The problem, of course, is the cost.
💷 The key figure
Eligible households in England and Wales can get £2,500 towards the cost and installation of an eligible air-to-air heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
These systems can provide heating and, depending on the system installed, cooling too – effectively giving you air conditioning during hot weather.
So, who can get the £2,500? Is it really possible to get free air conditioning? And how do you apply?
What is the £2,500 air-conditioning grant?
The grant is part of the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme, usually shortened to BUS.
The scheme offers grants towards eligible low-carbon heating systems. This now includes a £2,500 grant towards an air-to-air heat pump for an eligible residential property.
An air-to-air heat pump takes heat from the outside air and transfers it into your home.
Many systems are reversible, which means that when the weather gets hot, they can work in the opposite direction and provide cooling.
❄️ What exactly are you getting?
This is not a portable air-conditioning unit. The grant is for an eligible professionally installed air-to-air heat pump. Depending on the system, it can provide warm air in winter and cool air in summer.
In practical terms, these are the wall-mounted units you may have seen in hotels, offices and homes overseas. One outdoor unit can be connected to one or more indoor units, depending on the system and the property.
Can you really get free air conditioning?
This is where it is important to read the small print.
The Government is offering £2,500 towards the cost and installation of an eligible air-to-air heat pump.
That does not mean everyone who qualifies will get an entire air-conditioning system completely free.
⚠️ Important
The £2,500 is a grant towards an eligible installation. It is not a guarantee that every applicant will receive a completely free air-conditioning system. Always check the total amount you will have to pay.
If an eligible installation costs no more than the value of the grant, it may be possible for the grant to cover most or potentially all of the eligible cost. However, larger or more complicated installations may cost considerably more.
The amount you pay could depend on the size and layout of your home, how many rooms you want to heat and cool, the number of indoor units required and the complexity of the installation.
Who is eligible for the £2,500 grant?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme operates in England and Wales.
The £2,500 air-to-air heat-pump grant is for eligible residential properties.
Crucially, this is not simply a benefit for people on Universal Credit, Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits.
✅ You may be eligible if:
- the property is in England or Wales;
- it is an eligible residential property;
- the proposed system meets the Boiler Upgrade Scheme requirements; and
- the installation is carried out through an appropriately certified installer.
The exact rules can depend on the property and the existing heating system, so your installer will need to check that the proposed installation meets the scheme requirements.
Do you have to be on benefits?
No.
You do not have to be receiving benefits simply to qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
The grant is based on the property and proposed installation meeting the scheme rules rather than being a universal means-tested benefit.
That means working households and people who would not normally qualify for low-income energy grants may still be able to benefit.
What type of air conditioning can you get?
You cannot use the £2,500 grant to buy a portable air-conditioning unit from a shop.
The grant is specifically for an eligible air-to-air heat pump installed under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
A typical system includes an outdoor heat-pump unit and one or more indoor units that distribute warm or cool air.
🚿 Don’t forget about hot water
An air-to-air heat pump does not usually provide your domestic hot water. You may therefore need a separate hot-water system. Ask the installer how your home’s heating and hot-water needs will work together before replacing an existing system.
Can tenants get the grant?
Tenants cannot simply arrange a major heating installation without the involvement of their landlord.
However, privately rented residential properties may be eligible if the property and installation meet the scheme rules. In practice, the property owner or landlord would need to be involved.
How do you apply for the £2,500 air-conditioning grant?
You do not normally apply for the grant and then go shopping for an air-conditioning system yourself.
The process is handled through an eligible installer.
📝 How to access the grant
- Check the current Boiler Upgrade Scheme rules.
- Find an MCS-certified installer.
- Ask the installer to assess your property.
- Get a full written quote.
- Confirm that the proposed system qualifies for the £2,500 grant.
- The installer applies for the grant on your behalf.
You should not need to buy a system first and then simply hope to claim £2,500 back afterwards.
What about completely free home improvements?
Some households may qualify for other schemes offering free or subsidised energy-saving improvements.
For example, the Warm Homes: Local Grant can provide eligible households in England with free energy-saving home improvements if they meet income, benefits or postcode-based criteria.
There is also the Energy Company Obligation, or ECO, which is aimed at improving the ability of low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes.
However, neither should be confused with a universal promise of “free air conditioning”.
What should you check before getting an air-to-air heat pump?
Ask the installer:
- How many rooms will the system heat and cool?
- How many indoor units are included?
- What is the total price before and after the grant?
- How much electricity is the system expected to use?
- How noisy are the indoor and outdoor units?
- Does the exact system provide cooling as well as heating?
- How will you heat your water?
- What maintenance and warranty are included?
- Does the exact installation qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Beware of “free aircon” scams
🚨 Red flags to watch for
- Claims that everyone is automatically entitled to free air conditioning.
- Pressure to sign a contract immediately.
- Large upfront payments before eligibility is checked.
- No written breakdown of the full cost.
- A refusal to explain which Government scheme is supposedly paying for the work.
The MoneyMagpie verdict
So, can you get free air conditioning in the UK?
Possibly – but that is not what the Government is promising.
What is genuinely available is a £2,500 grant towards the cost and installation of an eligible air-to-air heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
The scheme is available for eligible residential properties in England and Wales and is not restricted only to people receiving benefits.
An air-to-air heat pump can provide heating and, with an appropriate reversible system, cooling too. That means it could potentially keep your home warm in winter and provide the kind of cooling we normally think of as air conditioning during a summer heatwave.
MoneyMagpie tip: Check your eligibility, use an appropriately certified installer, compare quotes and make sure you know the full amount you will have to pay before signing anything.
MoneyMagpie is not a financial adviser. This article is for general information only. Government grants, eligibility rules and funding can change. Always check the latest official information and obtain independent quotes before agreeing to home-improvement work.
