Why a tenant cannot apply, and why that is not the end of it
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is tied to the property, and the property’s owner. GOV.UK puts it in one line: you must own the property you’re applying for, and that explicitly includes properties you rent out. The owner chooses an MCS-certified installer, the installer applies on the owner’s behalf, and Ofgem contacts the owner to confirm consent.
None of that stops a rented home getting a heat pump with the grant. It means the route runs through your landlord. Privately rented homes qualify on exactly the same terms as owner-occupied ones, and private landlords are a group the scheme is designed for.
What a rented home needs to qualify
The same three checks as any other home, and nothing extra:
- the property is in England and Wales;
- the owner applies, through their MCS-certified installer;
- the home is heated by gas, oil, LPG or electric heating, which is fully replaced.
The scheme does not ask about the tenant’s benefits or income, the boiler’s age, or the EPC. One exclusion does matter for renters: social housing is not eligible, and Ofgem’s guidance includes shared-ownership properties in that. If you rent from a council or a housing association, the route is different, and your landlord will know it.
How to ask your landlord
Landlords say no to things that sound like cost and disruption, and yes to things that sound like a plan. The case for a heat pump has four parts worth putting in one message.
- The grant. £7,500 off the installed cost of an eligible air source heat pump, taken off the installer’s quote. Applying costs nothing and the installer does the paperwork.
- The 2030 standard. From 1 October 2030, private rented homes in England and Wales are due to need EPC C or equivalent, with a spending cap and exemptions. A heat pump fitted now with a grant is part of getting there; one fitted in 2029 without one may not be.
- The boiler’s future. The scheme sets no age test, so a working boiler can be replaced now, at a time that suits the tenancy, rather than in an emergency.
- The practical plan. Where the outdoor unit and the cylinder would go, which you can usually say from living there, and that you are happy to give access for a survey.
Our guide for landlords, can landlords get Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding, sets out the same case from their side, with the process, and is worth forwarding with your message.
What to agree in writing
A heat pump changes a few things about living in the home. None of them is governed by the scheme, so agree them between you before the work starts.
| Point | Why it matters | What to agree |
|---|---|---|
| The balance after the grant | The grant rarely covers everything. The heat pump becomes part of the property. | Who pays the balance (normally the landlord), and that nothing is asked of you beyond what is written down. |
| Rent | The scheme says nothing about rent. | Whether the rent changes, and when. Your tenancy agreement and the law decide what is allowed. |
| Access and disruption | A survey visit, then a few days of installation with the heating off at times. | Dates, hours, and what happens about hot water during the work. |
| The cylinder | A combi has no cylinder; a heat pump needs one, which takes a cupboard or a corner. | Where it goes, and that you have seen the space it will take. |
| Servicing and faults | A heat pump needs an annual check and someone to call in the first winter. | Who arranges and pays for servicing, and the number to call if it stops. |
| Electricity and gas bills | The heat pump runs on electricity. If nothing else uses gas, the gas meter can go. | Who pays the electricity (usually the tenant), and whether the gas account is closed. |
| Controls and handover | A heat pump is run differently from a boiler: steady, not on and off. | That the installer explains the controls to you, not only to the landlord. |
Keep a copy of everything
The quote, with the grant shown as a deduction, is the landlord’s document, but ask for a copy of what was agreed about rent, bills and servicing. If the home changes hands, the next landlord inherits the heat pump and, with luck, the paperwork.
What the application looks like from the tenant’s side
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Step 1: You raise it
A message to the landlord with the four points above, and an offer of access for a survey.
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Step 2: The survey
An MCS-certified installer visits, measures each room, and checks where the outdoor unit and the cylinder would go. You are the one at home, so say what you know about cold rooms and draughts.
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Step 3: The landlord agrees a quote
It must show the full price, the £7,500 grant and the balance. The installer then applies to Ofgem.
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Step 4: Ofgem contacts the landlord
The owner has 14 days to confirm the installer is acting for them. Nothing is sent to you, and nobody should ask you for money.
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Step 5: Installation
Typically a few days. Agree the dates and what happens about hot water. Ofgem or MCS may phone or visit to check the installation afterwards.
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Step 6: Handover
Ask for the controls to be explained to you, the weather compensation switched on and the hot water schedule set. Then compare electricity tariffs with the heat pump in mind.
Our step-by-step guide to getting an air source heat pump through the scheme has the detail of each stage.
If the landlord says no
You cannot make a landlord apply. Three things can still move the conversation:
- The Warm Homes: Local Grant. In England, a council scheme for lower-income households in homes rated EPC D to G. The tenant household’s benefits or income can qualify the home, and GOV.UK’s guidance covers privately rented homes, with the landlord’s agreement and, in some cases, a contribution. Ask your council whether it has funding.
- The 2030 standard. Our guide to EPC C by 2030 for rented homes sets out what landlords are due to have to do, which is a reason to use a grant while it is there.
- The council. If the heating is failing or the home is cold and damp, the council’s private sector housing team can get involved. That is a different conversation from a grant, and sometimes the one that matters.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers England and Wales only. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland’s grant and loan is for owner-occupiers, and landlords have other routes; our Scotland page explains. Northern Ireland’s support is set out on our Northern Ireland page.
Next step
Check the three questions on our Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility page, then send your landlord the link to our landlord guide. If your landlord would like us to look at the property, they can enquire directly; the scheme needs the owner involved from the start.
Check your property
Pick the grant you want to check. Three quick checks, then our team calls you back. It is free, with no obligation.
