to-air is a practical and lower-cost route to a heat pump grant.

This grant category is significantly undercovered in most "heat pump grants" search results. If your property uses electric heating and you are not on qualifying benefits, the air-to-air BUS route may be the most cost-effective option available to you.

Heat Pump Grants UK: Nations Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best heat pump grant in the UK in 2026? It depends on your circumstances. For households on qualifying benefits in England, Scotland, or Wales, ECO4 is the most valuable because the heat pump is fully funded. For households not on benefits in England or Wales, the BUS gives £7,500 toward the cost. For Scottish homeowners not on benefits, the HES Grant and Loan provides up to £15,000 in combined grants and interest-free loans.

Is there a government grant for a heat pump with no means test? Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 toward an air source or ground source heat pump in England and Wales with no income test. The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan provides up to £15,000 with no income test for Scottish homeowners.

Can I get a heat pump for free? Through ECO4, yes, if you receive qualifying means-tested benefits and your home is rated EPC D to G. ECO4 closes 31 December 2026. Through Warmer Homes Scotland, yes, if you qualify through benefits or vulnerability. There is no free heat pump route for households not on benefits in England and Wales.

Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cover air-to-air heat pumps? Yes, from 28 April 2026. Air-to-air heat pumps receive a £2,500 grant in England and Wales. This is lower than the £7,500 for air-to-water or ground source systems, reflecting the lower installation cost and the fact that air-to-air does not provide hot water.

Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme available in Scotland? No. BUS covers England and Wales only. Scotland has the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan, which provides up to £7,500 as a grant and up to £7,500 as an optional interest-free loan for heat pump installations.

Can I use ECO4 and BUS together? You can use ECO4 for insulation and BUS for a heat pump on the same property — as long as the two schemes are not funding the same measure. They cannot both fund the same heat pump installation.

What heat pump grants are available in Northern Ireland? NISEP, administered by scheme managers including Bryson Energy, SSE Airtricity, Power NI, and Budget Energy. Contact the NI Energy Advice line free on 0800 111 44 55 for current scheme availability.

When does ECO4 close? 31 December 2026. The process takes 10 to 18 weeks. New applications starting after mid-September 2026 risk not completing before the scheme ends.

How InstantGrant Can Help

Understanding which heat pump grant fits your household, your property, and your nation, and which combination of schemes makes the most financial sense, is exactly what InstantGrant is here to help with.

InstantGrant is an independent grant information and application-support service. We help UK households compare the available routes, identify the right scheme for their situation, and approach the process with accurate, current information.

We are not Ofgem, any energy supplier, or any devolved government. We do not award grants and we do not guarantee any outcome.

Check your eligibility at instantgrant.co.uk