Boiler Grants and Funding Available to Devon Homeowners in 2026
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently offers £7,500 toward an air source heat pump installation, no income test required, and it's available across Devon including Exeter, Exmouth, Plymouth, and Cullompton. On top of that, ECO4 funding can cover some or all of the cost of a new heating system for households that meet the eligibility criteria, which is broader than a lot of people assume. The confusing part isn't whether the money exists. It's working out which scheme applies to your situation, since they're not interchangeable and the eligibility rules differ in ways that catch people out. This guide breaks down what's available in 2026 and who can actually claim it.
If you want a straight answer on whether your property qualifies before you get into the detail, Green Home Boilers & Heat Pumps can check eligibility for you as part of a no-obligation quote.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives homeowners in England and Wales £7,500 toward the cost of an air source heat pump (or £5,000 for a biomass boiler, though this is rarely the better option for most homes). It's a grant, not a loan, paid directly to the installer to reduce your bill, and there's no income or property value cap.
The main conditions are that you own the property (or have the landlord's permission for rented properties), the property has a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) without outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, and you're replacing a fossil fuel heating system, not adding a heat pump alongside an existing boiler you intend to keep. For a lot of older Devon properties, particularly stone-built cottages around Cullompton and the surrounding villages, that insulation requirement is the bit that trips people up. If your EPC flags missing loft insulation, that usually needs sorting first.
ECO4: Funding Based on Household Circumstances
ECO4 (the Energy Company Obligation, currently in its fourth phase) works differently. Rather than a flat grant, it's targeted at low-income and vulnerable households, and funding can cover a much larger share of the cost, sometimes the whole thing, depending on circumstances.
Eligibility is generally based on receiving certain means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Income Support, though some local authorities run "flexible eligibility" routes (LA Flex) that extend support to households on low incomes who don't receive those specific benefits but meet local criteria. Devon County Council and the district councils covering Exeter, Exmouth, and Plymouth each administer their own flexible eligibility statements, so what counts in one area doesn't automatically apply in another.
ECO4 isn't limited to heat pumps. It can fund boiler replacements, insulation, and other energy efficiency measures, which makes it worth checking even if a heat pump isn't on your radar at all.
Can You Combine the Two?
Generally, no, not for the same measure. You can't claim BUS and ECO4 funding for the same heat pump installation. But if ECO4 is covering insulation works on your property and you separately want a heat pump, BUS can still apply to the heat pump installation as long as the EPC requirements are met (which the ECO4-funded insulation may well help with).
Why This Matters More in Some Devon Areas Than Others
We've covered what a new boiler costs in Exeter without factoring in any of this funding, and the gap between the unfunded cost of a heat pump and a like-for-like gas boiler replacement is exactly what BUS is designed to close. In rural areas around Cullompton where mains gas isn't available, the comparison isn't heat pump vs gas boiler at all, it's heat pump vs oil or LPG, and that's where the £7,500 grant tends to make the biggest practical difference to the decision.
What You'll Need to Apply
You don't apply for BUS yourself. Your installer applies on your behalf once they're MCS-certified (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), which is a requirement for accessing the grant at all. Make sure any installer you're considering is MCS-certified before getting too far into a quote, since a non-certified installer simply can't access this funding for you, regardless of how good their work is.
For ECO4, the process usually starts with a referral, either through your energy supplier, a local authority scheme, or an installer who works with ECO4-registered funders. It's worth asking early in the conversation rather than assuming you won't qualify. The LA Flex routes catch more households than people expect, and "I probably won't qualify" is exactly the assumption that stops people checking.
FAQ
Q: How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant worth in 2026? A: £7,500 toward an air source heat pump, or £5,000 toward a biomass boiler. It's paid directly to your installer to reduce the cost of the job, and there's no income or property value test.
Q: Do I need to upgrade my insulation to qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme? A: Your EPC needs to be valid and free of outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation (where applicable to your property type). If your EPC flags these, they typically need addressing before the grant can be claimed.
Q: Can I get help with heating costs if I'm not on benefits? A: Possibly, through ECO4's flexible eligibility (LA Flex) routes, which some local authorities use to extend support to low-income households who don't receive qualifying benefits. Eligibility criteria vary by council, so it's worth checking with your local authority or an installer who handles ECO4 referrals.
Q: Does my installer need to be certified to access these grants? A: Yes. For the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, your installer must be MCS-certified (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) to apply for the grant on your behalf. Always confirm this before getting a quote if funding is part of your decision.
You might also like
