If your home is off the mains gas grid and heated by oil or LPG, the government grant available to help you switch to a heat pump has just gone up substantially. From 21 July 2026, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant for eligible off-gas grid properties in England and Wales has increased from £7,500 to £9,000 — one of the largest support packages yet for homeowners looking to move away from oil and LPG heating.
At Sun-Lite Group, we manage the BUS voucher application on your behalf, so this increase means a bigger deduction off your installation cost with less admin for you to deal with. Here’s what’s changed and whether you qualify.
What’s changed
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme already offered grants toward air source and ground source heat pumps, but off-gas grid homes running on oil or LPG previously received £7,500. As of 21 July 2026, that figure rises to £9,000 for new voucher applications. Vouchers issued before this date remain valid at the £7,500 rate — the higher amount only applies to applications made on or after 21 July 2026.
The increase is time-limited. It’s confirmed to run until 31 March 2027, with a review ahead of the next financial year to decide whether the grant level continues at this rate.
Do you qualify?
The £9,000 grant applies specifically to properties that meet the scheme’s definition of “off-gas grid,” meaning your property:
- Is not connected to the mains gas supply
- Has no gas meter, and no capped or clamped gas supply
- Is not a new build or self-build
- Is not connected to a heat network
You’ll also need to confirm that your current heating system runs on oil or LPG. Your installer handles this confirmation as part of the application, alongside your off-gas grid status.
One important detail: the increased £9,000 grant applies only to air-to-water and ground source heat pumps. Biomass boilers and air-to-air heat pumps are not eligible for the higher amount.
What it means for your installation cost
As with the standard Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the full grant value is deducted upfront from your installation quote — you don’t pay it and claim it back later. All other scheme requirements still apply, so the increase doesn’t change the process, just the amount taken off your bill.
For a typical off-grid household currently spending heavily on oil or LPG deliveries, a £9,000 deduction makes switching to a heat pump considerably more affordable, and often brings the switch within reach for homes that found the previous grant level insufficient to bridge the cost gap.
Why act now
Two things are worth bearing in mind if you’re considering a heat pump:
The £9,000 rate is confirmed only until 31 March 2027, after which it will be reviewed and could change. And because only applications made on or after 21 July 2026 qualify for the new amount, timing your application correctly matters — there’s no benefit to delaying once you’re ready to proceed.
Get your BUS application started
Sunlite Group installs air-to-water and ground source heat pumps for off-grid properties and handles the full Boiler Upgrade Scheme voucher application for you, so the grant is deducted directly from your quote. If you’re heating your home with oil or LPG and want to check your eligibility for the £9,000 grant, get in touch with our team for a free assessment.
For full scheme details, see the BUS Guidance for Installers or contact Ofgem’s Enquiries team at BUS.Enquiry@ofgem.gov.uk / 0330 053 2006.
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