Heat pump grants are government-funded payments towards the cost of installing a heat pump, and the scheme you can use depends on where you live in the UK. In England and Wales the main scheme is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which takes £7,500 off the price of an air source heat pump. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland offers a grant and an optional interest-free loan. Northern Ireland has no dedicated heat pump grant for homeowners at present.
Homeowners in Merseyside get a clear written quote showing the full price and any funding that applies. Installation dates in Merseyside are fixed around any funding confirmation, so work does not start too early. For landlords with property in Merseyside, we explain the funding position for each home before quoting.
Who it suits
- 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
- Homeowners in England and Wales replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating
- Anyone unsure which scheme applies and wanting it checked before committing
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Merseyside 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.
Towns we cover in Merseyside
We cover 14 towns in Merseyside for heat pump grants. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | L3 | Birkenhead | 7 h 29 min |
| Birkenhead | CH41 | Liverpool | 7 h 29 min |
| St Helens | WA10 | Prescot | 7 h 29 min |
| Southport | PR8 | Formby | 7 h 26 min |
| Wallasey | CH45 | Birkenhead | 7 h 29 min |
| Bootle | L21 | Wallasey | 7 h 28 min |
| Bebington | CH63 | Birkenhead | 7 h 30 min |
| Huyton | L36 | Prescot | 7 h 29 min |
| Kirkby | L32 | Maghull | 7 h 28 min |
| Prescot | L34 | Huyton | 7 h 29 min |
| Heswall | CH60 | Bebington | 7 h 30 min |
| Maghull | L31 | Kirkby | 7 h 28 min |
| Formby | L37 | Maghull | 7 h 27 min |
| Halewood | L26 | Huyton | 7 h 30 min |
Heat pump grants questions
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.
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.
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.