The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has now opened its controversial boiler upgrade scheme.

Landlords across England and Wales as well as owner occupiers may apply for grants of up to £5,000 off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump or a biomass boiler, and up to £6,000 off the cost and installation of a ground source heat pump are available between now and 2025. 

The grant is paid directly to the installer and discounted from the price charged.

The scheme is open to domestic and small non-domestic properties with an installation capacity up to 45kWth (this covers most homes), and with a current Energy Performance Certificate with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation.

Grants are only available for air source heat pumps, biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps (including water source heat pumps and those on shared ground loops).

Hybrid heat pump systems, for example a combination of a gas boiler and air source heat pump, are not eligible.

Your installer will advise which heating system is suitable for your property and help you to understand the different options.

The new heating system must be capable of meeting the full space heating and hot water requirements of your property, replace an existing fossil fuel heating system (such as oil, gas or electric), and meet certain technical standards, such as minimum efficiency requirements (your installer can advise you on these).

In the recent Spring Statement, the government made improved energy efficiency a key goal, and has made it clear it wants to extend the current Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for the private rented sector in England and Wales. 

This is linked to the Heat and Buildings Strategy launched in October 2021.

You can find more details here.