Funding & grants
Funding isn’t
always free.
Grants can make home upgrades more affordable — but eligibility, technical design and the condition of your home still matter. Start with the property, not the funding.
1
What does it fund?
Heat pumps, insulation, solar and other measures vary by scheme.
2
Does your home qualify?
EPC, tenure, income, existing heating and location may all matter.
3
Who applies?
Some schemes are installer-led; others are delivered by councils.
4
Is the upgrade right?
A grant should support a good retrofit plan — not dictate one.
Funding can help. It should not be the starting point.
The right order is simple: understand the home, identify the problems, decide which measures are appropriate, then see which funding route can help. A technically poor installation does not become a good one simply because a grant paid for it.
Scheme 01
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
BUS is an installer-led grant in England and Wales that reduces the upfront cost of eligible low-carbon heating. Your MCS-certified installer applies and the grant is reflected in the price you pay.
£7,500
Air-to-water heat pump
Ground or water source heat pump
£9,000
Eligible off-gas homes replacing oil or LPG with an air-to-water or ground-source heat pump, until 31 March 2027.
£2,500 / £5,000
£2,500 for eligible air-to-air heat pumps.
£5,000 for eligible biomass boilers.
What to check before you chase the grant
- Is a heat pump actually suitable for the property and occupants?
- Has a proper room-by-room heat-loss calculation been completed?
- Can emitters deliver the required heat at sensible flow temperatures?
- Are insulation, draughts and ventilation understood?
- Has the installer explained design temperatures, controls and expected running behaviour?
Scheme 02
Warm Homes: Local Grant
This England-only scheme supports lower-income households living in privately owned homes with an EPC of D, E, F or G. If eligible and local funding is available, your council arranges a survey and agrees suitable improvements.
Typical eligibility
- Home is in England
- Privately owned or privately rented
- EPC D, E, F or G
- Household income usually £36,000 or less
- Some higher-income households may qualify through eligible postcode or benefit routes
Possible improvements
- Wall, loft and underfloor insulation
- Air source heat pumps
- Solar PV
- Smart controls
- Other appropriate energy-efficiency measures identified through survey and scheme rules
Important: qualifying does not guarantee that every measure will be installed. The home is assessed first, local funding must still be available, and the final package should be based on what is technically appropriate.
Two schemes. Very different routes.
| Question | Boiler Upgrade Scheme | Warm Homes: Local Grant |
|---|---|---|
| Where? | England & Wales | England only |
| Income tested? | No | Usually, or via qualifying benefit/postcode route |
| Main purpose | Low-carbon heating | Energy-efficiency and low-carbon upgrades |
| Who leads? | MCS installer | Local authority / delivery partner |
| EPC | Scheme/property rules apply | D–G required |
| Funding style | Fixed grant against eligible system | Eligible works organised and paid for by council, subject to scheme rules |
Free money can still create expensive problems.
Insulation can change moisture behaviour. Airtightness can change ventilation needs. A heat pump can expose poor emitter sizing or bad controls. Solar can be limited by roof condition, orientation or electrical constraints. The measure needs to work as part of the home.
Before saying yes, ask:
- What problem is this measure solving?
- What survey or calculation justifies it?
- What happens to ventilation and moisture?
- Are existing defects being fixed first?
- What maintenance and running costs will remain after funding?
- Who is responsible if the installation underperforms?
A better way to use funding
01 Survey
Understand construction, condition, heating, ventilation and occupant needs.
02 Plan
Choose measures in the right order and understand how they interact.
03 Match
Find the grant or scheme that supports the measures the home actually needs.
04 Verify
Check design, installer competence, paperwork and commissioning before sign-off.
The grant is only one part of the retrofit puzzle.
Funding rules and local availability change. Always confirm current eligibility through the official scheme before committing to work. MyWarmHome focuses on helping homeowners understand the building, the proposed measures and the questions worth asking before installation.