The short answer
It depends on your home, budget and how long you plan to stay. A new gas boiler is cheaper up front, quick to install, and a like-for-like swap — the lowest-effort option if your home is hard to treat or you are about to move. A heat pump costs more to install but qualifies for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, runs on electricity that gets cleaner over time, and can have competitive running costs — especially on a heat-pump-friendly tariff. The key questions are: is your home reasonably insulated with space for an outdoor unit and cylinder; do you have an EPC with no outstanding insulation work (a grant requirement); and how long will you stay to benefit. If your boiler is failing and the home suits a heat pump, it is the better long-term choice. If the home needs major upgrades first or you are moving soon, a new boiler may bridge the gap.
When a boiler nears the end of its life, the real decision is whether to replace it like for like or switch to a heat pump. Here is a practical framework rather than a sales pitch.
Heat pump or new boiler
- Boiler up-front costLower
- Heat pump up-front costHigher, minus £7,500 grant
- GrantHeat pump only (£7,500 BUS)
- CarbonHeat pump much lower and falling
- Best for boilerHard-to-treat homes; imminent move
The honest trade-offs
A new gas boiler is the path of least resistance: it costs less, installs in a day, reuses your radiators and pipework, and heats almost any property as-is. The downsides are that it locks in another 10-15 years of fossil-fuel heating and offers no grant support.
A heat pump costs more to install and may need radiator upgrades, but the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant closes much of the gap, running costs can be competitive (especially on a time-of-use electricity tariff), and emissions are far lower and keep falling as the grid decarbonises. It needs space for an outdoor unit and a hot water cylinder, and the home needs to be reasonably insulated to perform well.
| Factor | Heat pump | New gas boiler |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Higher (£7,500 grant available) | Lower |
| Install time | Longer, more involved | Usually a day |
| Running cost | Competitive, tariff-dependent | Tracks gas prices |
| Carbon | Low and falling | Fixed and high (fossil fuel) |
| Home suitability | Needs insulation + space | Suits almost any home |
| Best when | Home suits it, staying long-term | Hard-to-treat or moving soon |
Indicative comparison for guidance. Sources: Energy Saving Trust; Ofgem; Nesta.
Questions that decide it for your home
Work through these to see which way your situation points:
- Is your home reasonably insulated? Good loft insulation and draught-proofing make a heat pump efficient. A poorly insulated solid-wall home may need fabric work first, which tips the balance towards a boiler in the short term — or a hybrid.
- Do you have space? A heat pump needs an outdoor unit with airflow clearance and room for a hot water cylinder. If neither fits, a boiler may be the practical option.
- Do you have a suitable EPC? The £7,500 grant requires a valid EPC with no outstanding insulation recommendations. If yours flags loft or cavity insulation, that usually needs addressing first.
- How long will you stay? A heat pump's lower running and carbon costs reward a longer stay. If you are moving within a year or two, a new boiler may make more sense.
Carbon, future-proofing and the verdict
A gas boiler's emissions are fixed and high for its whole life. A heat pump's emissions are already lower and shrink further as the electricity grid decarbonises, so the same unit gets cleaner over time. Government policy is steering away from fossil-fuel heating, so a heat pump is also the more future-proof choice, though there is no confirmed ban date that forces homeowners to act today.
The practical verdict: if your home is reasonably insulated, has space, and you plan to stay, a heat pump with the £7,500 grant is the stronger long-term choice on running cost, carbon and future-proofing. If the home needs major upgrades you cannot do yet, or you are moving soon, a new gas boiler is a reasonable bridge. The best next step either way is an MCS-certified installer's heat loss survey, which tells you exactly what a heat pump would need for your property.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth getting a heat pump instead of a new boiler?
If your home is reasonably insulated, has space for an outdoor unit and cylinder, and you plan to stay long enough to benefit, a heat pump is usually worth it — the £7,500 grant offsets much of the cost, running costs can be competitive, and emissions are far lower. If the home needs major upgrades first or you are moving soon, a new boiler may suit better in the short term.
Can I get a grant if I replace my gas boiler with a heat pump?
Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £7,500 towards an air source heat pump in England and Wales, including for homes currently on mains gas. You need a valid EPC with no outstanding insulation recommendations and an MCS-certified installer. Scotland has separate funding via Home Energy Scotland.
Will gas boilers be banned?
There is no confirmed ban date for replacing existing gas boilers that homeowners need to act on today. Government policy is steering heating away from fossil fuels over time, which favours heat pumps for future-proofing, but you are not currently forced to switch — the decision is about cost, suitability and how long you will stay.
Sources & further reading
- Energy Saving Trust — air source heat pumps
- Ofgem — Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Nesta — heat pumps and home suitability
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific home. They are guidance, not a quotation or guaranteed saving.