BoilerFaultCodesHeat pump vs new gas boiler: the 2026 reality check
The UK is phasing out new gas boilers by 2035. That's nine years away. The £7,500 government grant (Boiler Upgrade Scheme) makes heat pumps cheaper than they've ever been. So should you switch now, or fit another gas boiler and decide later? Here's the honest comparison.
Side-by-side comparison
The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The UK government grants up to £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (or £7,500 towards ground source). No income limit. Not means-tested.
- › Your property has a valid EPC
- › No outstanding "loft or cavity wall insulation" recommendations on the EPC (fix those first)
- › You own the property (or landlord permission)
- › Installer is MCS-certified (most reputable heat pump firms are)
Our honest recommendation
→ Go heat pump if…
- › Your home has good insulation (EPC C or better)
- › You have outside space for the unit (garden, driveway)
- › You're staying in this house 10+ years
- › You can cover the £500–£6,500 net upfront cost (after grant)
- › Your current boiler is 10+ years old and would need replacing anyway
→ Fit a gas boiler if…
- › Property is poorly insulated (EPC D or worse, solid walls, single glazing)
- › You're planning to move within 5 years
- › No outdoor space for an external unit
- › Tight upfront budget — boilers are cheaper day-one even with the grant
- › Current boiler has 3+ years of life left
What the 2035 ban actually means
2035 is the proposed ban on new gas boiler sales — not an existing-boiler ban. If you fit a new gas boiler in 2026, it's legal to keep using and servicing it for its full lifespan (typically 12–15 years). You're not being forced to switch early. But after 2035, new installs will be heat pump or hybrid only.