Upgrade your heating to an Air Source Heat Pump with a government grant

Apply for a free Air Source Heat Pump grant today

With government plans to ban all oil boilers from 2025 and gas boilers from the mid-2030’s there’s never been a better time to look at upgrading to an Air Source Heat Pump.

To help in the transition to this zero emission heating source, the government have made grants available to help pay for the cost of installing an Air Source Heat Pump through both the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4).

Air Source Heat Pumps through the ECO4 scheme

As part of the governments commitment to net-zero by 2050, ECO4 provides qualifying households with the opportunity to receive an Air Source Heat Pump alongside insulation.

If you, or someone in your household is in receipt of a qualifying benefit, you could receive an Air Source Heat Pump for free through the government backed ECO4 scheme.

These grants are available to Home Owners, Tenants and Landlords.

A whole house approach to energy efficiency through ECO4

Air Source Heat Pumps are very efficient but work best when your home is well insulated. As part of the ECO4 scheme we will also upgrade the insulation in your home before installing your new Air Source Heat Pump if:

Ventilation

If we are upgrading the insulation in your home the amount of air that can circulate will be reduced as gaps which may have allowed draughts previously are closed up. Poor ventilation can lead to poor air quality and in turn condensation forming which can cause mould and damp patches to appear.

To ensure that this doesn’t happen we will bring your homes ventilation up to the latest standards and install additional ventilation where required as part of the ECO4 grant.

Do I qualify for a free ECO4 Air Source Heat Pump grant?

To qualify for a free Air Source Heat Pump via the ECO4 scheme, you or someone in your household must be in receipt of one of the benefits listed below.

I’m not receiving one of these benefits, can I be helped?

Up to 50% of energy efficiency measures installed in England, Wales and Scotland can be completed through the ECO4 Flex scheme and is for households whose combined gross income is below £31,000 per year or if you have certain health conditions which would make you vulnerable to the cold.

The ECO4 Flex scheme is administered by Local Authorities who are responsible for rolling it out in your area and they will verify your income or health eligibility. It is rolling out slowly and is expected to be fully live by April 2023.

We will check as part of your application if your area is now open for applications.

Alternatively, the government will also provide grants of £5,000 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme if you are in England or Wales.

I’m a Landlord, can I get any help?

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) came in to effect in April 2018 and means that all rented properties must now have a minimum energy efficiency rating of band ‘E’ unless exempted.

However, from 2025, all properties rented on new tenancies must meet a minimum energy efficiency rating of Band ‘C’ and properties with existing tenants must be brought up to this standard by 2028. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £30,000.

These changes are in line with the Government’s net zero emissions by 2050 targets and will also apply to properties which are being sold from 2035.

How can we help?

If your tenant is receiving one of the benefits listed above your property will be eligible for a grant to improve your property, including installing an environmentally friendly Air Source Heat Pump along with solar panels to further increase the efficiency of your property.

In fact, the ECO4 scheme says that all Band ‘E’ rated properties must reach a minimum Band ‘C’ after installation of energy efficiency measures.

Alternatively, you can apply for a £5,000 grant through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme if your tenants do not qualify through the benefits route.

What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a fixed £5,000 grant which goes towards the cost of installing an air source heat pump.

You will be eligible for the grant if all of the following are true:

• You own the property that you are applying for (including if it’s a business, a second home, or a property that you rent out to tenants);
• Is replacing a fossil fuel heating system (such as oil, gas or electric)

You will still be eligible if you have already had funding through a previous ECO scheme (between January 2013 and March 2022) to make your property more efficient, for example by insulating it.

Is my property eligible?

Your property must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no recommendations to complete loft or cavity wall insulation.

If your home does not have an EPC, we can arrange for an EPC to be completed for you.

We can also complete any cavity wall or loft insulation that may need completing before we install your Air Source Heat Pump.

To find out more, apply for a grant today.