More households in England and Wales are turning to heat pumps, with August recording the highest number of vouchers ever issued through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
There was roughly a 40% rise in vouchers compared with the same period in 2025, as homeowners look for ways to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and manage the upfront cost of installing a low-carbon heating system.
Grants of up to £9,000
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme supports eligible property owners replacing fossil fuel heating with a heat pump. Grants of up to £9,000 are available for air-to-water or ground source heat pumps in eligible off-gas-grid properties until 31 March 2027.
Other support includes:
- £7,500 towards an air source heat pump
- £7,500 towards a ground source heat pump
- £5,000 towards a biomass boiler
Biomass boilers are limited to rural properties without a mains gas connection. Heat pumps do not face those restrictions under the scheme.
How heat pumps work
Heat pumps use electricity to draw heat from the outside air or ground and bring it into a building. The government says they can produce around three units of heat for every unit of electricity they use.
That efficiency can reduce energy demand when a heat pump replaces systems such as gas or oil boilers. The technology also gives households an alternative to energy sources whose prices can be affected by international events and changing oil and gas markets.
Martin McCluskey, Minister for Local Energy and Jobs, said demand for clean heating had reached a record level. He also pointed to the increase in support from £7,500 to £9,000 for rural households using heating oil or liquefied petroleum gas.
Who can apply?
The property must be a home or a small to medium-sized non-domestic building in England or Wales, with a valid energy performance certificate. The existing fossil fuel or electric heating system must be fully replaced.
New-build homes and social housing are not eligible, although self-build properties can qualify. Applicants cannot combine the grant with other public funding for the same heat pump or biomass boiler, but separate support for improvements such as insulation, doors or windows is allowed.
Installers need to be MCS certified and can apply for and redeem vouchers on behalf of property owners. The scheme guidance and application details are available through the dedicated government webpage.
Why this is good news for Britain
Record take-up gives more households a route away from volatile oil and gas prices, while the grants make low-carbon heating more affordable. Heat pumps can also lower energy demand and support the shift towards cleaner electric heating in homes across England and Wales.
