What support is available in Scotland
If you live in Scotland, the main heat pump support is the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme, funded by the Scottish Government. It offers a grant towards an eligible heat pump, plus an optional interest-free loan to help with the rest. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme used in England and Wales does not apply here.
The rule that catches people out: you must apply to Home Energy Scotland and get approval before any work starts. Start first and you are likely to lose the funding.
We do not quote grant or loan amounts on this page, because they change and can depend on your circumstances. Check the current figures at homeenergyscotland.org. With a grant, many typical air source installs come in under £7,000 (typical prices, checked October 2026), against £11,000 to £14,500 before any support.
Grant and loan side by side
| Compare | Grant | Interest-free loan |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Money towards the cost that you do not repay | Borrowing to cover some or all of the rest |
| Do you have to take it? | You apply for it | Optional |
| Interest | Not applicable | None charged |
| Key condition | Approval before work starts | Approval before work starts, and repayment terms |
| Who to ask | Home Energy Scotland | Home Energy Scotland |
How to apply, in order
- Contact Home Energy Scotland. Their advisers can talk through eligibility and explain the current offer. Have your address, property type and current heating details ready.
- Get a survey and quote. Use an MCS-certified installer. The quote should list the heat pump model, cylinder, radiator changes and any other work.
- Submit your application with the quote. Home Energy Scotland reviews it.
- Wait for approval in writing. Do not let the installer order kit or start work until you have it.
- Installation. The heat pump is fitted and commissioned, and the installer issues the MCS certificate.
- Claim. You send the paperwork Home Energy Scotland asks for, such as the invoice and MCS certificate, and the grant and any loan are paid out as set out in your offer.
The exact steps and documents can change. Follow what your offer letter says, not what a friend did two years ago.
Write “subject to Home Energy Scotland approval” on any quote you sign before approval comes through. It protects you if the application is turned down or delayed.
Plan the timing
Because approval has to come before work, build the wait into your plans. If your boiler is still working, apply in spring or summer so the install can happen before the heating season. If your boiler fails in winter, you face a harder choice: wait for approval with temporary heating, or repair the old boiler to buy time. A short repair is often the sensible bridge, since starting the heat pump install early could cost you the funding.
Keep copies of everything: the application, the approval letter, the quote, the invoice and the MCS certificate. If anything is queried later, you will want them in one place.
Scottish homes and heat pumps
Scotland’s housing stock brings particular questions.
Tenement flats
Many Scottish city homes are tenement flats. A heat pump needs somewhere for the outdoor unit and room for a cylinder. Shared walls, back greens, factors and neighbours may all need to agree. See heat pumps in terraced houses and flats before you get far into the process.
Older stone houses
Solid stone walls lose heat faster than modern cavity walls. A heat pump can still work, but the survey must size it properly and some radiators may need upgrading. Read are heat pumps right for older houses.
Rural and off-grid homes
Homes on oil, LPG or electric storage heaters are often the strongest candidates. If you are leaving oil behind, see oil boiler to heat pump.
Checking your installer
Use an MCS-certified installer, which Home Energy Scotland generally requires for heat pump funding. Check certification on the MCS register. City Boiler connects you with independent MCS-certified installers and checks their certification before they quote. They can provide the quote you need for your application, but the application itself is yours.
Before you commit
- Check the current grant and loan figures on the Home Energy Scotland site.
- Get approval in writing before any work, deposit or kit order.
- Compare at least two itemised quotes.
- Ask each installer for the heat loss calculation and the expected seasonal efficiency of the system.
- Think about running costs as well as the purchase price. Our guide to heat pump running costs shows how to check against your own tariff.
Schemes change, so check the current rules each time you are close to deciding.
Common questions
Can I get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in Scotland?
No. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers England and Wales only. In Scotland, heat pump support comes through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme, funded by the Scottish Government.
How much is the Home Energy Scotland heat pump grant?
The amounts change from time to time and can depend on your circumstances, such as where you live. Check the current figures directly with Home Energy Scotland before you get quotes, so you know what to expect.
What happens if I start work before approval?
You are likely to lose the funding. Home Energy Scotland requires you to apply and receive approval before any work begins, including ordering or fitting equipment. Wait for written confirmation before you sign off a start date.
Do I have to take the loan?
No. The interest-free loan is optional. Some people take the grant alone, while others add the loan to spread the remaining cost. Read the repayment terms before you accept.