If your home runs on heating oil, this is worth five minutes of your time. The UK government has just increased the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant from £7,500 to £9,000 — but only for homes switching from oil or LPG heating to a heat pump. It’s the highest level of grant support currently available in England and Wales, and it’s aimed squarely at households like yours.
At Solarus Energy in Stockport, we’re MCS Certified to install air source heat pumps and handle the BUS grant application on your behalf. Here’s everything you need to know.
What’s Changed — and Why Now?
The BUS grant has been £7,500 for most homes since October 2023. The new £9,000 figure is a targeted uplift for oil and LPG-heated households in England and Wales, announced in response to rising oil prices driven by ongoing Middle East tensions.
Oil-heated homes — which are typically rural and off the gas grid — face the biggest exposure to volatile fuel prices. They’re also often the hardest and most expensive to switch. The extra £1,500 is designed to close that gap.
| The Energy Saving Trust confirms the £9,000 uplift is set to come into effect over the summer of 2026 for eligible oil and LPG properties. |
Who Qualifies?
Eligibility is straightforward. You qualify for the £9,000 BUS grant if:
- You own your home (homeowners only — not tenants)
- Your property is in England or Wales
- You currently heat with oil or LPG
- You have a valid EPC issued within the last 10 years
- Your property is not a new build (built within the last 2 years)
- Your installation is carried out by an MCS Certified installer like Solarus
You do not need to pass an income or means test — this grant is available to any eligible homeowner regardless of earnings. The BUS is also not a loan. It’s a government grant that comes straight off your installation cost. You never see or handle the money.
| You won’t qualify if: you want to keep your oil boiler as a backup (the old system must be fully removed); your property is in Scotland — there’s a separate Home Energy Scotland scheme; or you’re a tenant rather than the property owner. |
For the full eligibility criteria, see Ofgem’s official guidance for property owners.
How Does the Grant Work in Practice?
This is the part most people don’t realise — you don’t have to do any paperwork.
The BUS scheme is entirely installer-led. Here’s how it works:
- Get a quote from Solarus — we survey your home, design the right system, and deduct the £9,000 grant from your quote upfront. You only ever pay the net amount
- We apply to Ofgem on your behalf for the grant voucher
- You confirm consent via a quick email from Ofgem — just click a secure link confirming you own the property
- We install your heat pump and remove your oil system
- Ofgem pays us directly — the grant never touches your bank account
| Simple. Get in touch with our team on 0161 674 0390 or at hello@solarus.co.uk and we’ll talk you through it from there. |
Why Switch from Oil to a Heat Pump?
Beyond the grant, there are compelling reasons to make the switch — even without the £9,000 incentive.
Oil prices are unpredictable
Anyone who’s heated their home with oil knows the frustration of watching fuel prices swing wildly. A tank fill that cost £400 has jumped to £700 or more overnight. A heat pump runs on electricity — a much more stable and increasingly renewable energy source.
Heat pumps are significantly more efficient
For every 1 unit of electricity a heat pump uses, it typically produces 3 to 4 units of heat. Your oil boiler produces less than 1 unit of heat for every unit of fuel it burns. That efficiency gap is real and significant.
Lower running costs over time
As electricity prices continue to fall relative to fossil fuels — particularly if you’re on a smart tariff or have solar panels — the running cost advantage of a heat pump grows. Pair it with our solar PV and battery storage systems and you can heat your home largely on energy you generate yourself.
Better for the environment
Heating accounts for around a third of the UK’s carbon emissions. Switching from oil to a heat pump significantly reduces your household’s carbon footprint — particularly as the electricity grid becomes greener each year.
Consistent, comfortable warmth
Modern heat pumps deliver steady, even heat throughout your home. No more waiting for the boiler to fire up, no more hot and cold spots. Many customers tell us their home feels warmer and more comfortable after switching.
Added value to your property
With the government’s clear direction of travel away from fossil fuel heating, a heat pump-equipped home is increasingly attractive to buyers. EPC ratings improve, and future-proofing your heating now makes sense.
Is a Heat Pump Right for an Oil-Heated Home?
Honestly — usually yes, but it depends on the property. Oil-heated homes tend to be larger, rural properties, and heat pumps are well suited to exactly this type of home. They work best with:
- Larger radiators or underfloor heating — heat pumps work at lower flow temperatures than oil boilers, so well-sized emitters matter
- Good or improving insulation — you don’t need a perfect EPC to qualify, but better insulation means lower running costs
- Some outdoor space — air source heat pumps need a unit outside, roughly the size of an air conditioning unit
When Solarus surveys your home, we’ll give you an honest assessment of whether a heat pump is the right fit — and if not, we’ll tell you that too.
Act Before the Funding Changes
The BUS grant runs until March 2028, but grant budgets are finite and eligibility rules can change. The £9,000 oil uplift is a brand-new announcement — take advantage of it while it’s available.
For more background on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and how it works, see our earlier Boiler Upgrade Scheme guide on the Solarus website.
Talk to Solarus Today
We install air source heat pumps across Stockport, Greater Manchester, Tameside, Cheshire, and the wider North West. As an MCS Certified, NICEIC Approved, Which? Trusted Trader, and Octopus Trusted Partner, we handle everything from system design and BUS grant application through to installation and commissioning.
| Get your free no-obligation quote today 📞 0161 674 0390 📧 hello@solarus.co.uk 🌐 solarus.co.uk 📍 Unit 12 The Gate Centre, Bredbury Parkway, Stockport, SK6 2SN |
Useful Links
- GOV.UK: Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Ofgem: BUS guidance for property owners
- Energy Saving Trust: Boiler Upgrade Scheme explained
- MCS: Find a certified installer
- Solarus: Boiler Upgrade Scheme guide — solarus.co.uk/blog/boiler-upgrade-scheme-guide
- Solarus: Air source heat pumps — solarus.co.uk/heat-pumps
- Solarus: Solar PV and battery storage — solarus.co.uk/solar-pv