Is there a Boiler Upgrade Scheme login for homeowners?
No. Property owners never log in to anything, because the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is designed so that the installer does the applying. Ofgem's property owner guidance, version 5.1 published on 2 July 2026, puts it plainly: the scheme "is installer-led and you cannot apply yourself".
The login that does exist belongs to installers. Ofgem's installer page explains that MCS-certified businesses create a GOV.UK One Login (required to sign in from 3 November 2026), send Ofgem an account form with proof of MCS certification, identity, home address and a business bank account, and then sign in to the "BUS installer account area" at boiler-upgrade-scheme.service.gov.uk to apply for and redeem vouchers. If you were searching for a Boiler Upgrade Scheme login to apply yourself, that portal is not for you.
Your one online step comes after the installer has applied: Ofgem emails you a secure link, and you have 14 days to confirm your consent and verify your identity. If you cannot use the online route, Ofgem offers an assisted telephone and postal process with 28 days to respond. Every scheme fact in this guide comes from gov.uk and ofgem.gov.uk pages and documents we read on 22 October 2026; our hub on free boiler schemes and grants covers ECO4 and the other support that applies to gas boilers rather than heat pumps.
How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant worth?
The grant is a fixed sum per technology, deducted upfront from the installer's quote, and gov.uk states that one grant is available per property. These were the figures on gov.uk on 22 October 2026.
| Technology | Grant (gov.uk, 22 October 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air source heat pump (air-to-water) | £7,500 | gov.uk also calls it an air-to-water heat pump |
| Ground source heat pump | £7,500 | Includes water source heat pumps and shared ground loops |
| Biomass boiler | £5,000 | Only in rural homes off the gas grid, with an emissions certificate; not for self-builds |
| Air-to-air heat pump | £2,500 | Residential properties only; heats rooms but not hot water |
| Off-gas uplift for oil or LPG homes | Extra £1,500 on a heat pump grant | Property must have no mains gas connection; gov.uk says "until March 2027" |
Ofgem's page expresses the uplift as a single £9,000 grant for air-to-water or ground source heat pumps in eligible off-gas-grid properties; its property owner guidance applies it to applications properly made between 21 July 2026 and 31 March 2027 and excludes self-builds and new builds. You never receive money yourself: Ofgem pays the installer after commissioning, and your quote and invoice must show the grant as a deduction.
Who is eligible for the grant?
You are eligible, in gov.uk's words, if you own the property and are replacing a fossil fuel heating system, in a home or business premises in England or Wales. The installer checks the detail, but the rules are short enough to read in full.
| Rule (gov.uk and Ofgem, 22 October 2026) | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Location | England and Wales only; Scotland has Home Energy Scotland, and the Northern Ireland scheme is closed |
| Ownership | You own the property, including second homes, rental properties you let out and business premises |
| What you are replacing | A fossil fuel system (oil, gas, LPG) or an electric heating system; an existing heat pump or other low carbon system does not qualify |
| Hybrids | Not eligible: a gas boiler combined with a heat pump gets nothing |
| New builds | Most are excluded, including homes still being built; gov.uk says a finished new build with a fossil fuel boiler may qualify, as may eligible self-builds (heat pumps only) |
| Social housing | Not eligible |
| Previous funding | Excluded if the property has already had government support for a heat pump or biomass system; earlier insulation grants do not disqualify you |
| Installer | Must be MCS certified; the technology must meet MCS standards |
Landlords give consent themselves and, under Ofgem's guidance, should tell their tenants about the installation. If unsure, gov.uk's advice is to speak to an MCS-certified installer.
Do you still need an EPC with no insulation recommendations?
No. Both parts of the old Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rule have gone: the insulation condition in May 2024 and the need for a valid EPC on 28 April 2026.
When the scheme launched, you needed a valid EPC with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation. The government's March 2024 consultation response removed the insulation condition, and Ofgem applied the change from May 2024. Ofgem's property owner guidance V5.1, covering applications from 28 April 2026, goes further: if your home has a valid EPC, the installer includes its reference; if not, the installer provides other evidence, such as a utility bill dated within three months, photographs of the existing system or an expired EPC. Ofgem still notes that heat pumps "perform best in a well-insulated home", but that is about running costs, not eligibility.
How does the application work step by step?
The installer handles almost every stage, and Ofgem contacts you directly only to confirm consent, to verify your identity or if something needs clarifying. Here is the sequence that gov.uk and Ofgem's guidance set out.
- Get quotes from MCS-certified installers. MCS, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, certifies installers and lists them on its website. Ask each to confirm your home is eligible.
- Agree a quote. Ofgem's guidance says the installer must deduct the grant upfront on the quote and invoice; if a voucher is later refused, whether you owe the difference depends on your contract.
- Your installer applies. gov.uk states that "the installer will apply on your behalf on the Ofgem website". Ofgem's guidance lists your details, the address, the chosen system, what it replaces, the quote, any EPC reference and whether the property is on the gas grid.
- Ofgem emails you for consent. You confirm the property and ownership details, confirm you have had no other public funding for the installation and consent to the application. Only you can give consent, and you have 14 days before the application may be rejected.
- Verify your identity. You may be asked for identity documents, which Ofgem describes as a normal anti-fraud step, usually within 14 days.
- The voucher is issued and the work goes ahead. Ofgem's guidance gives the installer 3 months for an air-to-water or air-to-air heat pump or biomass installation and 6 months for a ground source system; gov.uk summarises the deadline as 120 days from applying.
- The installer redeems the voucher. After commissioning and the MCS certificate, the installer claims the grant and Ofgem pays it to them. Ofgem or MCS may phone, request documents or visit to audit the work.
If several installers apply for the same property, Ofgem says you can consent to only one.
What do the Boiler Upgrade Scheme regulations say about timing and disputes?
The regulations, set by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and administered by Ofgem, were amended with effect from 28 April 2026. Ofgem's guidance V5.1 applies to applications "properly made" on or after that date, and an application is only properly made once Ofgem has all the information it needs and you have given consent and verified your identity, so a slow reply delays the clock.
If Ofgem refuses or revokes a voucher and you disagree, your installer must request a statutory review on your behalf within 28 days of the decision notice. And although retrospective applications are allowed within 120 days of commissioning, Ofgem warns that they carry extra risk because an installation completed before approval is not guaranteed funding. Have the voucher in hand before the work starts.
How does the grant change a heat pump quote?
It comes straight off the gross price, so the £7,500 is a fixed deduction rather than a percentage. Our heat pump guides put a typical UK air source installation in the region of £8,000-£15,000 before the grant, including the outdoor unit, a cylinder, controls and any radiator changes, which would leave a net cost from under £1,000 to around £7,500; ground source systems cost considerably more because of the groundworks.
Ask every installer to show the grant as a separate line, so you can compare gross prices, and to list the cylinder, radiator and insulation work included. For the full picture of running costs, radiators, noise and lifespan, start with our comparison of heat pumps against gas boilers, then use the heat pump installation and running cost guide to sanity-check any quote. If a rural off-gas home is weighing wood fuel instead, our biomass boiler guide explains what the £5,000 grant does and does not cover.
What should you check before you give consent?
Consent itself is low-risk: Ofgem's guidance says it only allows your installer to apply for the voucher and does not create or change any contract between you. The installer's contract is the document to scrutinise.
- The MCS certification number on the quote checks out on mcscertified.com.
- The installer belongs to a consumer code (Ofgem names HIES and RECC) with dispute resolution.
- The quote shows the grant deduction, the net price and what happens if the voucher is refused.
If something goes wrong, Ofgem's guidance directs questions about the installation or the installer's conduct to the installer, MCS or the consumer code, and questions about consent, audits or the scheme itself to Ofgem on BUS.enquiry@ofgem.gov.uk or 0330 053 2006. Consent given in error goes to BUS.application@ofgem.gov.uk.
Is a heat pump the right next step for your home?
The grant narrows the gap, but a working boiler with years left in it is rarely worth replacing early for the grant alone; our guide to how long boilers last sets out the signs that yours is near the end. There is also no obligation to switch: the gas boiler ban explained covers what the rules actually say about existing homes.
If the boiler is on its way out, your home is reasonably insulated and you have room for a cylinder and an outdoor unit, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a substantial fixed grant and it was open in England and Wales when we checked on 22 October 2026. For older households on a low income who want to stay with gas, our guide to boiler grants for pensioners explains the ECO4 route instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Boiler Upgrade Scheme login for homeowners?
No. The scheme is installer-led, so only MCS-certified installers have accounts on the Ofgem service, signing in with GOV.UK One Login from 3 November 2026. As a property owner you never create an account. After your installer applies, Ofgem emails you a secure link to confirm your consent and verify your identity, and that is the only online step you take. Treat any website asking you to "log in" to claim the grant with suspicion.
How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in 2026?
On 22 October 2026 gov.uk listed £7,500 towards an air source (air-to-water) heat pump, £7,500 towards a ground source or water source heat pump, £5,000 towards a biomass boiler and £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump in a home. Homes heated by oil or LPG with no mains gas connection can get an extra £1,500 on a heat pump until March 2027, which Ofgem shows as a £9,000 grant. The grant is deducted from your installer quote.
Do I need an EPC with no insulation recommendations to qualify?
No. The original rules required a valid EPC with no outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations; the government dropped the insulation condition in May 2024. Since 28 April 2026 a valid EPC is not mandatory either: Ofgem property owner guidance V5.1 says the installer quotes your EPC reference if you have one, or provides other evidence such as a recent fuel bill and photographs of the old system. Insulation is recommended for running costs but is not a condition.
How long is a Boiler Upgrade Scheme voucher valid for?
Ofgem guidance for property owners states that once the voucher is issued, installation must be completed within 3 months for air-to-water heat pumps, air-to-air heat pumps and biomass boilers, and within 6 months for ground source heat pumps. gov.uk summarises this as the installer having to commission and install within 120 days of applying. If the deadline is missed, the installer must withdraw the voucher, reapply and ask for your consent again.
Can I get the grant if I keep my gas boiler as a backup?
No. gov.uk states that hybrid systems, such as a gas boiler combined with an air source heat pump, are not eligible, and that replacing an existing low carbon heating system does not qualify either. The grant is for replacing a fossil fuel or electric heating system outright with a heat pump or, in limited rural off-gas cases, a biomass boiler. One grant is available per property.
Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No. gov.uk states that the scheme is open to people in England and Wales only. For Scotland it directs you to Home Energy Scotland, which may offer a grant or interest-free loan under separate rules, and for Northern Ireland it notes that the Boiler Replacement Scheme there is now closed and points to nidirect for current advice. Check those sources directly, as we have not verified their terms.
Sources and further reading
- GOV.UK - Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- GOV.UK - Boiler Upgrade Scheme: what you can get
- GOV.UK - Boiler Upgrade Scheme: how to apply
- Ofgem - Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
- Ofgem - Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Property Owner Guidance V5.1 (2 July 2026)
- GOV.UK - Proposed amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations (consultation and response)
- Ofgem - Boiler Upgrade Scheme: installer sign up and apply
Prices and scheme details were checked on 22 October 2026 and are shown as typical ranges. Always get written quotes from Gas Safe registered installers.