- Area
- Devon
- Postcode district
- EX34
- Nation
- England
- Main grant
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme, £7,500
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Heat pump grants in Ilfracombe: what to expect
The question for an Ilfracombe home is rarely whether a heat pump can work, but what needs to change to make it work well: radiator sizes, pipework, controls and where the unit goes.
Oil and LPG-heated homes around Ilfracombe can have their options set out alongside the cost of a full system. Installation dates in Ilfracombe are fixed around any funding confirmation, so work does not start too early.
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.
- Anyone unsure which scheme applies and wanting it checked before committing
- Homes in England and Wales on oil or LPG, where a higher grant applies between set dates
- Landlords in England and Wales, who can apply for their let properties
What's included
- Installation scheduled around your grant confirmation or funding offer
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme application made by the MCS-certified installer (England and Wales)
- MCS certificate and handover documents after installation
- Written quote showing the full price and any grant deduction
- Eligibility check for the scheme that covers your nation
We confirm at the survey which funding route a home in Ilfracombe is likely to qualify for.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
In England the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (£9,000 if it replaces oil or LPG, from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), and since 28 April 2026 a valid EPC is no longer needed. The grant is applied for by the MCS-certified installer and shown as a deduction on your Ilfracombe quote.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions 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.
Winter daylight and heating in Ilfracombe
On the shortest day Ilfracombe gets about 7 hours 52 minutes of daylight, and the winter sun reaches only around 15° above the horizon at noon. Winters this far south are milder than in most of the UK, which helps a heat pump run at low flow temperatures for much of the season.
From survey to switch-on in Ilfracombe
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Ilfracombe; the surveyor measures rooms, windows and radiators and looks at cylinder space.
- The design and quote arrive in writing, including radiator changes and the outdoor unit position.
- On installation days the old system is removed and the new one fitted and filled.
- We commission the heat pump, show you the controls and register the installation.
Heat pump grants in Ilfracombe: questions
How long does a heat pump survey take in Ilfracombe?
A home survey in Ilfracombe usually takes one to two hours. The surveyor measures every heated room, checks windows, walls and radiators, and looks at where the outdoor unit and cylinder can go.
How long does installation take in Ilfracombe?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for an Ilfracombe home states the expected time.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Ilfracombe?
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 Ilfracombe home gives a room-by-room list.
How much is the heat pump grant?
It depends on where you live. In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 towards an air-to-water heat pump, or £9,000 when replacing oil or LPG heating for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland offers up to £7,500, plus a rural uplift and an optional loan. Northern Ireland has no dedicated grant at present.
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.