Cost, Grants & Finance
What a heat pump really costs, the government grants that cut the price, and how to make the numbers work for your home.
A heat pump usually costs more to install than a new gas boiler, but the upfront price is only part of the picture. Government grants can take a large share off the installation cost, and what you pay to run the system depends on how well it’s designed, how well your home holds its heat and which electricity tariff you choose.
In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a one-off discount that your installer claims for you and takes off your invoice. Scotland has separate support through Home Energy Scotland. Whether you qualify depends on where you live, the heating you’re replacing and using an MCS-certified installer.
The guides below explain how the grant works and whether adding solar panels changes the maths. For figures specific to your home, a free Towsty estimate checks your EPC, sizes a heat pump and shows the likely costs and your grant eligibility.
2 articles
Boiler Upgrade Scheme explained: grants in 2026
Current BUS grant amounts in 2026, who qualifies in England and Wales, the rules for oil and LPG homes, and how the discount reaches your invoice.
Read article
Heat pumps and solar panels: does combining them make financial sense in 2026?
Why solar and heat pumps don’t overlap as neatly as the pitch suggests, where the real savings come from, and whether to do both at once.
Read article