Record number of UK households apply for heat pump grant as increased support for heating oil homes rolled out in response to Middle East conflict. July applications up 81% against June figures.
Thousands of heating oil households have applied for a heat pump grant since the support on offer was extended following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.
The UK government typically offers grants of GBP 7,500 ($10,200) for households through its boiler upgrade scheme (BUS) grant program to subsidize the cost of installing a heat pump. An increase to GBP 9,000 for households switching from heating oil to a heat pump was announced in the wake of the US and Israel conflict with Iran.
Data published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) reveal record applications for BUS grants, with 8,150 households applying to install a heat pump in July. This represented 53% growth on the previous monthly record of 5,328 applications in November 2025. Growth was driven by a sharp increase in applications from heating oil households.
From July 2026, homes classed as off-gas-grid have been eligible for the enhanced grant support. 3,037 applications for the GBP 9,000 grant were received since the change was made to the end of July, representing 37% of the monthly total.
