Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500 heat pump grant)

Who qualifies

• Not available to anyone in Northern Ireland, regardless of income or property

What it covers

In NI today: some NISEP scheme managers fund air-source heat pumps for priority households; the proposed Warm Healthy Homes Fund would make an air-source heat pump its main heating measure for eligible low-income homes; and the Department for the Economy is designing a wider NI low-carbon heating scheme.

How it works

In England and Wales the scheme currently pays £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump, £5,000 towards a biomass boiler and £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump, with an extra £1,500 until March 2027 for homes switching from oil or LPG.

Northern Ireland is the only UK nation without a dedicated household heat pump grant. In January 2026 the Department for the Economy published its response to a consultation on low-carbon heating support, setting out plans to consult on scheme design and funding during 2026 and to legislate in 2027 before launching. No grant amounts have been announced.

Until then, a heat pump in NI is usually self-funded unless you qualify for a low-income scheme.

If you're considering a heat pump in NI

1. Check the current year's NISEP schemes — some include heat pumps for priority households.
2. If you're on a low income, ask the NI Energy Advice Service (0800 111 4455) about Affordable Warmth and the upcoming Warm Healthy Homes Fund.
3. Get the insulation right first — heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes, and the NI schemes take a fabric-first approach.
4. Use an MCS-certified installer — MCS is the UK's quality mark for heat pump installations.

Beware of installers advertising 'the £7,500 grant' to NI customers.

Watch out for

• Installers advertising "the £7,500 government grant" to NI customers — it can't be claimed here.
• Paying a deposit on the promise of a grant that hasn't launched yet.

Questions people ask

Is there a heat pump grant in Northern Ireland?

Not a universal one. Limited funding exists through some NISEP schemes for priority households, and the proposed Warm Healthy Homes Fund would offer heat pumps to eligible low-income homes. A wider NI scheme is planned but not yet launched.

When will NI get its own scheme?

The Department for the Economy plans to legislate in 2027 before launching. Dates and grant amounts haven't been confirmed.

Not sure this is the right scheme?

Run the one-minute eligibility check

Other schemes