New Changes To The Boiler Upgrade Scheme
If you’re thinking of getting a heat pump fitted in your home, there are some big changes coming on Wednesday 8th May.
In our March, we discussed amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which included the removal of loft and cavity wall insulation prerequisites. Since then, more details have been released and clarity has been provided by the government.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme amendments include:
Removing the requirement for loft and cavity wall insulation on the EPC.
In order to be eligible for the grant, a properly made application needs to be submitted within 120 days of the date of commissioning.
Increasing the threshold for shared ground loops for ground source heat pumps from 45kWh to 300kWh. The threshold for a single installation will remain at 45kWh.
Future-proofing the regulations by differentiating grant levels for properties off the gas grid and self-build properties.
Introducing biomass boilers with an integrated cooking function as newly eligible for support.
Click to watch our Operations Manager, George Greening, discuss the changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
What does this mean for Homeowners?
Under current rules, you need to have an EPC that doesn't recommend loft or cavity wall insulation to be eligible for the grant. However, after 8th May, that is no longer the case. As a company that has worked on thousands of heat pump projects, we strongly recommend that homeowners prioritise having loft and cavity wall insulation completed prior to installing a heat pump. This will keep the size of the heat pump and radiators down, whilst improving the heat loss of your property.
On a positive note, this change means that more properties can apply for funding without having to update their EPC (if it previously recommended loft or cavity insulation). For instance, if your EPC had suggested loft insulation, and you had already improved it to 300mm without updating the certificate, you are now eligible for the grant without the need for an EPC update, which was previously mandatory.
Additionally, applications must now happen within 120 days after the commissioning of the heat pump has taken place and the MCS certificate has been raised. Previously, any system installed after the scheme launch was eligible, however, from 8th May, any applications that go beyond 120 days will no longer be eligible.
If you're considering installing a heat pump and want to determine your eligibility for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, feel free to get in touch.
Looking to purchase a heat pump?
If you’re interested in replacing your fossil fuel system with a heat pump and would like to apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, please get in touch by clicking the link below.