The £2,500 air-to-air heat pump grant: what's actually available right now

If you've searched for "air conditioning grant UK" recently, you've probably seen the figure £2,500 mentioned somewhere. It's real — but the full picture is more complicated than most headlines let on. Here's where things actually stand.

What changed in April 2026

From 28 April 2026, air-to-air heat pumps became one of the technologies covered by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), alongside air-to-water heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers. The change was made law via a statutory instrument, and GOV.UK's own guidance now lists a £2,500 grant for air-to-air systems. Air-to-air heat pumps work in a very similar way to a reversible air conditioner: an outdoor unit and one or more indoor units blow warm (or cool) air directly into your rooms, rather than heating water for radiators.

So why can't most people claim it?

Because a grant under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has to be claimed by an MCS-certified installer, using an MCS-certified product. As of mid-2026, there are no air-to-air heat pump products listed on the official MCS Product Directory, and the certification process for installers to fit air-to-air systems under this scheme is still being finalised, pending sign-off from UKAS (the body that accredits certification schemes). Industry estimates put practical availability at late summer 2026 at the earliest — and that could easily slip further.

In plain terms: the grant exists in law, but there's currently no compliant way for an installer to actually generate the paperwork that lets you claim it. If someone offers to process a £2,500 air-to-air grant for you today, ask them directly which MCS-certified air-to-air product they're using and be sceptical if they can't show you the listing.

What's actually available today instead

What to do if you want air conditioning with a grant attached

• If you mainly want heating (and cooling would be a bonus), an air-to-water heat pump under the standard £7,500 BUS grant is the well-established, actually-claimable route today.
• If you're on a low income or receive qualifying benefits, ask an ECO4-registered installer whether an air-to-air system could be funded for your specific property — it's assessed case by case rather than as a standard product.
• If neither applies, a single-room air-to-air unit typically costs £1,500–£3,000 supplied and fitted without any grant, and you'd still benefit from 0% VAT if your installer is VAT-registered and the work qualifies.

Rules like this shift quickly — we'll update this page as soon as MCS-certified air-to-air products actually appear and the grant becomes claimable in practice.