How to Claim a Boiler Upgrade Scheme Grant in 2026 (UK)
The 2026 Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) gives you £7,500 off an MCS-certified air source heat pump or biomass boiler in England & Wales, deducted at source by your installer — you don’t apply yourself. The 6 steps below get you from EPC check to grant-deducted quote in about 4 weeks, and flag the three places homeowners lose grant money in 2026.
The 6 steps for 2026
Step 1 — Confirm you’re eligible
- Property is in England or Wales (Scotland uses Home Energy Scotland, up to £15,000)
- Property has a valid EPC (less than 10 years old) with no outstanding loft or cavity insulation recommendations
- Current heating is a fossil-fuel boiler (gas, oil, LPG) or direct-electric heating
- You own the property (or have landlord consent in writing for tenanted properties)
Step 2 — Fix any blocking EPC recommendations first
If the EPC says “loft insulation < 270 mm” or “cavity wall insulation”, those must be done before the installer applies. Either get it done (often free under ECO4 separately) and order a new EPC, or get a documented exemption (e.g. cavity walls already filled but EPC misrecorded).
Step 3 — Get 3 quotes from MCS-registered installers
Cross-check every installer on the MCS public register (search by company name or MCS number). Without MCS, the grant is not payable. BestBuilders only matches you with MCS-certified installers.
Step 4 — Pick your installer and accept the quote with grant deducted
Reputable 2026 quotes show full cost − £7,500 BUS grant = balance you pay. The installer applies for the voucher in your name with your consent. You sign a homeowner consent form, that’s your part of the “application”.
Step 5 — Installer gets the voucher, completes the install
Ofgem issues a voucher to the installer (valid 3 months for ASHP, 6 months for biomass). They schedule the install, complete it, register the system on the MCS database and submit the redemption claim to Ofgem.
Step 6 — Ofgem pays the installer, you settle the balance
Ofgem typically pays the installer within 10 working days of a valid claim. You pay only the post-grant balance. You receive the MCS certificate and a building control notification within 30 days.
Three places homeowners lose grant money in 2026
- Hidden “grant admin fee” on quotes: Installers can’t charge you for applying for the BUS grant on top of the install cost. If a quote shows a separate £200–£500 “grant fee”, push back — it’s already covered in the headline price.
- Cash-back resellers: Some marketing sites collect leads and add a margin onto your installer’s quote. Always compare directly against an installer-quoted price.
- Heat-pump-ready cylinder upgrade “optional”: It isn’t — almost every BUS install needs one. Quotes that exclude it are misleading; you’ll be hit with a £1,400–£2,800 add-on mid-install.
Timeline (4 weeks typical)
- Week 1: 3 quotes received, EPC checked, any insulation blockers identified
- Week 2: Installer picked, consent forms signed, voucher issued by Ofgem
- Week 3: Materials ordered, install scheduled
- Week 4: 2–5 day install, MCS registration, building control notice, Ofgem redemption
FAQs
Related guides
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