Search "boiler grant" and you'll be buried in articles about the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Here's the problem: the Boiler Upgrade Scheme only operates in England and Wales. If you live in Glasgow, Lanarkshire or anywhere else in Scotland, it doesn't apply to you, and any installer telling you otherwise hasn't read the rules.
Scotland has its own scheme, and in several ways it's more generous. This guide explains what it is, who qualifies, what it pays for — and, just as importantly, what it doesn't.
The scheme that applies in Scotland: Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan
Funded by the Scottish Government and run by Home Energy Scotland (part of the Energy Saving Trust), the Grant and Loan helps owner-occupiers install clean heating systems and energy efficiency improvements in their main home.
What it offers for heating (2026)
- Air source, ground source or water source heat pump — Grant: Up to £7,500 · Optional interest-free loan: Up to £7,500
- Rural uplift (remote rural, island, or off-gas accessible rural areas) — Grant: Additional £1,500
- Biomass boiler, connection to a heat network — Grant: Varies — check current scheme details · Optional interest-free loan: Available
The heat pump must provide 100% of the home's heating and hot water. Hybrid heat pumps (a heat pump paired with a gas boiler) are not eligible, and if you're replacing an existing heat pump you can only get the loan, not the grant.
What it offers for energy efficiency
Grant funding of up to 75% of the cost, with maximums of:
- Solid wall insulation — up to £7,500
- Flat roof or room-in-roof insulation — up to £3,000
- Loft, cavity wall or underfloor insulation — up to £1,500
- Heat retention (high heat retention storage heaters) — up to £2,500
Loans are available for the remaining cost up to set limits per measure. Combined, the maximum funding for a single household can reach £18,000.
Who qualifies
- You own the home and live in it as your main residence
- The property is in Scotland
- You do not need to be on benefits — this is not means-tested
- Work must be done by an approved installer (MCS-certified for heat pumps) and must not start before your application is approved
How to apply
Contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or through homeenergyscotland.org. An adviser talks you through the options, you get quotes from MCS-certified installers, and you apply with the quote. Approval comes before installation. Allow several weeks.
The bit nobody puts in the headline: there is no grant for a gas boiler
Home Energy Scotland does not fund gas boilers. Neither does any other current Scottish or UK scheme for owner-occupiers. The Scottish Government's policy is to move homes off fossil fuels, so the money follows heat pumps and insulation.
There are limited exceptions for lower-income households:
- Warmer Homes Scotland — the Scottish Government's fuel-poverty scheme, for households on qualifying benefits or in certain circumstances. It can include heating system replacement, and access is via Home Energy Scotland on the same number. Eligibility is specific; the adviser will tell you quickly whether you qualify.
- Council area-based schemes — Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire councils periodically run area-based insulation programmes. These rarely cover boilers.
If you've seen "free boiler Scotland" adverts, read them carefully. Most are lead-generation for the schemes above and only apply if you meet the benefit criteria.
Should you get a heat pump or a new gas boiler?
Given the grant, the honest question for many Scottish homeowners is whether a heat pump now makes sense instead of another gas boiler. A rough guide:
A heat pump is worth serious consideration if:
- Your home is reasonably well insulated (or you'll insulate at the same time, which the scheme also funds)
- You have space outside for the unit and inside for a hot water cylinder
- Your radiators are, or can be, sized for lower flow temperatures
- You're off the gas grid, or in a rural area with the £1,500 uplift
- You plan to stay in the home long enough to see the running-cost picture through
A modern gas boiler is usually the pragmatic choice if:
- You're in a flat or tenement with no outside space or cylinder space
- The house is poorly insulated and you're not in a position to fix that first
- Your budget after the grant doesn't stretch to a full heat pump installation (typically £10,000–£15,000 before grant for an air source system, more with radiator upgrades)
- Your boiler has failed and you need heat this week
There's no wrong answer, but there is a wrong process: deciding on a heat pump without a proper heat-loss survey, or deciding on gas without at least checking the grant.
What Titan Heat can do
We install both. Fixed-price gas boilers across Glasgow and Lanarkshire start from £2,500 — you can get a price online — and we install air source heat pumps too. If you're weighing up the two, we'll give you a straight opinion on whether your home suits a heat pump, and we'll help you get your Home Energy Scotland application in before any work starts so you don't lose the grant. Contact us and ask.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in Scotland?
No. It covers England and Wales only. The Scottish equivalent is the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan.
Is there a grant for a new gas boiler in Scotland?
Not for most homeowners. Only lower-income households may qualify through Warmer Homes Scotland.
How much is the heat pump grant in Scotland?
Up to £7,500, plus £1,500 for qualifying rural and island homes, with an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500 on top.
Do I have to be on benefits to get the Home Energy Scotland grant?
No. It's available to any owner-occupier in Scotland for their main home.
Can I start the work and claim afterwards?
No. The application must be approved before installation begins.
Do landlords qualify?
The Grant and Loan is for owner-occupiers. Home Energy Scotland offers separate options for private landlords; ask their advisers.
Written by Stephen, Lead Engineer at Titan Heat. Titan Heat is a Gas Safe registered heating and plumbing business (Reg. No. 982732) serving Glasgow and Lanarkshire.
Sources: Home Energy Scotland — Grant and Loan (homeenergyscotland.org); mygov.scot — Home Energy Scotland grant and loan; Energy Saving Trust — Boiler Upgrade Scheme eligibility. Figures correct at 3 September 2026.
