Most grant schemes ask who you are. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme mostly asks what the property is and who owns it. That makes it simpler than many, but it also means a few kinds of property fall outside it for reasons that surprise people.
Properties that qualify
- The home you live in, whether a house, bungalow or flat, as long as you own it.
- A second home or holiday home that you own.
- A property you let: the landlord, as owner, arranges the grant.
- Business premises owned by the business, for air source, ground source and biomass systems.
- A self-build, provided it has never been owned by a business.
In every case the property must be in England or Wales, and the heat pump must replace an existing fossil fuel or electric heating system (or, for a self-build, be its first heating system). An MCS certified installer applies.
Properties that do not qualify
- Social housing. Excluded from the scheme. Social landlords use other funding.
- Most new builds being built by a developer. New homes are expected to meet building standards without this grant.
- Properties that have already had government funding for a heat pump or biomass boiler: the grant is one per property.
- Properties in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Scotland has Home Energy Scotland's scheme; the Northern Ireland scheme listed on GOV.UK is closed.
Owners and occupiers
Because the grant goes to the owner, the person living in a property is not always the person who can use it. A private tenant cannot apply, but can ask their landlord to. The landlord confirms the application when Ofgem emails them, and the grant comes off the installer's price to the landlord. If a property has more than one owner, the owner named in the application is the one Ofgem contacts.
Self-builds and new builds
The scheme treats these two very differently. A home being built by a developer is generally excluded: the grant is aimed at replacing heating in existing buildings. A self-build is allowed, as long as the property has never been owned by a business, even though there is no old system to replace. There is one exception in the other direction: the £5,000 biomass grant is not available for self-builds.
New builds also cannot use the £9,000 rate for oil and LPG homes, because Ofgem's definition of an off-gas property excludes them.
Business premises
A business that owns its premises can use the grant for an air source, ground source or biomass system. Since 28 April 2026 air-to-air heat pumps are also covered at £2,500, but only in homes: they are not eligible in non-residential buildings. The capacity limits apply to businesses as to homes: 45 kWth for a single system.
When the answer is not obvious
Converted buildings, properties that were once business premises, and homes with mixed residential and business use can sit close to a line. Ofgem decides each application on the evidence the installer submits, so the best step is to describe the property's history fully when you ask for quotes, and to ask installers how they would present it. If you want a second view, the form below reaches the publisher of this guide.
Quick reference
| Property | Covered? |
|---|---|
| Home you own and live in | Yes |
| Second or holiday home you own | Yes |
| Property you let | Yes, through the landlord |
| Business premises the business owns | Yes, except air-to-air |
| Self-build never owned by a business | Yes (not biomass) |
| New build by a developer | Mostly no |
| Social housing | No |
If your property does not appear in the table, or fits two rows at once, describe it to installers when you ask for quotes and ask how they would present it in the application.