Air Source Heat Pumps £7,500, or £9,000 for oil & LPG homes
An air source heat pump replaces your gas, oil, LPG or electric heating with a low-carbon system that delivers ~3–4 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity it uses. As your managing agent, ExpertHousing coordinates the survey, design, installation and the entire grant application through our MCS-registered installer partners, at no upfront cost to you.
Increased grant from 21 July 2026 for oil & LPG homes in England & Wales. £7,500 standard grant for all other eligible homes. Deducted from the installation cost upfront.
A Heat Pump Works Like a Fridge in Reverse
Instead of burning fuel, a heat pump moves existing heat from the outside air into your home, even when it's freezing outside. Modern units operate efficiently down to about −20 °C.
Outside Air
A fan pulls in outdoor air, even at 0 °C the air still contains thermal energy.
Refrigerant
A special refrigerant absorbs the heat and evaporates into a low-pressure gas.
Compressor
An electric compressor squeezes the gas, which dramatically raises its temperature.
Your Home
Heat is released into your radiators / underfloor heating and your hot-water cylinder.
For every 1 kWh of electricity a modern air source heat pump consumes, it produces 3 to 4 kWh of useful heat. A new gas boiler is around 0.9. That's why heat pumps are 3–4× more efficient, and why the running cost can be lower than oil or LPG, even at higher electricity unit prices.
£9,000 Grant for Oil & LPG Heated Homes
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has increased the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for off-gas-grid homes. From 21 July 2026, households in England & Wales currently heated by heating oil or LPG can claim £9,000 (a £1,500 increase on the standard £7,500) towards an air-to-water or ground source heat pump.
- £9,000 for air-to-water and ground source heat pumps
- For homes currently heated by heating oil or LPG
- Available in England & Wales (Scotland operates its own scheme)
- Increased £9,000 grant effective 21 July 2026
- Time-limited, confirmed for the current financial year, then reverts to £7,500
- Air-to-air heat pumps and biomass boilers are not covered by the £9,000 uplift
Why the uplift? Oil and LPG households face the most price volatility, these fuels are not protected by Ofgem's price cap. The uplift makes a heat pump the obvious replacement when an oil or LPG boiler fails.
Find Your Grant
Answer a few questions and we'll tell you which grant you qualify for and roughly how much you could save.
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Where is your home?
The scheme is funded differently across the UK.
Heat Pump vs Your Current Heating
Indicative annual running cost for a typical 3-bed semi-detached home (~12,000 kWh of heat demand). Actual figures depend on insulation, system design and tariff.
Indicative figures based on Ofgem cap (Q2 2026) and average UK demand. Energy Saving Trust publishes detailed methodology, your installer will provide a personalised quote.
Is Your Home Suitable?
Most UK homes are suitable for an air source heat pump. Since May 2024, the BUS no longer requires a minimum insulation rating, but a well-designed system is still essential for efficiency and comfort.
Heat pumps work well with
- Existing radiators (most can be re-used; some upsized)
- Underfloor heating (ideal, runs at lower flow temperatures)
- An outdoor location with at least 1 m clearance
- A hot-water cylinder (replaces a combi-boiler setup)
- Loft, cavity-wall or floor insulation already in place
Worth a closer look if
- You're in a flat (an air-to-water heat pump may not be possible, air-to-air can be)
- Your home has very poor insulation, consider ECO4 measures alongside
- You have a listed building or are in a conservation area (may need consent)
- Your only outdoor space is a shared courtyard or balcony
- You currently use a combi-boiler with no hot-water cylinder space
What To Expect From Your Installation
A typical installation takes 4–8 weeks from first contact to commissioning. The on-site work is usually 2–3 days.
Free Eligibility Check
15-minute call. We confirm you qualify for £7,500 or £9,000, no obligation.
Day 1Home Survey & Design
An MCS-certified partner engineer visits, measures heat-loss, designs the system to PAS 2035.
Week 1–2Quote & Grant Application
Fixed quote with the grant already deducted. We submit the BUS application on your behalf.
Week 2–3Installation
2–3 days on site. Outdoor unit, cylinder, controls, radiator changes if needed.
Week 4–8Commissioning & Aftercare
Test, optimise, hand over. Installer's MCS certificate, warranty docs, an annual service reminder.
Day of switch-onThe Things People Always Ask
Noise
Modern outdoor units run at 40–50 dB at 1 m, quieter than a normal conversation. Permitted-development rules require ≥ 1 m from any boundary.
Lifespan
Air source heat pumps typically last 15–20+ years. Compressors and controls are the components most likely to need attention later in life.
Maintenance
One annual service to maintain warranty. No gas safety certificate, no burner cleans, far simpler than a fossil-fuel boiler.
Planning Permission
Most installations are permitted development in England, no planning needed. Listed buildings, flats and conservation areas may require consent.
CO₂ Saved
Switching from gas saves ~1.4 tonnes CO₂/yr; from oil ~3.0 tonnes; from LPG ~2.6 tonnes (Energy Saving Trust figures, 2024).
Cold Weather
Modern units operate efficiently down to about −20 °C, warmer than the UK's all-time record low. They keep working through British winters.
Trusted, Accredited Installers
Every installation by our partner network is to MCS & PAS 2035 standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Verified against current GOV.UK, Ofgem and Energy Saving Trust guidance (May 2026).