Government Backed Scheme | Free Boiler Grants
Homeowners across Lancashire may qualify for a £7,500 government grant toward the cost of replacing their heating system with a modern air source heat pump. The grant is available through the UK government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and is designed to make the switch to low-carbon heating more accessible for households currently relying on gas, oil, or LPG boilers.
The UK government has been actively encouraging homeowners to move away from fossil fuel heating systems. Air source heat pumps have emerged as one of the main long-term alternatives, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides a meaningful financial incentive to make that change sooner rather than later.
Free Energy Savings helps homeowners across Lancashire understand what the scheme involves, check whether their property is likely to qualify, and connect with approved MCS-certified installers who can carry out the work.
If you own a property in Lancashire and are thinking about upgrading your heating system, it is worth checking whether the £7,500 grant could apply to your home.
Fill out the form below to take advantage of our the £7,500 Air Source Heat Pump Grant offer.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has a clear set of eligibility criteria. Many Lancashire homeowners will find they meet them already, or can do so with a small amount of preparation.
The property must be owner-occupied, privately owned, or a self-build home. Landlords can also apply for the grant on properties they rent out, as long as the other eligibility conditions are satisfied.
To qualify, the property must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and must not have any outstanding insulation recommendations listed on it. If the EPC flags loft or cavity wall insulation as needed, those improvements will usually need to be completed before the heat pump installation can go ahead. The property also needs to be structurally suitable for a heat pump system, which the installer will assess before any work is agreed.
Many properties across Lancashire, particularly those built before the 1980s, may need some insulation work before they are fully ready. This is common and does not necessarily mean a long delay.
The BUS grant is specifically designed to replace fossil fuel and older heating systems. Eligible existing systems include:
A large proportion of homes across Lancashire still rely on gas central heating, which puts many residents in a strong position when it comes to eligibility.
Common qualifying property types include semi-detached houses, detached homes, bungalows, and larger terraced properties with sufficient outdoor space for the heat pump unit. New-build homes typically do not qualify, as the scheme is focused on upgrading the existing housing stock rather than supporting properties that should already meet modern efficiency standards.
Many homeowners are surprised to find their property qualifies. The scheme covers a broad range of homes, and if you are currently heating with gas, oil, or LPG, it is always worth checking.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a UK government initiative designed to speed up the adoption of low-carbon heating across England and Wales. It provides a £7,500 grant toward the cost of installing an air source heat pump, with the aim of replacing fossil fuel heating systems and reducing carbon emissions from residential properties.
The grant is not a loan. It does not need to be repaid. Your MCS-certified installer applies for it on your behalf and it is deducted directly from the cost of installation, so you never handle the payment yourself. The scheme has been running since 2022 and is currently available until 2028.
Air source heat pumps work by absorbing heat from the outdoor air, even in cold temperatures, and compressing it to produce warm water for your heating system and hot water cylinder. The technology is well established and widely used across Northern Europe, where winters are considerably harsher than in Lancashire.
The efficiency difference compared to a gas boiler is worth understanding. A standard gas boiler typically runs at around 85 to 90% efficiency. An air source heat pump, by contrast, can reach 300 to 400% efficiency, meaning it produces three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity it consumes. That efficiency advantage is one of the reasons the government has put significant weight behind heat pumps as a long-term heating solution.
A typical installation costs between £10,000 and £13,000. The £7,500 grant removes a substantial portion of that upfront cost, which for many Lancashire homeowners makes the decision far more straightforward than it might have seemed a few years ago.
Lancashire’s housing stock spans several distinct eras of construction, and much of it is well suited to heat pump technology, particularly where insulation has been improved or can be improved before installation.
Across the county you will find Victorian terraced housing in Blackburn, Burnley, and Accrington; early 20th-century homes across Preston, Darwen, and Chorley; post-war suburban estates in towns such as Leyland and Lancaster; and rural properties throughout the surrounding countryside. The majority of these homes are still heated by gas central heating systems that have been in place for years, in some cases decades.
Older gas boilers lose efficiency over time. They also expose households to the ongoing volatility of gas prices, which has been a significant issue for many residents over recent years. Switching to a heat pump removes that reliance on the gas network entirely.
The UK government’s long-term plan to reach net zero by 2050 places considerable emphasis on decarbonising home heating. Gas boiler regulations are expected to tighten over the coming years, with new gas boiler installations already being phased out in some contexts. For Lancashire homeowners, upgrading now through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme means benefiting from the £7,500 grant while it remains available, rather than facing a potentially more costly transition later.
Heat pumps also tend to perform well when paired with good insulation, which is something many Lancashire properties can achieve without significant disruption. Towns like Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, and Accrington contain thousands of homes that are realistic candidates for the scheme.
Navigating government grant schemes can feel complicated, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is no exception. There are eligibility rules, EPC requirements, and a process that involves certified installers and grant applications. Many homeowners find it difficult to know where to start.
Free Energy Savings is a specialist in government heating grants. The team works with homeowners across Lancashire to explain what the scheme involves, review whether a property is likely to qualify, and connect residents with MCS-certified installers who can carry out the assessment and installation.
Working with Free Energy Savings means:
The team regularly supports homeowners across Lancashire, including Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington, Preston, Chorley, and Darwen, as well as smaller towns and rural communities throughout the county.
Checking eligibility is quick. Most homeowners have a clear picture of where they stand within a short time of making an initial enquiry, without any obligation to proceed.
The process is often simpler than people expect. Here is how it typically works from start to finish.
You submit some basic details about your property, including its type, your current heating system, and your location. The initial enquiry usually takes less than a minute and gives us enough information to carry out a first eligibility review.
We review your property ownership status, EPC rating, heating system type, and overall suitability for the scheme. This step helps identify whether the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is likely to apply to your home and flags any areas that may need attention before installation, such as insulation improvements.
If your property looks suitable, an MCS-certified installer will carry out a full site assessment. They will check the appropriate heat pump size for your home, where the outdoor unit can be positioned, insulation levels, hot water cylinder requirements, and compatibility with your existing pipework.
The installer submits the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant application on your behalf. You do not need to deal with any government forms or paperwork directly. The £7,500 is applied to your installation cost before you pay the remaining balance.
Once the grant is approved, the heat pump is installed, tested, and commissioned. Your heating and hot water systems are checked and handed over to you in full working order. A warranty is provided as part of the completed installation.
For most homeowners, the process from initial enquiry to completed installation is more straightforward than they expected going in.
Free Energy Savings and our network of MCS-certified installers cover the full Lancashire county area and the surrounding region. Whether you are in one of the larger towns, a smaller market town, or a rural village, we can help you explore whether the heat pump grant is available for your home.
Towns and areas we regularly cover include:
We also cover many of the smaller towns, villages, and rural communities across East Lancashire, the Ribble Valley, the Fylde Coast, and the areas bordering Greater Manchester and Yorkshire. If your home is in Lancashire, it is worth getting in touch regardless of your exact location.
Our installers are familiar with the variety of property types found across the county, from Victorian terraces in the mill towns to detached rural properties, and can advise on the most suitable heat pump setup for your home.
Switching to an air source heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme brings both environmental and practical advantages. For many households, the case for making the switch is stronger than it might first appear.
Heat pumps produce significantly fewer carbon emissions than gas or oil boilers. As the UK’s electricity grid continues to incorporate more renewable energy, the carbon footprint of running a heat pump will decrease further over time. For homeowners in Lancashire who want to reduce the environmental impact of their home, switching to a heat pump is one of the most meaningful changes they can make.
Because heat pumps operate at much higher efficiency levels than traditional boilers, many households find their heating costs reduce over time. The savings are typically most noticeable in homes with good insulation and a well-sized heat pump system. Pairing the heat pump with smart heating controls and, where possible, a renewable electricity tariff can improve the financial case further.
Installing a heat pump, particularly when combined with insulation improvements, can raise a property’s EPC rating. A better EPC rating can increase the value of a home and may make it more appealing to future buyers or tenants. For landlords, a stronger EPC rating also provides greater protection against tightening minimum energy efficiency requirements for rental properties.
Switching to electric heating removes your home’s dependence on gas, oil, and imported fossil fuels. For households in rural parts of Lancashire that currently rely on oil or LPG, this can mean the end of fuel deliveries, storage tanks, and the price volatility that comes with them. For those on mains gas, it removes exposure to the gas wholesale market, which has proved unpredictable in recent years.
The direction of UK energy policy is clear. Gas boiler regulations are expected to tighten, and the long-term plan is to move home heating away from fossil fuels entirely. Heat pumps are central to that transition. Installing one now, with the support of the £7,500 BUS grant, means Lancashire homeowners are ahead of that shift rather than reacting to it later, potentially at greater cost and without the same level of financial support.
To start your application process you can fill in our application form above. We will then get in touch to check your eligibility and move your application forward.
The £7,500 heat pump grant is provided through the UK government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme. It is a one-off payment applied directly to the cost of installing an air source heat pump. The grant is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. Your MCS-certified installer handles the application on your behalf, and the £7,500 is deducted from the installation cost before you pay the remaining balance. The scheme is open to homeowners across England and Wales and runs until 2028.
To qualify, you need to own a home in England or Wales that is currently heated by a gas, oil, LPG, or electric storage heating system. The property must have a valid EPC with no outstanding insulation recommendations, or those recommendations must be completed before installation. New-build homes are not eligible. Landlords can apply for rental properties they own. Common qualifying property types include semi-detached houses, detached homes, bungalows, and larger terraced properties with space for an outdoor unit.
A typical air source heat pump installation costs between £10,000 and £13,000 before the grant is applied. After the £7,500 BUS grant, the remaining cost to the homeowner is usually somewhere between £2,500 and £5,500, depending on the property’s size, the system required, and any additional work such as fitting a hot water cylinder or upgrading insulation. Your installer will provide a clear quote following the site assessment.
Yes. Modern air source heat pumps are designed to operate efficiently in cold temperatures and can extract usable heat from outdoor air down to around minus 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. Lancashire’s climate is well within the range where heat pumps perform reliably. Performance is best in well-insulated homes, which is one reason the BUS requires insulation recommendations to be addressed before installation. Many households across Northern Europe have been running heat pumps in far colder conditions for many years.
Most heat pump installations are completed within one to three days. The exact timeline depends on the size of the property, the complexity of the pipework, and whether additional work is needed, such as installing a hot water cylinder or upgrading insulation. Your installer will give you a clear timeframe before work begins. In most cases, the disruption is modest and the transition from old boiler to heat pump is straightforward.
In most cases, no. Installing an air source heat pump in England is generally covered by permitted development rights, meaning planning permission is not required. Exceptions can apply to listed buildings, properties in conservation areas, and some flats or leasehold properties. Your installer will clarify the position for your specific property during the assessment stage, before any work is agreed or costs are committed.
Yes. Landlords can apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for properties they own and rent out. The eligibility criteria are the same: the property must have a valid EPC, meet the insulation requirements, and currently use a fossil fuel or older heating system. The grant cannot be applied to new-build rental properties. The MCS-certified installer manages the application process, so there is no requirement for the landlord to submit paperwork to the government directly.
It depends on what your EPC shows. If the certificate recommends loft insulation or cavity wall insulation, those improvements will generally need to be completed before the heat pump installation can proceed under the BUS. This is to make sure the system runs efficiently once installed. Free Energy Savings can help you understand what your EPC says and identify any insulation support that may be available to you. For many Lancashire properties, insulation work can be arranged relatively quickly and does not cause significant delays.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is designed to replace fossil fuel and older heating systems with low-carbon alternatives. Eligible systems that can be replaced include gas boilers, oil boilers, LPG boilers, and electric storage heating systems. The scheme is not intended for homes that are already using low-carbon heating or that are newly built. If you are currently on any of the listed systems and own your property, it is worth checking eligibility, as a large number of Lancashire homes meet the basic requirements.
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