Boiler Upgrade Scheme Second Home Eligibility 2026
Check Your Eligibility for Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
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Quick Answer: Can a Second Home Get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Yes. Second homes are eligible property types under BUS. Ofgem also lists holiday homes and rented residential properties as eligible examples. Owners of multiple properties may apply for a BUS voucher for each legally separate eligible property, although only one voucher can be redeemed per property.
The property must be in England or Wales and normally replace an existing fossil-fuel or electric heating system. Current grants include £7,500 for eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pumps, £2,500 for residential air-to-air heat pumps and £5,000 for qualifying biomass boilers. Some off-gas properties replacing oil or LPG can receive £9,000 until 31 March 2027.
Can a Second Home Qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Yes. A second home can qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) in 2026, provided the property and installation meet the scheme rules. GOV.UK specifically includes second homes among properties an owner can apply for. GOV.UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility guidance
That makes BUS relevant to holiday cottages, weekend homes and other additional properties in England and Wales. However, ownership alone does not guarantee funding. The existing heating system, proposed technology, previous public funding and property type still matter.
This guide explains the current Boiler Upgrade Scheme second home rules, 2026 grant amounts and how to apply.
Considering a heat pump for a second property? Get a free quote and compare suitable options before relying on headline grant figures.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme Second Home Eligibility at a Glance
| Check | Current position |
|---|---|
| Second or holiday home | Potentially eligible, subject to full scheme rules |
| Location | England or Wales |
| Existing heating | Fossil fuel or electric heating without a heat pump |
| Multiple properties | One voucher may be sought per legally separate eligible property |
| EPC | Not mandatory for applications properly made from 28 April 2026 |
| Installer | BUS is installer-led and requires an eligible MCS-certified installer |
These points reflect Ofgem’s current July 2026 guidance.
Do Second Homes Qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
The key point is that BUS does not require the property to be your main residence.
GOV.UK says owners can be eligible when applying for a second home. Ofgem’s current installer guidance also lists second homes and holiday homes among eligible residential properties.
Eligibility therefore centres on the property, ownership, existing heating and proposed installation rather than how often you personally stay there.
BUS only applies to eligible properties in England and Wales. A second home in Scotland or Northern Ireland cannot use this scheme, although other support may be available.
For the wider current rules, see our Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2026 updates guide.
What Rules Must a Second Home Meet?
Being a second home answers only one part of the test. The installation must meet the wider BUS requirements.
You must own the property
The owner does not need to occupy the address as a principal home. Second homes, holiday homes and privately rented properties can qualify. Where ownership is more complex, Ofgem may require the appropriate consent and identity checks.
The existing heating system matters
For a normal retrofit, the system being replaced must generally be fossil-fuel heating, such as gas, oil or LPG, or electric heating that does not already include a heat pump.
If the existing space-heating system already includes a heat pump, the property is not normally eligible for BUS funding to replace it. Ofgem specifically includes storage heaters, electric panel radiators and electric boilers as examples of potentially qualifying electric heating.
Our Boiler Upgrade Scheme requirements guide covers the wider qualifying conditions.
An EPC is no longer mandatory
Older BUS information can be misleading here.
From 28 April 2026, a valid Energy Performance Certificate is no longer a requirement simply to apply. If a valid EPC exists, its certificate number must be provided. Without one, the installer can submit alternative evidence, such as recent utility or fuel records and photographs of the existing heating system.
This is a significant change from the pre-April 2026 rules, so second-home owners should be cautious with older council or installer guidance still stating that an EPC is compulsory.
Previous public funding can prevent a claim
A property will normally be ineligible if a BUS grant has already been redeemed for a heat pump or biomass boiler at that address. Funding can also be restricted where the same installation has received other public funding.
Separate grants previously used for unrelated energy-efficiency work do not automatically exclude the property. GOV.UK specifically confirms that previous funding for measures such as insulation does not, by itself, prevent BUS eligibility.
How Much Can Second-Home Owners Get in 2026?
Second homes do not receive a reduced grant because they are not the owner’s main residence.
| Eligible technology or situation | BUS grant |
|---|---|
| Air-to-water heat pump | £7,500 |
| Ground or water source heat pump | £7,500 |
| Air-to-air heat pump in an eligible residential property | £2,500 |
| Qualifying biomass boiler | £5,000 |
| Eligible off-gas property replacing oil/LPG with air-to-water or ground source heat pump | £9,000 until 31 March 2027 |
These are the current published grant values.
The £9,000 rate may be particularly relevant to rural second homes heated by oil or LPG. However, “off gas” has a specific BUS meaning.
Ofgem says the property must not be fuelled by mains gas, have a current gas meter-point record, be attached to a heat network or be a new-build property. The heating being replaced must use oil or LPG. The uplift applies to eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pumps for qualifying applications properly made from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. Ofgem’s current Property Owner Guidance V5.1
Can Holiday Lets and Multiple Second Homes Qualify?
Yes, potentially.
Ofgem lists holiday homes as eligible residential property examples. It also says owners of multiple properties may apply for a voucher for each legally separate property. Only one voucher can be redeemed for each property.
So owning several properties does not, by itself, limit you to one BUS grant across your portfolio. Each address must satisfy the rules independently.
One technology-specific restriction matters: air-to-air heat pumps are only eligible in residential properties. Air-to-water, ground source and qualifying biomass installations can also be eligible in non-residential properties. If a holiday property has an unusual classification, ask the installer to confirm the correct BUS category.
How Does the Application Process Work for a Second Home?
BUS is installer-led, so you do not submit the grant application yourself.
Start by getting quotations from suitable MCS-certified installers. Your chosen installer checks the property and proposed technology, then applies to Ofgem on your behalf.
Ofgem contacts you to confirm consent and verify your identity. The grant is paid to the installer, who must show it as an upfront deduction on the quotation and final invoice. GOV.UK’s BUS application guidance
For the full process, see our Boiler Upgrade Scheme application guide.
Second-home owners should also plan access for surveys, installation and possible scheme checks. If the property is used as a holiday let, coordinate work around bookings.
Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Worth Using for a Second Home?
The grant can materially reduce upfront cost, but the economics still need a property-specific calculation.
Energy Saving Trust’s current air source heat pump guidance gives an indicative typical installation cost of around £12,000 before grant support. Actual costs vary with property size, radiator changes, hot-water requirements, electrical work and access.
A lightly used second home may have lower annual heating demand, which can reduce the absolute yearly saving available. Conversely, an oil- or LPG-heated rural property qualifying for the temporary £9,000 grant may have a stronger upfront case.
Compare total installed cost after BUS, expected electricity use, current heating costs and occupancy. Our air source heat pump running costs guide explains the main variables.
Get a free quote: compare surveyed options for your second home rather than choosing a system from the grant amount alone.
Second-Home BUS Eligibility Checklist
- You own the property.
- It is in England or Wales.
- The existing heating is an eligible fossil-fuel or electric system.
- The proposed technology is BUS eligible for that property type.
- The property has not already used a BUS voucher for low-carbon heating.
- The same installation is not being double-funded.
- Any £9,000 claim meets the specific off-gas oil/LPG rules.
- An eligible MCS-certified installer is making the application.
- The quotation clearly shows the BUS deduction.
- You can provide consent, identity information and property access when required.
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Frequently asked questions
Find clear answers to common questions about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for second homes and holiday homes, including holiday lets, multiple properties, EPCs, regional eligibility, the £9,000 uplift, electric heating, air-to-air heat pumps, biomass boilers, new builds, grant payments and installer applications.
Yes. GOV.UK expressly includes second homes within the ownership eligibility wording, provided all other property and installation requirements are met.
Yes, potentially. Ofgem lists holiday homes among examples of eligible residential property types.
Potentially. Both holiday homes and properties rented to tenants appear within Ofgem's eligible property examples. The individual property and proposed technology must still meet the full rules.
Yes. Ofgem says an owner of multiple properties may apply for a voucher for each legally separate eligible property.
Normally one redeemed voucher per legally separate property. Previous BUS funding for low-carbon heating at the same address can make another application ineligible.
No. The official eligibility wording specifically includes second homes, so there is no principal-residence requirement of that kind.
The current BUS eligibility rules do not set a household-income test. Eligibility instead depends on ownership, property, existing heating and technology requirements.
Not necessarily. For applications properly made from 28 April 2026, a valid EPC is no longer mandatory. If a valid EPC exists, its number must still be supplied.
Yes. BUS covers eligible properties in England and Wales.
No. BUS applies to England and Wales. Scotland has separate home-energy support arrangements.
Potentially. Until 31 March 2027, an eligible property replacing oil or LPG with an air-to-water or ground source heat pump may receive £9,000 if it satisfies Ofgem's off-gas-grid conditions.
It can. Ofgem permits qualifying electric heating systems that do not include a heat pump, including storage heaters, panel radiators and electric boilers.
Generally no. If the existing space-heating system includes a heat pump, the replacement is not normally eligible for BUS funding.
Yes, if the installation and property qualify and the property is residential. The current air-to-air BUS grant is £2,500.
Potentially. The current biomass grant is £5,000, but additional conditions apply, including rural and off-gas-grid requirements.
Not automatically. GOV.UK states that previous funding for energy-efficiency improvements such as insulation does not by itself prevent BUS eligibility.
Most new builds are excluded. However, GOV.UK says a finished new build that you move into with fossil-fuel heating may potentially qualify for a heat-pump grant. Separate self-build rules also apply.
No. Your installer applies and receives the grant. Its value should appear as an upfront reduction on your quote and invoice.
Your MCS-certified installer applies on your behalf. Ofgem then contacts you to confirm consent and identity details.
No. Ofgem's current guidance says it cannot give pre-approval before a full application is submitted.
Conclusion: What Should You Budget?
A second home can qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and current Ofgem guidance expressly recognises second homes and holiday homes as potentially eligible property types.
The main question is not whether the address is your principal residence. It is whether that property and heating installation meet the current BUS rules.
In 2026, eligible second-home owners can potentially receive £7,500 for an air-to-water or ground source heat pump, £2,500 for residential air-to-air systems, or £5,000 for qualifying biomass. Certain off-gas oil and LPG properties can receive £9,000 until 31 March 2027.
Start with a property survey and compare quotations based on total installed cost, running-cost assumptions and available BUS support.
