Check your heat pump grant eligibility
Instantly analyse your property's suitability for heat pump installation and available grants.
Key eligibility factors:
- Replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating
- England or Wales
- You own the property (owner-occupier, landlord, business premises or second home)
- +£1,500 on an air-to-water or ground source heat pump if on oil/LPG with no mains gas, until March 2027
Check your property against the live MHCLG EPC register to see your current band and the schemes you may qualify for — free, in under a minute.
Check your propertyInformation notice
This guide compiles information from official government publications, industry bodies, and public sources. Energy Pages is not a heat pump specialist or an energy efficiency professional. Always consult MCS-certified installers for technical advice specific to your property.
What are Heat Pumps?
According to the Energy Saving Trust, heat pumps are renewable energy systems that extract heat from the air, ground, or water outside your home and use it to provide heating and hot water.
Heat pumps work by using electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. This process is much more efficient than generating heat directly.
Key benefits of heat pumps
3–4×
Highly efficient
According to manufacturers, heat pumps can be 300–400% efficient.
CO₂
Lower emissions
Significantly lower carbon footprint than fossil fuel systems.
£7,500
Government grants
Available through various government schemes.
Types of Heat Pumps
Air source
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP)
According to the Heat Pump Association, ASHPs extract heat from the outside air and are suitable for most UK properties.
Typical characteristics
- Lower installation cost (£11,100–£15,600 typical)
- Suitable for most property types
- Requires outdoor unit placement
- Efficiency decreases in very cold weather
Ground source
Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP)
According to industry sources, GSHPs use heat from the ground through buried pipes and offer higher efficiency than air source systems.
Typical characteristics
- Higher efficiency (COP 4–5 typical)
- Consistent performance year-round
- Higher installation cost (£18,100–£42,100 typical)
- Requires suitable garden space
Heat Pump Costs & Grants
Typical installation costs (before grants)
Costs vary with property size, system type and how complex the installation is. The air and ground source ranges are the middle half of installs paid under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, from the government's own scheme statistics.
Air source
Air source heat pump
The middle half of installs paid under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in 2026 Q2 (April to June). Lower end for smaller properties.
Ground source
Ground source heat pump
Middle half of BUS installs in 2026 Q2 (April to June). Higher because of the ground works and pipe installation.
Add-ons
Additional costs
Radiator, insulation or pipework upgrades, if the installer's survey finds the home needs them. A quote should list them separately.
Available government grants
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
For heat pumps in England and Wales
- · No income restrictions
- · MCS installer applies for you
- · Deducted from installation cost
ECO4 Scheme
For eligible households across GB
- · Income or benefit requirements
- · Can cover the full cost, though you may be asked to contribute
- · Available in Scotland too
- · Installation must be completed by 31 December 2026
A heat pump is funded through one route, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or ECO4, never both: GOV.UK excludes a property that has already had government funding for a heat pump.
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Heat Pump Installation Process
Property assessment
MCS installer surveys your property and recommends suitable system type and size.
Grant applications
Installer applies for available grants (BUS, ECO4) before installation begins.
Installation
Professional installation typically takes 2–3 days for air source, longer for ground source.
Commissioning
System testing, handover training, and warranty registration completion.
Related guides
Comparison
Best heat pumps 2026
Which units are worth the money, how the leading manufacturers compare on efficiency and noise, and what to ask an installer.
Read guide →£7,500 grant
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The government grant that covers most of the cost of a heat pump installation. How to apply and eligibility.
Read guide →EPC
EPC ratings explained
An EPC is no longer a condition of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, though your rating still reflects how well your home holds heat. Understand what it means.
Read guide →Comparison
Solar vs heat pump
Compare solar panels and heat pumps — or combine both for maximum energy savings.
Read guide →Ready to switch to a heat pump?
Get professional assessment and grant applications from MCS-certified installers.