LPG Boiler Heat Pump Grant: £9,000 BUS Guide 2026
Check Your Eligibility for Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
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Quick Answer
You can replace an LPG boiler with a heat pump through BUS in England and Wales. An eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump normally receives £7,500, but an off-gas-grid property replacing LPG can currently receive £9,000. The temporary £9,000 rate runs from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027.
To qualify for the uplift, the property must meet Ofgem’s off-gas-grid definition. The heat pump must replace the fossil-fuel heating system, meet BUS standards and be installed by an MCS-certified installer. The installer applies for the grant and deducts it from your quote.
LPG Boiler Heat Pump Grant: Can You Replace an LPG Boiler With a Heat Pump Through BUS?
Yes. If your property in England or Wales is heated by LPG, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) can help fund a replacement heat pump. The standard BUS grant for an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump is £7,500. However, qualifying off-gas-grid properties replacing LPG can currently receive £9,000 until 31 March 2027.
That extra £1,500 makes the scheme particularly relevant to rural homes using LPG without a mains gas connection. However, LPG heating alone does not automatically secure £9,000. Your property must pass the BUS off-gas-grid test and the new system must meet the scheme’s requirements.
This guide explains who qualifies, what replacing an LPG boiler involves, how the grant is applied and what to check before accepting a quote. For a wider overview of the latest scheme changes, see our Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2026 updates.
Compare Free Quotes: Compare properly surveyed LPG-to-heat-pump quotations rather than relying on a headline grant figure.
LPG Boiler Heat Pump Grant: How Much Can You Get?
The current BUS amounts make an important distinction between the standard heat-pump grant and the temporary off-gas uplift.
| Situation | Eligible technology | Current BUS support |
|---|---|---|
| LPG-heated, off-gas-grid property | Air-to-water heat pump | £9,000 |
| LPG-heated, off-gas-grid property | Ground source heat pump | £9,000 |
| LPG property not meeting the uplift test | Air-to-water or ground source heat pump | £7,500 |
| Eligible residential air-to-air system | Air-to-air heat pump | £2,500 |
These are the current approved grant values in England and Wales. The £9,000 rate for qualifying LPG replacements took effect on 21 July 2026.
The £9,000 figure is not a separate LPG scheme. It is a temporary £1,500 BUS uplift for eligible off-gas-grid homes replacing oil or LPG with an air-to-water or ground source heat pump. You can check the wider eligibility rules in our Boiler Upgrade Scheme requirements guide.
The uplift does not apply to air-to-air heat pumps. BUS also excludes hybrid heat-pump systems that retain a fossil-fuel boiler as part of the heating arrangement.
Who Qualifies for the £9,000 LPG Grant?
For the higher rate, four checks matter.
First, the property must be in England or Wales. BUS does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Second, LPG must be the heating fuel being replaced.
Third, the property must be off the gas grid under BUS rules. Ofgem says a property claiming the £9,000 uplift must not be fuelled by mains gas, have a record of an existing gas meter point, be attached to a heat network or be a new-build property. Importantly, a capped or clamped mains-gas supply still counts as mains gas for this test.
Finally, you must install an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump that satisfies BUS and MCS requirements.
Property owners can include homeowners, private landlords and owners of eligible business premises. Most new builds and social housing are excluded, although qualifying self-build properties have separate rules.
A valid EPC is no longer a standing BUS eligibility requirement for applications properly made from 28 April 2026. If a valid EPC exists, its certificate number should still be provided. Otherwise, the installer can submit alternative evidence.
What Does Replacing an LPG Boiler Actually Involve?
A BUS-funded heat pump must replace the existing fossil-fuel heating system. It is not intended to sit beside an LPG boiler as a fossil-fuel hybrid.
That does not mean every pipe and radiator automatically needs replacing. Energy Saving Trust notes that existing radiators may already be large enough, while others might need upgrading so they can provide sufficient heat at lower water temperatures. Existing plumbing is also assessed and changed only where required.
| Existing LPG system element | What may happen |
|---|---|
| LPG boiler | Removed or taken out of service as the main fossil-fuel heat source |
| Radiators | Checked room by room; some may need higher outputs |
| Pipework | Reused where suitable; upgraded where flow requirements demand it |
| Hot-water setup | A heat-pump-compatible cylinder is commonly required |
| Controls | Changed for lower-temperature, steadier heating |
| LPG storage or cylinders | Agree safe disconnection or removal arrangements with the relevant LPG supplier |
The system design should come from a room-by-room heat-loss calculation, not the output printed on the old LPG boiler. MCS heat-load guidance calculates the heating requirement of the building and individual rooms so equipment and emitters can be sized correctly.
A 30kW LPG boiler, for example, does not automatically mean you need a 30kW heat pump.
How Does the Heat Pump Heat the House?
An air-to-water heat pump uses a refrigeration cycle to move heat from outside air into your heating water.
Outdoor air passes across an evaporator, where refrigerant absorbs heat. A compressor raises the refrigerant’s temperature. A condenser then transfers that heat into water for radiators, underfloor heating and usually a hot-water cylinder. An expansion valve lowers the refrigerant pressure so the process can repeat.
You can read the process in more detail in our guide to how air source heat pumps work.
Because the system moves heat rather than producing it through combustion, it can deliver several units of useful heat for each unit of electricity consumed.
In cold, damp weather, the outdoor unit may occasionally enter a defrost cycle. That is normal. The important question is whether the system has been designed to meet your home’s heat demand during cold weather.
What Could an LPG-to-Heat-Pump Conversion Cost?
The Energy Saving Trust air source heat pump guide currently gives a typical air source heat pump installation cost of around £12,000, although individual quotations vary.
As a simple illustration, a £12,000 eligible installation receiving the £9,000 LPG uplift would leave about £3,000 to pay.
That is not a guaranteed customer price. Radiator changes, a hot-water cylinder, electrical work, access and system size can materially change the total.
The grant must appear as an upfront discount on the installer’s quote. You should not pay the £9,000 yourself and reclaim it later. Ofgem also states that qualifying heat-pump installations currently benefit from 0% VAT until 31 March 2027.
Ask installers to show the full pre-grant price, BUS deduction and final amount payable.
Will a Heat Pump Be Cheaper to Run Than LPG?
It can be, but there is no reliable universal saving percentage.
Heat-pump electricity use depends heavily on seasonal efficiency. Energy Saving Trust says heat pumps tend to achieve a seasonal performance factor of around 3.1, while well-designed systems can perform better.
LPG prices can vary by supplier, contract and delivery arrangements. Therefore, a useful comparison should use your home’s actual annual heat demand and realistic energy prices rather than a generic percentage saving.
For a fuller explanation of the variables involved, see our guide to air source heat pump running costs.
Ask the installer for the estimated annual heat demand, expected seasonal efficiency, assumed electricity tariff and forecast electricity consumption. Lower flow temperatures, suitable radiators and good controls can improve efficiency. Time-of-use electricity tariffs may also reduce costs for some households.
How to Apply for BUS When Replacing an LPG Boiler
The scheme is installer-led rather than homeowner-led. Ofgem says the MCS-certified installer submits and manages the BUS application on the property owner’s behalf.
- Get quotations from MCS-certified heat-pump installers.
- Confirm that the property meets the current LPG and off-gas-grid criteria.
- Have a survey and room-by-room heat-loss calculation completed.
- Agree a quote showing the BUS grant as an upfront deduction.
- The installer submits the application to Ofgem.
- Confirm your consent and eligibility when Ofgem contacts you.
- The installer completes and commissions the system, then redeems the grant.
For a more detailed walkthrough, see our Boiler Upgrade Scheme application guide.
Ofgem recommends obtaining multiple quotations. After approval, the usual completion period is three months for an air-to-water heat pump and six months for a ground source system.
What Should You Check Before Choosing a Heat Pump?
For an LPG-heated home, the grant should not be the only decision factor.
Check the room-by-room heat-loss calculation, required flow temperature, proposed heat-pump output, radiator schedule and hot-water cylinder size. Ask what electrical work is included and where the outdoor unit will sit.
You should also compare expected seasonal efficiency, controls, warranty, servicing arrangements and the final price after BUS.
Older or rural homes are not automatically unsuitable. The deciding factors are the building’s heat loss and whether the heating system can deliver enough heat efficiently. Current Energy Saving Trust guidance specifically recommends assessing existing radiators, pipework, hot-water arrangements and property heat requirements rather than assuming every home needs the same upgrades.
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Frequently asked questions
Find clear answers to common questions about replacing LPG heating under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, including the £7,500 and £9,000 grants, off-gas-grid eligibility, air-to-air heat pumps, hybrid systems, EPCs, radiators, hot-water cylinders, landlords, rural properties, winter performance and running costs.
Yes. LPG is an eligible fossil-fuel heating system under BUS. Qualifying off-gas-grid LPG properties can currently receive £9,000 towards an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump.
The grant is £9,000 for qualifying off-gas-grid LPG properties installing an eligible air-to-water or ground source heat pump. Otherwise, the standard grant is £7,500.
Under the current rules, the temporary uplift is available until 31 March 2027.
No. The property must also meet BUS's off-gas-grid requirements. Having a mains gas connection or recorded gas meter point can prevent the property qualifying for the uplift.
No. Eligible residential air-to-air heat pumps currently receive £2,500. The £9,000 LPG uplift applies to air-to-water and ground source heat pumps.
Not as part of a BUS-funded fossil-fuel hybrid heating system. Ofgem states that hybrid systems combining a fossil-fuel boiler with a heat pump are not eligible.
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 still be supplied.
No. Some existing radiators may already provide enough output. Others may need upgrading so they can heat rooms effectively at lower flow temperatures.
Often, yes, for an air-to-water heat pump. Existing cylinders may not be suitable because heat-pump systems have different heat-transfer requirements. Your installer should assess this during the survey.
No. BUS is installer-led. Your MCS-certified installer normally submits the application and claims the grant after completing the project.
Yes. Ofgem requires the full grant value to appear as an upfront discount on the quote and final invoice.
Private landlords who own otherwise eligible properties can use BUS. Social housing is excluded.
Potentially, yes. Property age alone does not decide suitability. Heat loss, radiator capacity, pipework, required flow temperatures and heat-pump sizing are more important.
Yes. Air source heat pumps continue extracting heat from outdoor air during cold weather. Performance and efficiency change as temperatures fall, and defrost cycles are normal in cold, damp conditions.
It may, but savings are not guaranteed. Running costs depend on household heat demand, heat-pump efficiency, electricity tariffs, flow temperatures and the price you currently pay for LPG.
Conclusion
Yes, an LPG boiler can be replaced with a heat pump through BUS. For an eligible off-gas-grid property in England or Wales, the current grant is £9,000 towards an air-to-water or ground source heat pump until 31 March 2027.
The key eligibility test is not simply: “Do I use LPG?” You must also satisfy the off-gas-grid rules, choose an eligible system and use an MCS-certified installer.
From there, compare the complete design: heat loss, radiator requirements, hot-water solution, expected efficiency and final cost after the grant.
Compare Free Quotes: If you are replacing LPG heating, compare properly surveyed heat-pump quotes and make sure the £9,000 BUS deduction is clearly shown before you commit.
