What the Boiler Upgrade Scheme actually is
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a UK Government grant administered by Ofgem. It currently pays £7,500 toward an air-source heat pump install (or a ground-source heat pump or biomass boiler under separate caps) in England and Wales.
It's property-based, not income-based — you don't fill in a means test. It's available to homeowners and private landlords replacing fossil-fuel heating (gas, oil, LPG, electric resistance) with a heat pump. The grant runs until at least 2028 under current government commitments, but rates and eligibility can be reviewed.
What you actually need to qualify
The eligibility criteria are clearer than they first look. To qualify, you need:
- A property in England or Wales (Scotland has its own scheme).
- A fossil-fuel or electric-resistance heating system being replaced (the grant doesn't apply to second heat pumps replacing first heat pumps).
- A valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding loft- or cavity-wall-insulation recommendations (exemptions apply for certain properties).
- An installer accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) to handle the application on your behalf — this is a scheme requirement, not a Thermova claim.
Most three-bed Lancashire semis qualify. If your EPC is missing or out of date, or it has open insulation recommendations, we'll flag this at the survey and tell you what to clear first.
How Thermova handles the grant route
You do not interact with Ofgem. We handle the application, attach it to your install, and the £7,500 is deducted directly from your invoice — not paid to you afterwards.
| 1. Eligibility check | We check your EPC and property type at the first survey — no charge. |
|---|---|
| 2. Heat-loss design | System designed around your property; quote includes the gross price and the net-of-grant price. |
| 3. Voucher application | We submit the BUS voucher application to Ofgem on your behalf. |
| 4. Install | We install once the voucher is in place. Typical timeline: 4–8 weeks from voucher to commissioning. |
| 5. Grant deduction | £7,500 deducted from your final invoice. You only pay the net amount. |
| 6. Voucher redemption | We submit redemption paperwork. You do nothing further. |
Why grant timing matters
The £7,500 rate is currently the highest the scheme has paid since launch — it rose from £5,000 in 2023. Grant rates are reviewed periodically by Government. While there's no announced cut, the size of the rate plus its political profile means it's the kind of policy that can change with a fiscal event. The safest assumption is that the current rate will not last forever.
There's also voucher demand to consider — peak install seasons (autumn into early winter, when boilers fail) see installer capacity tighten. Earlier in the year usually means more flexible install dates.
How Thermova differs from a BUS-eligible install elsewhere
- Net price on the invoice, not a reimbursement. The grant comes off the bill — you pay only the net.
- EPC clearance support. If your EPC blocks the grant, we can route you through our EPC C compliance service first.
- Founder-led, no commission-driven sales pitch. Graham personally signs off your design.
- Measured outcomes. Our public Lytham case study shows the year-one SCOP and CO₂ reduction in real numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the £7,500 grant means-tested?
Do I get the money or does it come off the price?
What if my EPC has open recommendations?
Can landlords claim the £7,500?
How long does the BUS process take?
What happens if the grant rate changes?
Explore further
Next step
Find out what £7,500 off looks like for your property
Book a free property survey. We confirm eligibility, model the system, handle the BUS application and quote you the net-of-grant price.