- Area
- County Durham
- Postcode district
- DH1
- Nation
- England
- Main grant
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme, £7,500
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Heat pump grants for Durham homes
In Durham, as anywhere in the UK, the heat pumps that perform well are the ones designed around low flow temperatures and sized from a proper heat loss calculation.
Oil and LPG-heated homes around Durham can have their options set out alongside the cost of a full system. For landlords with property in Durham, we explain the funding position for each home before quoting.
Heat pump funding depends on which UK nation you live in, so we confirm what applies to your home and handle the grant steps alongside your quote.
- Landlords in England and Wales, who can apply for their let properties
- Homeowners in England and Wales replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating
- Homes in England and Wales on oil or LPG, where a higher grant applies between set dates
What's included
- Eligibility check for the scheme that covers your nation
- MCS certificate and handover documents after installation
- Written quote showing the full price and any grant deduction
- Installation scheduled around your grant confirmation or funding offer
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme application made by the MCS-certified installer (England and Wales)
We confirm at the survey which funding route a home in Durham is likely to qualify for.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Durham can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which takes £7,500 off the cost of an air source heat pump when it replaces fossil-fuel or electric heating. Replacing oil or LPG heating qualifies for £9,000 for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, and air-to-air systems for £2,500. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies for the grant and deducts it from the price.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Since 29 May 2025, permitted development in England allows up to two air source heat pumps on a house, each up to 1.5 m³, with no blanket 1 m boundary rule — the installation must still meet the MCS planning standards, including the noise check. Listed buildings, flats and some conservation-area positions need extra consent, which we check at survey.
Grants and VAT across the UK
| Nation | Main support for heat pumps | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| England | Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 (£9,000 replacing oil or LPG, 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027; £2,500 air-to-air) | MCS-certified installer applies; deducted from your quote |
| Wales | Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 (£9,000 replacing oil or LPG, 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027) | Same scheme and rules as England |
| Scotland | Home Energy Scotland grant up to £7,500, plus up to £1,500 rural uplift; interest-free loan up to £7,500 | You apply; written offer needed before work starts |
| Northern Ireland | No dedicated heat pump grant for homeowners at present | Some heat pumps funded through NISEP in the past |
Heat pump installation is zero-rated for VAT across the UK, including Northern Ireland, until 31 March 2027. Scheme figures as at October 2026; check gov.uk, Ofgem or Home Energy Scotland before relying on them.
Designing for Durham's winters
On the shortest day Durham gets only about 7 hours 13 minutes of daylight and the noon sun sits around 12° above the horizon. Northern winters tend to be longer, so a well-designed, efficient system matters more here because it runs for more of the year.
From survey to switch-on in Durham
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Durham gives us the room-by-room heat loss.
- Your written quote sets out the design, the price and the grant position where you live.
- Installation is booked for dates that suit you; most homes take 2–4 days on site.
- After commissioning you get a handover of the controls and settings, plus the certificates.
Heat pump grants in Durham: questions
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Durham?
Often some, not all. Heat pumps run best at lower water temperatures, so rooms with small radiators may need larger ones. The survey of your Durham home gives a room-by-room list.
Do you cover Chester-le-Street as well as Durham?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Chester-le-Street, which is about 6 miles north of Durham, and across County Durham.
How soon can you survey a home in Durham?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in County Durham. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
Do I need an EPC for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
No longer. Since 28 April 2026, a valid EPC is not required for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales. The system must still meet the home's full heating and hot water needs, which the room-by-room heat loss calculation confirms. The other eligibility rules, such as owning the property, still apply.
Who applies for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
In England and Wales, the MCS-certified installer applies to Ofgem for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on your behalf, and the grant is deducted from your quote. Ofgem then contacts you as the property owner to confirm the details. Your quote names the MCS-certified installer for your job, so you know who is making the application.