- Area
- Lancashire
- Postcode district
- PR1
- Nation
- England
- Main grant
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme, £7,500
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Heat pump grants in Preston: what to expect
Homes around Preston range from older terraces to newer estates, and each needs a different design. That is why we survey before we quote.
For landlords with property in Preston, we explain the funding position for each home before quoting. We confirm at the survey which funding route a home in Preston is likely to qualify for.
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.
- Homes in England and Wales on oil or LPG, where a higher grant applies between set dates
- Anyone unsure which scheme applies and wanting it checked before committing
- Homeowners in England and Wales replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating
What's included
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme application made by the MCS-certified installer (England and Wales)
- MCS certificate and handover documents after installation
- Installation scheduled around your grant confirmation or funding offer
- Eligibility check for the scheme that covers your nation
- Written quote showing the full price and any grant deduction
Installation dates in Preston are fixed around any funding confirmation, so work does not start too early.
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 Preston quote.
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.
Winter daylight and heating in Preston
On the shortest day Preston gets only about 7 hours 25 minutes of daylight and the noon sun sits around 13° 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 Preston
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Preston; 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 Preston: questions
Can you service a heat pump in Preston that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Preston, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
What size heat pump does a Preston home need?
It depends on the heat loss, not the postcode. As a rough guide, a 3 bedroom semi often needs 6–9 kW, but the room-by-room survey sets the actual size for your Preston home.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Preston?
A home survey in Preston 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.
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.
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.