Can Your Home Qualify For The Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The homeowner does not normally submit the BUS application independently. Instead, the installer applies through Ofgem on the property owner's behalf after agreeing the installation and obtaining the necessary consent.

Choosing an installer with the correct certification is therefore part of meeting the scheme requirements, not simply a preference.

A Quick Eligibility Check

Your home may be suitable for BUS if most of the following statements apply:

• The property is in England or Wales.
• You own the property.
• It is not social housing.
• It is not an excluded new-build property.
• You are replacing an eligible fossil fuel or electric heating system.
• You are installing an eligible heat pump or biomass boiler.
• The proposed system meets BUS technical requirements.
• An appropriately MCS-certified installer will carry out the work.
• The same low-carbon heating installation has not already received excluded government funding.
• The installation can be completed within the scheme's required timeframe.

This is a useful starting point, but it is not a substitute for an official eligibility assessment.

How Do You Apply If Your Home Qualifies?

If you believe your property meets the requirements, the next step is to contact an MCS-certified installer.

To apply for boiler upgrade scheme grant funding, you normally:

1. Find an MCS-certified installer.
2. Arrange a property assessment.
3. Discuss the proposed heating system and receive a quotation.
4. Agree to the installation and grant application.
5. Allow the installer to submit the BUS application to Ofgem.
6. Confirm your consent when contacted.
7. Have the system installed and commissioned within the required timeframe.
8. The installer claims the grant and applies it as an upfront discount.

The BUS grant should be clearly shown on the quotation and invoice, so you can see the amount being deducted from the installation price.

What If Your Home Does Not Qualify?