The Boiler Upgrade Scheme in 2026: What It Means for Homeowners in North Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral

Swap your boiler for a low-carbon heating system with a grant of up to £7,500

If you're a homeowner in North Wales, Cheshire or the Wirral thinking about moving away from an old oil or gas boiler, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme could cover a significant share of the cost. The scheme changed considerably in 2026, with bigger grants for off grid homes, fewer hoops to jump through, and a longer runway of funding. Here's what it means for you, and how to find out if your home qualifies.

Check Your Eligibility

What Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a UK government grant, administered by Ofgem, that helps homeowners cover the cost of replacing an ageing fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump or biomass boiler. Rather than being paid to you directly, the grant is deducted from your installer's quote upfront, so you only ever pay the balance. There's no claiming money back and no waiting for a cheque.

Who Qualifies for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

From April 2026, eligibility rules were relaxed considerably. To qualify, you'll generally need to:

• Own the property you want to upgrade, in England or Wales

• Be replacing an existing fossil fuel heating system, such as an oil, gas or LPG boiler, or direct electric heating

• Use an MCS certified installer, who applies for the grant on your behalf

• Install an eligible system, such as an air source heat pump, ground source heat pump, air to air heat pump, or a biomass boiler in a suitable rural, off grid property

There's no income threshold and no financial assessment involved. As of April 2026, you also no longer need a valid Energy Performance Certificate before applying, which removes a delay that used to catch a lot of homeowners out.

What You Could Receive

The grant amount depends on the heating system being installed:

• Air-to-water heat pump: £7,500

• Ground source heat pump: £7,500

• Air-to-air heat pump: £2,500 for residential properties. These systems heat rooms but do not normally provide hot water.

• Biomass boiler: £5,000 for eligible rural properties without a mains gas connection

Until 31 March 2027, an increased grant of £9,000 is available towards an air-to-water or ground source heat pump where the property is currently heated using oil or LPG and does not have a mains gas connection.

This could be particularly relevant to rural homes across North Wales and Cheshire, where oil and LPG heating are more common.

Why This Matters Locally

North Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral cover a real mix of housing, from off grid farmhouses and rural cottages to town and coastal properties on mains gas. That mix matters, because the grant you're entitled to depends heavily on your current heating type and your connection to the gas grid.

If you're heating an oil fired cottage in the hills above the Conwy Valley, the enhanced £9,000 grant can make a heat pump genuinely comparable in cost to replacing like for like with oil. If you're on mains gas in Chester or on the Wirral, the standard £7,500 grant still makes a meaningful dent in the cost of moving to a heat pump, alongside the running cost savings a well specified system can offer over time.

How the Application Works

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is installer led, which means:

1. You get a survey and quote from an MCS certified installer.

2. Your installer checks your eligibility and applies to Ofgem on your behalf.

3. The grant amount is deducted from your quote upfront. You never receive the money directly and never need to claim it back.

4. Once the installation is complete and commissioned, Ofgem pays the grant to your installer.

You don't need to fill in any forms yourself or deal with Ofgem directly. Your installer manages the process from survey through to completion.

Why Choose Swift Energy

Swift Energy is MCS certified, alongside our Gas Safe, OFTEC, HETAS and PAS 2030 accreditations, so we can apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on your behalf as part of a clear, honest quote. Every installation comes with our 2 Year Workmanship Guarantee, and we'll always give you an honest recommendation based on your property and how you actually use your home, rather than a one size fits all sales pitch.

We install and service air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and a full range of renewable energy technologies across North Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral, alongside our core plumbing and heating work.

Find Out If You're Eligible

Every property is different, and the best way to know what you're entitled to is a proper survey rather than a rough guess. Get in touch with the Swift Energy team today and we'll talk you through your options, check your eligibility for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and put together a clear, no-obligation quote for your home.