If your home runs on LPG, congratulations - you’re already playing heating on hard mode.
- What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
- What has changed for LPG households?
- Why is LPG getting special treatment?
- Who can get the £9,000 LPG heat pump grant?
- Can you replace an LPG boiler with a heat pump?
- How much does it cost to replace an LPG boiler with a heat pump?
- Is switching from LPG to a heat pump worth it?
- What if your LPG boiler still works?
- How do you apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
You’re probably off the mains gas grid, your fuel arrives by lorry, and your heating costs can feel like they’ve been decided by a roulette wheel in a boardroom somewhere.
Lovely stuff.
But there may finally be some good news.
The UK government is expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and eligible households with LPG heating could soon get up to £9,000 towards the cost of a heat pump.
That’s not loose change. That’s “maybe I actually can afford this thing” money.
The increase is expected to come into effect from July 2026, and it’s aimed at helping off-grid homes move away from fossil fuel heating systems like LPG and oil.
So, if your LPG boiler is getting on a bit, making weird noises, or generally behaving like it has given up on life, this could be worth paying attention to.
Let’s get into it.
💨 Ready to make your home more energy-efficient and cut down on your heating bills? Get a heat pump quote today.
What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, or BUS if you enjoy deeply unexciting acronyms, is a government grant that helps homeowners in England and Wales switch from fossil fuel heating to low-carbon alternatives.
Usually, that means a heat pump.
The grant is designed to reduce the upfront cost of installing systems like:
You do not get the grant paid into your bank account, sadly.
No surprise £9,000 government payday. Behave.
Instead, your installer applies for the grant through Ofgem, and the amount is taken off your installation quote.
So, the price you pay is reduced before the work goes ahead.
Which is far more useful than a strongly worded leaflet about net zero.
What has changed for LPG households?
The big change is that eligible LPG-heated homes could qualify for a larger grant.
Instead of the standard level of Boiler Upgrade Scheme support, qualifying LPG households could get up to £9,000 towards a heat pump installation.
That’s because off-grid homes are often harder and more expensive to decarbonise.
Translation: if your home is in the sticks, runs on LPG, and loses heat like a badly dressed toddler in February, switching to a heat pump can be more complicated than it is for a newer, well-insulated home on a nice suburban estate.
The government appears to have noticed this.
Eventually.
The enhanced grant is expected to help households that currently rely on LPG or other off-grid fossil fuels make the switch to low-carbon heating without needing to sell a kidney on Facebook Marketplace.
Important caveat, because there is always one: the final details are still being confirmed, so you’ll need to check the latest eligibility rules before making any decisions.
Why is LPG getting special treatment?
Because LPG homes have it a bit rough.
LPG is common in rural homes that are not connected to the mains gas network. It works, obviously, but it comes with a few charming little downsides.
You may have to deal with:
Higher fuel costs than mains gas
Price swings
Delivery schedules
Storage tanks
Bad weather causing supply headaches
The general feeling that your heating system belongs in a logistics company
A heat pump removes the need for LPG deliveries altogether. It runs on electricity and can be much more efficient than a traditional boiler, especially in a well-insulated home.
That last bit matters.
A heat pump in a poorly insulated home is like putting a heated seat in a convertible with the roof stuck open.
Technically doing something. Not ideal.
Who can get the £9,000 LPG heat pump grant?
The exact rules are still being finalised, but you’ll likely need to tick the usual Boiler Upgrade Scheme boxes.
That means:
Your property is in England or Wales
You own the property
You’re replacing an existing LPG heating system
You’re installing an eligible heat pump
You use an MCS-certified installer
Your property has a valid EPC
There has been a useful change around insulation requirements too.
Previously, if your EPC recommended loft or cavity wall insulation, you usually had to sort that before qualifying.
That requirement has now been relaxed.
Does that mean insulation no longer matters?
Absolutely not.
It just means you might not be forced to do it before getting the grant.
A well-insulated home will almost always help a heat pump perform better and cost less to run. So, even if the paperwork says you can skip it, your heating bills may still have opinions.
Can you replace an LPG boiler with a heat pump?
Yes, you can.
Many LPG homes can successfully switch to a heat pump.
But - and this is a chunky but - not every home is ready straight away.
Before anyone starts bolting a heat pump to the side of your house with the confidence of a man who “watched a video once”, your property needs a proper assessment.
An installer will look at things like:
Insulation
Heat loss
Radiator sizes
Pipework
Hot water demand
Outdoor space
Whether you need a new cylinder
Whether your current setup is basically held together by hope
Some homes are a great fit for an air source heat pump.
Others may need bigger radiators, better insulation, or extra work first.
And some rural properties might be better suited to ground source heat pumps, assuming you have the land, budget, and emotional resilience for the installation work.
The point is simple: heat pumps can be brilliant, but they need to be designed properly.
A badly installed heat pump is just an expensive outdoor fan with commitment issues.
How much does it cost to replace an LPG boiler with a heat pump?
It depends.
Annoying answer, yes. But also the true one.
The cost of replacing an LPG boiler with a heat pump depends on:
The size of your home
How much heat it loses
The type of heat pump
Whether your radiators need upgrading
Whether you need a new cylinder
Pipework changes
Access
Installation complexity
Whether your house was built sensibly, or by someone who hated future generations
A full heat pump installation can cost several thousand pounds before any grant is applied.
That’s why a £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for eligible LPG households could be a proper game-changer.
It could bring the upfront cost down significantly and make heat pumps a realistic option for households that previously ruled them out.
Which, frankly, is the whole point.
Is switching from LPG to a heat pump worth it?
For many LPG homes, yes.
Especially if the enhanced grant applies.
The main benefits are pretty obvious:
No more LPG deliveries
Lower carbon emissions
Less exposure to LPG price spikes
Potentially lower running costs in the right home
A more future-proof heating system
A chunky government grant to soften the blow
But heat pumps are not perfect.
They are not magical white boxes that solve every heating problem while making you a flat white.
The potential drawbacks include:
Your home may need upgrades first
Radiators may need replacing
Installation is more involved than a boiler swap
Electricity prices affect running costs
Poor installation can ruin the whole experience
So, is it worth it?
Possibly. Maybe even probably.
But only after someone has looked properly at your home and done the numbers.
Anyone who tells you every LPG home should instantly get a heat pump is selling something.
Possibly a heat pump.
What if your LPG boiler still works?
Then you do not need to drag it outside and hold a Viking funeral.
If your LPG boiler is still working safely and efficiently, you may not need to replace it immediately.
But it is worth planning ahead.
Older LPG boilers become less efficient over time. Repairs can get pricier. Parts can become harder to find. And grant funding has a nasty habit of changing the second people start relying on it.
So, rather than waiting until your boiler dies during the coldest week of the year - because of course it will - now is a sensible time to look at your options.
You can check:
Whether your home is likely to qualify
Whether your EPC is valid
Whether your insulation is good enough
Whether a heat pump makes sense
What upgrades might be needed
How much you’d pay after the grant
Basically, you get to make a calm decision instead of a panicked one.
Radical stuff.
How do you apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Good news: you usually do not apply yourself.
Your installer handles most of it.
The process usually looks like this:
You check whether your home may be eligible
You speak to an MCS-certified installer
Your home is assessed
You get a quote
The installer applies for the grant
If approved, the grant is deducted from your installation cost
Your heat pump is installed
So, less “government form nightmare”, more “installer sorts the boring bit”.
Which is how it should be.
Final thoughts
LPG households have not exactly had it easy.
You’re off the gas grid, fuel prices can be unpredictable, and replacing your heating system is rarely anyone’s idea of a thrilling afternoon.
But the expanded Boiler Upgrade Scheme could make things a lot more interesting.
With eligible LPG homes potentially getting up to £9,000 towards a heat pump, switching to low-carbon heating may soon be far more achievable.
Just do not rush into it blindly.
Check your eligibility. Get your home assessed. Compare the real costs. And make sure the system is right for your property.
Because a heat pump installed properly can be brilliant.
A heat pump installed badly can become a very expensive garden ornament.
Thinking about replacing your LPG boiler?
Heatable can help you compare your options, from a new LPG boiler to a heat pump supported by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
No jargon. No pressure. No pretending every home is the same.
Just smarter heating.
