The main heat pump grant in Scotland is the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan, which pays up to £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump, plus an extra £1,500 if you live in a rural or island home. You can also take an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500 on top of the heat pump grant, and claim separate grant funding for insulation. Lower-income households may qualify for a fully funded heat pump through Warmer Homes Scotland instead.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme used in England and Wales does not apply in Scotland. This guide sets out the current amounts as of September 2026, who qualifies, how the process runs and the mistakes we see Scottish homeowners make. Figures come from Home Energy Scotland, mygov.scot and MCS, and we have noted where the rules are strict.
What Is the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan?
The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan is a Scottish Government scheme that gives homeowners a grant of up to £7,500 for a heat pump and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500 more. It is run through Home Energy Scotland, and the Energy Saving Trust delivers the funding on the government’s behalf.
Rural and island homes get a £1,500 uplift on the heating grant, which takes the heat pump grant to £9,000. The same uplift applies to the separate energy efficiency grant. That means a rural household installing a heat pump and insulation could receive up to £18,000 in grants, before any loan.
| Funding type | Standard amount | Rural and island homes |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump grant (air, ground or water source) | Up to £7,500 | Up to £9,000 |
| Optional interest-free heat pump loan | Up to £7,500 | Up to £7,500 |
| Energy efficiency grant (combined measures) | Up to £7,500 (max 75% of cost) | Up to £9,000 |
| Maximum total grant (heating plus efficiency) | Up to £15,000 | Up to £18,000 |
| Loan admin fee | 1.5% of loan value, max £150 | 1.5% of loan value, max £150 |
The loan is repaid over a fixed term set by the amount you borrow. Loans up to £4,999 are repaid over 5 years, £5,000–£9,999 over 10 years, and £10,000 or more over 12 years. There is no fee if you take the grant only. Funding is first come, first served and subject to availability, so the amounts above are maximums rather than guarantees.
Who Is Eligible for the Home Energy Scotland Heat Pump Grant?
You are eligible if you own the home you live in and it is your only or main private residence in Scotland. You do not need to be on benefits, and there is no income test.
The scheme is stricter than many people expect on property type. Self-build homes are excluded. Holiday homes and second homes are excluded. Private landlords cannot use this scheme, though Home Energy Scotland runs a separate Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan that covers heat pumps up to £10,000. The grant also cannot pay for a replacement heat pump, so if you already have one that has failed, this route will not fund its successor.
| Situation | Can you apply? |
|---|---|
| Owner-occupier, main residence | Yes |
| Owner-occupier on a low income or benefits | Yes, and you may also qualify for Warmer Homes Scotland |
| Private landlord | No, but the separate landlord loan may apply |
| Self-build property | No |
| Holiday home or second home | No |
| Replacing an existing heat pump | No |
| Installing two whole-house heating systems | No, only one can be funded |
The rural uplift applies if your home is in a remote rural area, an island, or an off-gas accessible rural area, as defined by the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification. If you are unsure, a Home Energy Scotland adviser can confirm it on the call.
What Energy Efficiency Grants Can I Claim Alongside a Heat Pump?
You can claim up to £7,500 of grant for insulation and similar measures, covering up to 75% of their combined cost, in addition to the heat pump grant. Rural and island homes get £1,500 more. Each measure has its own grant cap and an optional loan.
| Measure | Maximum grant | Optional loan |
|---|---|---|
| Solid wall insulation | £7,500 | £2,500 |
| Flat roof or room-in-roof insulation | £3,000 | £1,000 |
| Loft, cavity or underfloor insulation | £1,500 | £500 |
| High heat retention storage heaters | £2,500 | £5,500 |
| Solar thermal (hot water) | No grant | £5,000 |
For insulation, the measure must be recommended on your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Solid wall insulation installers must be registered with TrustMark. Solar PV panels and batteries were removed from the scheme for new applications from 6 June 2024, so they are not funded.
From an installer‘s point of view, pairing insulation with a heat pump often makes sense. Lower heat loss can mean a smaller heat pump and lower flow temperatures. Your surveyor should size the heat pump on the house as it will be after any insulation work.
Why Can’t I Use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in Scotland?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme only covers England and Wales, because energy efficiency and home heating support in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Government. Scotland funds heat pumps through Home Energy Scotland instead.
In practice the Scottish offer is comparable or better for many owners. The standard grant is the same £7,500. Scotland adds the interest-free loan, the separate insulation grant and the rural uplift. England and Wales have a temporary £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme rate for homes replacing oil or LPG, running from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, but that does not extend north of the border.
One difference catches people out. Under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme the installer applies and deducts the grant from the invoice. Under Home Energy Scotland, you apply yourself and the grant is paid to you after installation.
Do I Need an MCS Certified Installer in Scotland?
Yes, your heat pump installer and the heat pump itself must both be MCS certified to qualify for Home Energy Scotland funding. MCS (the Microgeneration Certification Scheme) is the UK standard for small-scale renewable installations.
MCS certification means the installer works to set standards for design, heat loss calculation and commissioning. After installation you receive an MCS certificate, which you must upload with your funding claim. Check an installer on the MCS website before you ask for a quote. If they are not listed for heat pumps, their quote cannot be used for the grant.
How Does the Home Energy Scotland Application and Assessment Work?
You start by phoning Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 for a free advice call, and an adviser then refers you to the online application portal. The call is the assessment stage. The adviser asks about your home, how you heat it and your circumstances, and checks your eligibility.
Will Someone Visit My Home?
A home visit is not automatic. If the adviser thinks it would help, they can arrange specialist support such as a detailed home assessment. Your installer will still carry out their own heat loss survey before quoting, which is required for MCS design standards.
What Documents Do I Need?
You need dated, itemised quotes on the installer’s headed paper, addressed to you and showing the installation address. For insulation, you need an EPC that recommends the measure. After installation you need the invoice, the MCS certificate for the heat pump and a post-installation EPC. The terms and conditions require the post-installation EPC with your claim, so budget for it.
The funding is paid to your bank account by BACS. You then pay your installer and send proof of payment to Home Energy Scotland within 10 working days.
How Long Does the Home Energy Scotland Process Take?
Home Energy Scotland aims to process a complete application within 10 working days, and you then have 9 months from signing your offer to finish the installation and claim. Most delays come from missing documents rather than the scheme itself.
| Stage | Published timescale |
|---|---|
| Referral email with portal link after advice call | Within 2 working days |
| Application processing (once complete) | Aim of 10 working days |
| Signing your written funding offer | Within 14 days |
| Completing installation and submitting claims | Within 9 months of signing |
| Claim processing | Aim of 10 working days |
| BACS payment to you | 3–5 working days after approval |
| Proof of payment to your installer | Within 10 working days of funding |
As a rough guide, a smooth application with quotes ready can reach a written offer in a few weeks. Add the installer’s lead time and the claim stage, and plan for funding to arrive after the work, not before. Many installers ask for a deposit or stage payments, so agree payment terms that match the scheme’s timing before you sign.
Can I Get a Free Heat Pump Through Warmer Homes Scotland?
Yes, Warmer Homes Scotland can fund an air source heat pump at no cost if your household meets its eligibility rules. The Scottish Government usually meets all the costs. In rare cases a contribution is needed, and an interest-free loan can cover it.
The scheme is managed by Warmworks and accessed through Home Energy Scotland. The installer is chosen by the scheme, so you cannot bring your own.
| Warmer Homes Scotland rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Tenure | Homeowner or private-sector tenant, main residence |
| Time in home | At least 6 months (waived for terminal illness) |
| Household | Someone aged 75+ with no working heating, someone terminally ill (DS1500 or BASRiS), or someone on a qualifying benefit |
| Energy rating | Poor energy rating, assessed by the scheme |
| Size | Floor area up to 230m² |
| Council tax | Band A–G |
| Previous help | No Warmer Homes Scotland support in the last 12 months |
Qualifying benefits include Universal Credit, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and Adult Disability Payment, among others. Home Energy Scotland will check which list applies to you. Low-income households can also ask about ECO4, which runs across Great Britain until 31 December 2026 through energy suppliers. There is no successor supplier obligation after that date.
What Mistakes Cost People Their Heat Pump Grant in Scotland?
The most costly mistake is starting work before you receive a written funding offer, which makes the job ineligible. The terms are clear on this, and the rule covers any installation work on site.
Other mistakes we see:
- Using a non-MCS installer or product. Without MCS certification the heat pump cannot be funded.
- Letting the offer lapse. The 9-month window covers installation and the claim. Book your installer early.
- Forgetting the post-installation EPC. Claims without it are incomplete and slow down payment.
- Vague quotes. Quotes must be dated, itemised, on headed paper and addressed to you at the installation address.
- Assuming the grant goes to the installer. It is paid to you, and you must pay the installer and send proof.
- Missing insulation funding. If your EPC recommends loft or wall insulation, apply for both at the same time.
Heat pump installations in Scotland also benefit from 0% VAT until 31 March 2027, which is applied on the installer’s invoice rather than claimed separately.
How Does Scotland Compare With Wales and Northern Ireland?
Scotland offers more support than Northern Ireland and a different mix from Wales. Wales uses the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, while Northern Ireland has no general heat pump grant for homeowners at present.
| Nation | Main owner-occupier grant | Low-income support |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | Home Energy Scotland: up to £7,500 (£9,000 rural) plus optional £7,500 interest-free loan | Warmer Homes Scotland |
| Wales | Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500, or £9,000 replacing oil or LPG (21 Jul 2026 to 31 Mar 2027) | Warm Homes Nest: free measures that can include a heat pump |
| Northern Ireland | No Boiler Upgrade Scheme; new scheme planned after 2027 legislation | NISEP schemes for eligible low-income households |
Welsh households on means-tested benefits or low incomes, in homes rated EPC E or below (or D with certain health conditions), can apply to Nest for free improvements. In Northern Ireland, the Department for the Economy published its consultation response in January 2026 and plans legislation in 2027, with a scheme launching after that.
If you are in Scotland, the sensible first step is the free Home Energy Scotland advice call, followed by an MCS heat loss survey and quote. Our engineers can carry out that survey and prepare a quote in the format the scheme needs.
