- Area
- Scottish Borders
- Postcode district
- TD5
- Nation
- Scotland
- Main grant
- Home Energy Scotland, up to £7,500
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Heat pump grants in Kelso: what to expect
Most homes can run on a heat pump if the system is designed properly, and Kelso is no different. The key is matching the heat pump and radiators to the home's heat loss.
Installation dates in Kelso are fixed around any funding confirmation, so work does not start too early. Across Kelso and the Scottish Borders, the paperwork for funding applications is prepared alongside your quote.
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
- Scottish homeowners applying through Home Energy Scotland, including rural and island homes
What's included
- MCS certificate and handover documents after installation
- Written quote showing the full price and any grant deduction
- Quote and technical details for Home Energy Scotland applications (Scotland)
- Installation scheduled around your grant confirmation or funding offer
- Eligibility check for the scheme that covers your nation
For landlords with property in Kelso, we explain the funding position for each home before quoting.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For a Kelso home, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Scotland included, until 31 March 2027. Scottish permitted development rules and building standards apply, and the surveyor checks the unit position and any listed or conservation-area constraints.
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 Kelso
On the shortest day Kelso gets only about 7 hours 02 minutes of daylight, with the sun around 11° up at noon. Long Scottish winters mean the heat pump runs for much of the year, so careful sizing, good controls and correctly sized radiators make a real difference.
How installation works in Kelso
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Kelso home, measures every room and checks where the outdoor unit can go.
- You receive a heat loss design and a fixed written quote, with any grant shown where it applies.
- Installers fit the unit, cylinder and any radiator changes, typically over 2–4 days on site.
- The system is commissioned, set up with weather compensation and handed over with the paperwork.
Heat pump grants in Kelso: questions
What size heat pump does a Kelso 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 Kelso home.
How long does installation take in Kelso?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Kelso home states the expected time.
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Kelso house?
Usually at the side or rear, on a level base with space around it for airflow and servicing, away from bedroom windows where possible. The surveyor checks positions at your Kelso home.
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.
Can I start work before my Home Energy Scotland offer arrives?
No. In Scotland you must receive a written funding offer from Home Energy Scotland before work starts, otherwise the work may not be funded. We plan the installation date only once your offer is confirmed. Funding is first come, first served, so it helps to apply once you have your written quote.