UK Heat Pump Installers Warn Subsidy Cuts Could Stall Green Heating Shift

Heat pump installers across the UK are voicing concern that expected cuts to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in the upcoming budget could derail the growing shift toward low-carbon home heating. The scheme currently offers grants of up to £9,000 to help households replace gas boilers with air source heat pumps or other sustainable alternatives. Installers like Bill Tuck, who has been fitting heat pumps for six years, say interest from both homeowners and fellow heating engineers has surged recently. 'The whole narrative has changed,' Tuck said, noting that colleagues who were once skeptical now regularly ask him for advice on serving customers interested in the technology. But industry figures warn that reducing financial support could make heat pumps unaffordable for many families, slowing the UK's progress toward its net-zero targets. With energy costs high and the upfront price of heat pumps still a barrier, the subsidy is seen as crucial for making green heating accessible to ordinary households. As the government prepares to announce its fiscal plans, the sector is watching closely to see whether ministers will protect the grants that have helped drive record installations.