Starting point
The main eligibility checks
You are more likely to meet the core criteria when you own the property and are replacing an eligible fossil-fuel or electric heating system.
You may qualify as an owner-occupier, landlord, second-home owner or business property owner.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme operates for eligible properties in England and Wales.
The proposed system must replace qualifying existing fossil-fuel or electric heating.
The property, product and installer must meet the relevant technical requirements.
A qualified installer will still need to assess the property and confirm that the proposed installation meets the current rules.
Property rules
Which properties can be considered?
Eligible homes and non-residential buildings can be considered, including owner-occupied homes, rental properties, second homes and buildings used by a business.
- Owner-occupied homes: a main residence owned by the applicant.
- Rental properties: a landlord can explore support for a privately rented property.
- Second homes: ownership does not have to relate only to a main residence.
- Business premises: some non-residential buildings can qualify, subject to the selected technology.
Energy-efficiency work does not automatically exclude you
Previous support for measures such as insulation, windows or doors does not necessarily prevent eligibility. The key issue is whether the property has already received public funding for the same heat pump or biomass installation.
Current system
What heating are you replacing?
The replacement system normally needs to take the place of an existing fossil-fuel or electric heating system.
- Gas boiler or another gas-based central-heating system
- Oil-fired heating
- LPG heating
- Direct electric heating
- Another eligible fossil-fuel heating system
For example, replacing one heat pump with another would not usually meet the replacement-heating requirement.
Common blockers
Properties and installations that may not qualify
- Most developer-led new builds that have not previously had eligible existing heating.
- Social housing, including certain below-market and shared-ownership arrangements.
- A property already funded for the same installation through another public funding source.
- Hybrid heat-pump systems that retain a fossil-fuel boiler as part of the proposed system.
- Replacing an existing low-carbon heating system rather than eligible fossil-fuel or electric heating.
- Air-to-air heat pumps in non-residential buildings.
Eligibility rules can change. Check the current scheme position before committing to installation work.
Special category
Self-build properties
A qualifying self-build can be considered where it was built mainly using the labour or resources of the first owner, has never been owned by a business or organisation, and is not part of an excluded development.
Evidence may be needed
The installer may ask for documents showing that the property meets the self-build definition. Biomass boiler support is not available for eligible self-build properties.
Additional conditions
Biomass boiler eligibility
Biomass boilers have extra property and product conditions. The property generally needs to meet all of the following:
- It is in a rural location.
- It has no connection to the gas grid.
- The boiler has the required emissions certification.
- The boiler is a standalone system designed for the relevant space and water-heating needs.
An installer should check the rural-location, gas-grid and emissions requirements before recommending this option.
System choice
Technologies considered by the scheme
| Technology | Typical property use | Important eligibility point |
|---|---|---|
| Air-to-water heat pump | Homes and eligible non-residential properties | Must meet system-design and technical requirements |
| Ground or water-source heat pump | Properties with suitable ground, borehole or water-source arrangements | Installation design and ground access must be suitable |
| Air-to-air heat pump | Eligible domestic properties | Not available for non-residential buildings |
| Biomass boiler | Selected rural, off-gas-grid properties | Extra rural, grid and emissions conditions apply |
Installer and product checks
A suitable installer will check the proposed product, system sizing, technical standards, commissioning requirements and property evidence before progressing.