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There's something quietly relentless about heating with oil in the South West. The delivery lorry turns up — if you remembered to order in time. The price fluctuates with oil markets you have no control over. The boiler sits in an outhouse and does its job, mostly, until it doesn't.

It's a system that works. But it's also a system that a significant proportion of homeowners across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset are running without knowing that the government has made up to £9,000 available to help them replace it — and that in this region, with the highest off-gas-grid rate in England at 24%, more people qualify for that larger figure than almost anywhere else in the country.

This guide is here to explain what's available, who qualifies, and what the process actually looks like — including the parts that are genuinely straightforward and the parts that aren't.

24% of South West homes off the gas grid — highest proportion of any English region
£9,000 Available for oil and LPG homes — the uplift most homeowners don't know about
2028 Scheme end date — grants are first-come, first-served

The grant most South West homeowners haven't heard of

You may have seen references to a £7,500 government grant for heat pumps. That's the standard Boiler Upgrade Scheme figure — and it applies to homes replacing gas heating. But if you heat with oil or LPG — as the majority of rural and coastal homes in the South West do — the grant is higher: £9,000, under the BUS Oil and LPG Uplift.

The scheme is administered by Ofgem, it's been running since 2022, and there's no means test. It doesn't matter what your income is. What matters is that you own the property, it's in England or Wales, and you're replacing a fossil fuel system with a heat pump.

£9,000 Uplift
Most relevant to South West homeowners
BUS Oil & LPG Uplift
For homeowners replacing oil or LPG heating. No means test. Deducted from your installation cost by your installer before you pay. Available until March 2028.
£7,500 Standard
Boiler Upgrade Scheme — standard rate
For homeowners replacing any fossil fuel heating system. Applies to gas-heated properties and some other fuel types. England & Wales.
Free ECO4
ECO4 — fully funded for qualifying households
If you receive qualifying benefits and your EPC is rated D–G, you may be eligible for a fully funded installation. Worth checking before assuming BUS is your only route.

If you have a holiday let, rental, or second home

This is a part of the South West picture that doesn't get nearly enough attention. The EPC requirements for holiday lets and rental properties are tightening — and a heat pump installation, part-funded by the grant, is increasingly one of the more cost-effective ways to hit the required rating.

Holiday lets, rentals & second homes

  • EPC regulations for short-term lets are under review — a higher minimum rating is expected to be introduced
  • A heat pump installation typically improves EPC rating significantly, often by one to two bands
  • The BUS grant applies to holiday lets and second homes in England & Wales — the property doesn't need to be your primary residence
  • Cornish and Devon coastal properties frequently struggle with mains gas connection — making oil/LPG replacement via BUS particularly relevant
  • An improved EPC can also reduce running costs and increase rental yield — guests are increasingly aware of energy efficiency
"The South West has the highest off-gas-grid proportion in England. The grant was designed for exactly this kind of property — and most eligible homeowners still haven't heard of it."

What about listed buildings and conservation areas?

This is one of the most common questions in a region that includes Bath, the Cotswolds, the Dorset coast, and much of rural Devon and Cornwall. The honest answer is: it depends, but it's worth finding out before assuming no.

Listed building consent is separate from BUS grant eligibility, but the two questions are often conflated. Planning permission for heat pump installations was significantly relaxed in 2023 — most installations no longer require it, including many near property boundaries or in conservation areas. Listed buildings require individual assessment, but installers experienced in this type of property — and there are several in the South West — have successfully completed installations in listed buildings and know what works.

The right starting point is a survey from a qualified installer who knows the region. Not a call centre, not an online quote tool — someone who can actually look at the property.

What you'll realistically pay after the grant

A typical air source heat pump installation in a rural South West property runs between £10,000 and £16,000, depending on the size of the property, the complexity of the installation, and the system specified. After the £9,000 oil/LPG uplift, the net cost starts from around £1,000 for simpler installations and rarely exceeds £7,000 for a standard property.

What we won't pretend Heat pumps are not right for every property, and we won't tell you they are. If your home is poorly insulated, the running costs won't be as competitive as in a well-insulated property. If you're on a standard electricity tariff, the economics are less compelling than on a dedicated heat pump tariff. The right question isn't "should I get a heat pump" — it's "is my property suitable and what would the real costs look like." A good installer will tell you honestly if the answer is no.
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The South West is the region where the oil/LPG uplift makes most practical difference — and where, historically, homeowners have been the last to hear about the grants available to them. Independent installers here are doing good work but are largely invisible online, which is exactly why the content gap exists and why filling it with factual, useful information matters.

If you've been thinking about this — or if it's the first you've heard of the £9,000 figure — the most useful next step is a free eligibility check. Fill in the short form below. A local, MCS-certified installer will be in touch to confirm your eligibility and arrange a free, no-obligation survey.