The UK government introduced the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) in May 2022 to encourage more households to replace existing fossil-fuel heating systems with more efficient low-carbon heating systems such as air source heat pumps. The scheme offers homeowners a grant to help with the upfront costs of installing a heat pump or biomass boiler. Back in 2023, the grant was increased from £5,000 to £7,500 making it more affordable to switch from a fossil-fuel heating system to a low-carbon one.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has now changed the Boiler Upgrade scheme (BUS) to make installing heat pumps even cheaper and easier. From the 8th of May this year, homeowners no longer need to install cavity walls or loft insulation to access the £7,500 grant. The requirement for a property to have no outstanding Energy Performance Certificate recommendations for loft and cavity wall insulation has been removed. Up until now, homeowners have often been forced to carry out insulation upgrades at further cost to be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). Homeowners can now make their own decisions about how to improve their homes. However, government guidance still advises that properties should be appropriately insulated. An insulated home is not only more energy efficient, but it saves on heating costs too.

Updates to the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) are designed to pave the way for more households across England and Wales to reduce their carbon emissions and cut their energy bills. The government is committed to supporting the transition to low-carbon heating and stands by its aim for 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028. The government has had to make changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) as the uptake of heat pumps has been slow in the UK compared to other European countries.