Yes, you can. The boiler upgrade scheme allows many property owners in Sussex to benefit from a heat pump grant of up to £7,500 to help cover the cost of replacing fossil fuel systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler.
Open to those living in England and Wales, a recent change to the scheme means that those using oil or LPG for heating in Sussex can claim up to £9,000 to help with their switch to a heat pump.
In this blog, we explore how the scheme works, whether you’d be eligible for a grant and how you can apply.
The boiler upgrade scheme is a government scheme set up by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and administered by Ofgem. It helps property owners fund the switch from fossil fuel heating systems to a heat pump or biomass boiler.
It can be used for homes or businesses and offers up to £7,500 towards the costs of the upgrade. The latest government announcement means that properties relying on oil/LPG can now see the grant increased by a further £1,500, raising it to £9,000 until the end of March 2027.
Certain rules apply, which we’ll cover further down the page, and those living in gas central-heated homes will not be eligible for the newer £9,000 grant.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, the boiler upgrade scheme will continue to receive funding until 2029/30.
A heat pump is a form of heating system that takes heat from outside, either from the air or underground, and then warms it up with electricity before transferring it into your home.
Compared to gas or oil boilers, they are seen as a green alternative, thanks to no fuel being burnt and less carbon dioxide being released.
The cost of a heat pump, before any grant is applied, varies depending on the pump you choose. Approximate figures indicate the pre-grant cost can range from £8,000 to £15,000, but in some cases, it can exceed £20,000.
The table below is approximate, based on the heat pump type.
| Heat pump type | Cost before grant |
| Air-to-water | £8,000-£15,000 |
| Air-to-air | £3,000-£5,000 |
| Ground source | £15,000-£35,000 |
You’ll be eligible for the boiler upgrade scheme heat pump grant if:
Even if you have previously received funding to help make your home more energy efficient, you remain eligible for the boiler upgrade scheme.
Self-build properties may also be eligible for the scheme, but only if:
The heat pump installer will need proof that your home is self-built for you to be eligible. This can be done by showing them a copy of the title deeds.
Some properties are not eligible for the boiler upgrade scheme. At present, you cannot get a grant for:
Despite this, some new-build homes may remain eligible for the scheme. Those where the developer is still building remain ineligible, but finished new builds with a fossil fuel boiler may be accepted under the scheme.
The size of the grant you are eligible for depends on the type of heating system you are upgrading to. You will only be able to claim one grant per property, and you cannot get a grant for hybrid systems that may combine a gas boiler and an air source heat pump, for example.
| Heating System | Available Grant |
| Air source heat pump (also known as air-to-water heat pump) | £7,500 |
| Ground source heat pump (including water-source heat pumps and those on shared ground loops) | £7,500 |
| Biomass boiler (in rural areas where property has an emissions certificate and has never been connected to the gas grid) | £5,000 |
| Air-to-air heat pump (residential properties only) | £2,500 |
As of 21 July 2026, homes that are off-gas-grid oil/LPG will see their available grant limit for air source or ground source heat pumps increased to £9,000. An upgrade to the scheme means that those using heating oil/LPG to warm their homes can benefit from a 20% increase in grant allowance. In Sussex, where many homes are off the gas grid in rural areas, like parts of Wealden, Rother and patches of the Chichester and Horsham districts, this change supports costly alterations to properties in these areas.
The heat pump system you install must have a maximum capacity of 45kWth or 70kWth if installed with one or more additional heat pumps. For air-to-water systems and ground source systems, a minimum seasonal coefficient of performance of 2.8 is applied too.
Your heat pump must be sized to meet the full space and water heating needs of the home, but most domestic systems can manage this easily. The 45kWth limit is only really stretched on larger properties, such as some of the period farmhouses we find throughout Sussex.
Applying for the boiler upgrade scheme is easy and can be done in just three simple steps.
The installer will then apply to Ofgem on your behalf for the grant, with the grant amount deducted from the installation costs on the invoice once the work has been completed.
Before installation, Ofgem will contact you to confirm that:
If you do not, or are unable to confirm this information to Ofgem within 14 calendar days, the grant may be rejected. On occasion, Ofgem may ask for further information to support your application.
Once you have agreed on a quote with your chosen installer, they must commission and install the heat pump within 120 days (six months for ground source) of applying for the grant, or it will not be eligible.
Planning permission rules for heat pumps in Sussex vary greatly by property type. In most cases, the installation of a heat pump is classed as a permitted development, meaning no planning permission is required. However, there are exceptions:
At Sussex Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps, we are proud MCS-accredited heat pump installers. This means our skilled team can help check your eligibility for the boiler upgrade scheme and assist with your application to Ofgem, before conducting a compliant heat pump installation in Sussex. To see how much your installation will cost, after your grant allowance, request a free quote today.
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