Boiler Upgrade Scheme Rejected? Reasons & Next Steps
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Quick Answer
A Boiler Upgrade Scheme application can be rejected if the property, existing heating system, installer or proposed installation fails the BUS rules. Rejection can also result from missed property-owner consent, incomplete identity checks, incorrect information, insufficient supporting evidence, failure to deduct the grant upfront or missed deadlines.
A voucher can also fail at the redemption stage if the completed installation no longer matches the approved application.
Importantly, rejection is not always permanent. If the problem can be corrected, the installer may be able to submit a new application. A statutory review is generally more appropriate where there are grounds to believe Ofgem made the wrong decision.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme Rejected? Why Applications Are Refused and What to Do Next
If your Boiler Upgrade Scheme application was rejected, it does not always mean your property can never qualify. Some rejections happen because the property, installer or heating system is genuinely ineligible. Others result from missed consent, incomplete evidence, incorrect information or a problem discovered when the installer tries to redeem the voucher.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is installer-led. Your installer submits the application to Ofgem, while you confirm your consent and relevant eligibility details. Ofgem then checks whether the proposed installation meets the scheme rules.
Those rules changed significantly during 2026. In particular, a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) stopped being a standing eligibility requirement for applications properly made from 28 April 2026. You can read our overview of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2026 updates for the wider changes.
This guide focuses specifically on why applications fail, what can be corrected and when a review may be appropriate.
Planning a heat-pump installation? Compare suitable heating quotations through Getfreequote.co.uk before committing to a system or installation contract.
What does a Boiler Upgrade Scheme rejection actually mean?
There are two important approval stages under BUS.
First, the installer submits a voucher application. Ofgem checks the proposed property, heating technology, installer and other eligibility details. Property-owner consent and identity verification form part of this process. Ofgem considers an application “properly made” only when it has the information needed to assess eligibility and the required consent and identity verification.
Our Boiler Upgrade Scheme application guide covers the wider application process.
Second, after installation and commissioning, the installer applies to redeem the voucher. Ofgem performs further checks, including against information on the MCS installation certificate. Therefore, an installation can pass the initial voucher stage but still encounter a problem at redemption.
The main reasons a Boiler Upgrade Scheme application may be rejected
| Potential problem | Why it matters | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Consent or identity not completed | Ofgem cannot complete eligibility checks | Complete checks or re-apply if the application has failed |
| Property or previous heating system is ineligible | Core scheme rules are not met | Confirm whether another BUS category applies |
| Installer is not eligible | Relevant MCS certification is required | Use an appropriately certified installer |
| System design is non-compliant | Technology must meet BUS technical rules | Correct the design before applying again |
| Evidence is missing | Ofgem cannot verify eligibility | Supply valid evidence and re-apply where permitted |
| Grant is not deducted upfront | BUS requires the full grant to reduce the customer's price | Correct the quote/payment arrangements |
| Relevant deadline is missed | Applications and vouchers have timing rules | Submit a new application if still eligible |
| Installed system differs materially | Redemption information no longer matches the voucher | Correct or re-apply as required |
1. The property or existing heating system is not eligible
BUS-funded properties must be in England or Wales. Social housing is excluded, while ordinary developer-led new-build properties generally do not qualify. Certain owner-led self-build properties can qualify for heat-pump funding.
For retrofit installations, the BUS system must normally replace an existing fossil-fuel or electric heating system. A property where a heat pump already provides space heating will not normally qualify simply to replace that existing low-carbon system. Ofgem also restricts funding where the same installation has received other public funding, including Energy Company Obligation funding.
Before applying, check the relevant Boiler Upgrade Scheme requirements rather than assuming that owning a property automatically makes it eligible.
2. The installer is not eligible
The installer applying for BUS must have relevant Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certification and an appropriate BUS installer account.
Ofgem’s current installer guidance states that it may reject voucher applications or revoke vouchers where an installer does not have the required MCS certification.
This is different from simply choosing an installer who has experience fitting heat pumps. The certification must cover the relevant technology.
3. The product is listed, but the installation still fails BUS rules
One easily misunderstood point is that appearing on Ofgem’s Product Eligibility List is not a guarantee of BUS approval.
The list helps identify products that meet specified MCS product standards. However, Ofgem makes clear that other scheme rules still apply. A listed product can therefore form part of an ineligible installation.
For example, air-to-water and ground source heat pumps must achieve a minimum seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of 2.8. Fossil-fuel hybrid heat-pump systems are also ineligible. Other requirements cover capacity, system configuration and the heating demand the system must meet.
See our guide to Boiler Upgrade Scheme qualifying heating systems before assuming a particular product or configuration will qualify.
4. Property-owner consent or identity checks are missed
After the installer submits an application, Ofgem contacts the property owner directly.
Current guidance gives property owners 14 days to provide digital consent after receiving the request. If consent is not provided in time, the application may be rejected and a fresh application may be needed.
Consent also confirms important details, including the installation address, proposed heating technology and ownership.
A property owner can consent to only one active BUS application for the property at a time. This matters if several installers have independently started applications.
5. Supporting evidence is missing or inconsistent
Ofgem may ask for information needed to establish eligibility. Until the required information, consent and identity verification are available, the voucher application is not considered properly made.
This can be particularly important when information about the property or previous heating system needs verification.
One major 2026 change deserves emphasis: not having a valid EPC no longer automatically makes an application ineligible. Where a valid EPC exists, its certificate number should be supplied. Where one does not exist, Ofgem allows alternative evidence to demonstrate relevant property details.
Therefore, older advice stating simply that “no EPC means no BUS grant” is now out of date for applications properly made from 28 April 2026.
6. The BUS grant has not been deducted upfront
BUS is designed as an upfront discount, not a reimbursement that the homeowner claims later.
The installer must deduct the full grant value from the quotation before the property owner makes payment. The discount must also appear on the final invoice. Ofgem states that failure to meet this requirement may lead to rejection or voucher revocation.
A quotation that expects the homeowner to pay the grant amount first and recover it afterwards should therefore be questioned before work starts.
7. Ownership, finance or timing rules are breached
The property owner must become the legal owner of the funded heat pump or biomass boiler after installation.
Ofgem specifically identifies arrangements such as hire purchase, conditional sale and consumer hire as potentially ineligible where legal ownership of the equipment does not pass to the property owner. Other finance structures can qualify if the ownership requirement is satisfied.
Timing also matters. Ofgem strongly recommends obtaining a voucher before commissioning. Where an installer applies retrospectively, the application must be properly made within 120 days of commissioning.
Once issued, a voucher normally gives three months to complete an air-source or biomass installation and six months for ground source. If it expires, the installer generally needs to apply again.
8. The completed installation no longer matches the application
A voucher is granted against information about a specific installation.
Changing the exact product does not always require a new application. However, the replacement must remain within the same technology type, appear on the PEL where required and continue to meet eligibility rules.
A change of technology is different. Ofgem states that if the installed technology differs from the one on the voucher application, the voucher is not valid and cannot be redeemed. Incorrect information about supplementary heating can also require cancellation and re-application.
This is one reason installers should check the BUS implications before making material design changes during a project.
Why a £9,000 BUS application may fail even when £7,500 support is possible
From 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, eligible off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG heating with an air-to-water or ground source heat pump can qualify for a £9,000 BUS grant.
However, the off-gas definition is strict. A property must not be mains-gas fuelled, have a record of an existing gas meter point, be connected to a heat network or be a new-build property. Ofgem explicitly says capped or clamped gas supply meter points still count when applying these rules.
As a result, an application can fail the £9,000 uplift criteria without necessarily being ineligible for BUS altogether. Where all standard conditions are met, the installation may still qualify for the standard £7,500 air-to-water or ground source heat-pump grant.
That distinction is worth checking before abandoning the project.
What should you do if your Boiler Upgrade Scheme application is rejected?
Start with the reason given by Ofgem. At redemption, Ofgem sends the installer a notice outlining why an application was rejected.
Then identify whether the problem is correctable or fundamental.
Incorrect contact information, missing supporting evidence, an expired application or a correctable application error may justify a fresh submission. By contrast, a genuinely ineligible property, prohibited heating configuration or unsuitable ownership arrangement cannot be solved simply by submitting identical information again.
Before re-applying, the installer should verify:
- property eligibility;
- the heating system being replaced;
- previous public funding;
- installer certification;
- equipment and system design;
- equipment ownership;
- commissioning dates and voucher timing;
- property-owner contact details and consent;
- the evidence submitted to Ofgem; and
- that the full BUS grant appears as an upfront discount.
Should you re-apply or ask Ofgem to review the rejection?
Re-applying and requesting a statutory review serve different purposes.
If the original decision was correct because information was missing or something on the application was wrong, fixing the issue and submitting a new application may be the more practical route.
A statutory review is more relevant when there are reasonable grounds to argue that Ofgem’s decision itself was incorrect.
Only the installer can request the BUS statutory review. The request, including supporting evidence, must reach Ofgem within 28 days of the decision notice. Ofgem says the review is handled by someone who was not involved in the original decision and aims to reach a decision within 21 working days, or provide an update within that period if it cannot conclude the review.
Installers can find the process through Ofgem’s BUS statutory review guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
Find clear answers to common questions about Boiler Upgrade Scheme application rejections, reviews, re-applications, consent deadlines, EPC evidence, product eligibility, hybrid systems, previous funding, voucher expiry, post-commissioning applications and the £9,000 off-gas uplift.
A BUS application may be rejected because the property, installer or proposed heating system is ineligible. Administrative issues such as missed consent, identity verification, missing evidence, incorrect details or missed deadlines can also cause rejection.
Yes, in many circumstances. If the reason for rejection can be resolved, the installer may submit a fresh application. A new application will be assessed on its own facts, so eligibility is not guaranteed.
No. Some rejections relate to correctable application or evidence problems. However, if the underlying property or heating installation does not meet scheme rules, another identical application will not solve the problem.
The formal BUS statutory review request must be made by the installer. Ofgem's current guidance describes the review mechanism for installers whose application or other BUS decision has been rejected.
The request and supporting evidence must reach Ofgem within 28 days of the decision notice.
Ofgem says it aims to reach a decision within 21 working days after receiving the review request. If it cannot conclude the review within that period, it aims to provide an update.
Yes. Property owners normally have 14 days to complete digital consent after Ofgem contacts them. Failure to respond may result in the application being rejected.
A property owner should consent to only one application for a property at a time. Starting competing applications can therefore create avoidable problems. Confirm which installer is handling the BUS application before giving consent.
A valid EPC is no longer a standing eligibility requirement for applications properly made from 28 April 2026. If a valid EPC exists, its number should be provided. If not, alternative evidence can be used to establish relevant property details.
Yes. The Product Eligibility List confirms only part of the eligibility picture. Ofgem specifically warns that listed products can still be part of an ineligible BUS installation if other requirements are not satisfied.
A system combining a heat pump with fossil-fuel heating is not eligible under the current BUS rules.
A normal retrofit must replace an existing fossil-fuel or electric heating system. BUS does not generally fund replacement of an existing low-carbon space-heating system such as a heat pump.
Yes. BUS rules restrict installations that have received other public funding towards the same purchase or installation costs. ECO-funded installations are also excluded.
The installer can normally submit a new voucher application if the project remains eligible. A new application and property-owner consent are required. Air-source and biomass vouchers normally last three months, while ground-source vouchers normally last six months.
Yes, but this carries additional risk. The application must be properly made no more than 120 days after commissioning for the installation to remain eligible.
Potentially, yes. The £9,000 uplift has additional off-gas-grid and previous-fuel requirements. A property that fails those uplift conditions may still qualify for the standard £7,500 grant if every standard BUS requirement is satisfied.
Conclusion:
A Boiler Upgrade Scheme rejected decision should be treated as a reason to investigate, not automatically as the end of the process.
The key question is why Ofgem refused the application. Some problems, such as missed consent, incomplete evidence or incorrect application details, may be capable of correction. Others, including an ineligible property, prohibited system or ownership arrangement, are fundamental eligibility issues.
Work from Ofgem’s rejection notice rather than guessing. Confirm the current rules, correct anything that can be corrected and decide with the installer whether a new application or statutory review is the appropriate next step.
