The name is misleading for most people replacing a gas boiler. Here's what the scheme is actually for.
It funds heat pumps, not gas boiler replacements
The government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme, administered through Ofgem in England and Wales, is a grant toward installing a heat pump (or, in limited cases, a biomass boiler) in place of a fossil-fuel heating system. If you're replacing one gas boiler with another gas boiler — the most common job we do — this scheme does not apply to that installation.
When it is genuinely relevant
If you're weighing up switching from gas to a heat pump rather than assuming a gas replacement is the only option, the scheme is worth investigating. Heat pump suitability depends heavily on insulation, radiator sizing and outdoor space, which is a different assessment to a standard gas boiler survey — an MCS-certified heat pump installer is the right starting point for that specific question.
What we can help with instead
For a straightforward gas boiler replacement, there is currently no national grant scheme directly subsidising the like-for-like swap in the way the Boiler Upgrade Scheme subsidises heat pumps. Some income-based or vulnerable-household support has existed through schemes like ECO at various times — eligibility rules change, so check current official guidance rather than relying on a headline scheme name.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme give money toward a new gas combi boiler?
No — it specifically funds heat pump installation (and limited biomass boiler cases), not like-for-like gas boiler replacement.
Who runs the scheme?
It's a UK government scheme administered through Ofgem, covering England and Wales; Scotland has separate low-carbon heating support schemes.
Is a heat pump a straightforward swap for my gas boiler?
Not usually a like-for-like swap — heat pump suitability depends on insulation, existing radiator sizing and available outdoor space, and needs its own specialist assessment.