Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Why the increased grant is good news for installers

From 21 July 2026, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) has been increased from £7,500 to £9,000 for rural homes in England and Wales using oil and LPG heating.

The move is designed to help eligible off-grid homes make the switch to a heat pump, thereby avoiding the price volatility and supply disruption that has been heightened in recent times by the ongoing energy crisis.

Around 1.5 million homes across the UK rely on heating oil because they are located off the main gas grid¹. In rural areas, reliance is much higher, with almost a third of households in rural Wales² using oil for heating.

How does the enhanced Boiler Upgrade Scheme work?

The higher grant operates in the same way as the original £7,500 BUS grant, which aims to encourage homeowners to replace their existing fossil fuel heating system with one that's more efficient and better for the environment. However, those that are eligible for the increased grant must live in off-grid properties in England or Wales (Scotland already offers a £9,000 grant for these homes).

The higher grant will run until March 2027, and installers must commission and install the heat pump within 120 days of applying for the grant or it will not be eligible.

Around 200,000 homes in England and Wales have already received details of the increased funding and how to claim.

What does the enhanced Boiler Upgrade Scheme mean for installers?

Moving from oil and LPG heating comes with large upfront costs, so this extra help is likely to spark increased interest from homeowners that want to make the switch but are wary of the expense.

Applications surged when the initial iteration of the BUS expanded from £5,000 to £7,500 – jumping by 84%³ in the six months following the increase. We can reasonably expect the new enhancement to prompt similar interest, which means that installers can expect to see increased demand.

The nature of the properties claiming this funding also means there are opportunities here for installers to deliver whole house heating solutions. Off-grid oil and LPG homes usually have older heat emitters, larger rooms, higher heating demands and aging controls, so installers can help customers in modernising their entire systems.

How can installers support customers in oil and LPG heated homes?

People living in oil and LPG-heated homes are well aware of the challenges this type of heating brings. However, making the switch to such a different kind of technology can be daunting, even with extra funding.

Installers have an important role to play in educating homeowners on the benefits of electrification, including protection from fossil fuel price spikes and greater certainty over lower energy bills. Research and innovation foundation, Nesta, for example, shows that based on the current energy price cap and current heating oil prices, a medium-sized home using heating oil could save more than £650 per year on their energy bills by switching to a heat pump⁴.

Nesta’s research also contradicts the common concern that heat pumps aren’t a good fit for rural housing stock, with one survey showing that heat pump users who switched from oil heating are more satisfied with the technology than those that switched from mains gas. Installers can therefore share their expertise to build consumer trust and ease concerns about heat pump technology.

The enhanced BUS represents a key opportunity for installers. With a comprehensive catalogue of everything from valves and controls to heat pumps and emitters, Myson can support installers in creating more energy efficient, resilient and cost-effective homes for all their customers.

Supporting installers: the right emitters for low-temperature heating

As more oil and LPG-heated homes make the switch to heat pumps, installers will need to consider whether existing emitters are suitable for lower-temperature operation.

Myson specialises in low-temperature heating solutions, providing a range of panel and designer radiators, underfloor heating, towel warmers, fan convectors and valves for domestic and commercial applications.

For installers working with customers taking advantage of the enhanced Boiler Upgrade Scheme, choosing the right emitters can be key to delivering the comfort and efficiency expected from a new heating system. If you have questions about sizing, outputs, or which Myson radiator is right for the job, talk to our team. We’re happy to help you find the right solution for your installation.

Explore Myson’s range of low-temperature heating solutions

Sources:

¹ Fuel Oil News

²  Welsh Parliament

³ Renewable Energy Hub 

⁴ Nesta