UK Boosts Heat Pump Grant to £9,000 for Rural Households

The UK government has increased the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant by 20%, raising it from £7,500 to £9,000. The uplift targets rural households in England and Wales that use heating oil and are eligible to replace their fossil‑fuel boilers with heat pumps.

Leaflets are being delivered to about 200,000 homes with details on how to apply, and eligible owners must be property owners and work with MCS‑certified installers. The scheme aims to lower energy bills and protect families from volatile fossil‑fuel prices after a recent spike linked to Middle‑East conflicts. Installation costs average £12,500 for air‑source units, with higher prices for ground‑source systems.

Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said the government is “determined to bring down energy bills,” and Charlotte Lee, CEO of the Heat Pump Association UK, noted that the £1,500 uplift will make the transition “significantly more affordable” for thousands of oil‑heated homes.