Heat pump grant. How do you apply?

[flanagaj]

I know this might sound like a stupid question, but how do you go about getting the grant for a heat pump and making sure that is was given and not swallowed up by the supplier.  My plan is to purchase a 5K ASHP that can run in both heating and cooling mode and I also want a 250 litre cylinder, but I have no idea whether the price I see listed on websites for the ASHP is with the grant taken into consideration or not.

Is it possible to get all the parts as supply only and I can then fit them and get them commissioned when ready?

[JamesPa]

Your MCS installer applies.

 

If you want to DIY then you need an MCS umbrella scheme.  There are several around.

 

No way round this if you want the grant sofaik.

 

Also vat zero rating depends on having a 'supply and install' contract.

[nod]

Unfortunately it’s one or the other 

Contractors with a grant 

Or self install No grant 

[Dillsue]

5 minutes ago, nod said:

Unfortunately it’s one or the other 

Contractors with a grant 

Or self install No grant 

As I understand it you can self install a system but the design and commissioning needs to be done by an MCS registered outfit. That's how the MCS umbrella scheme that we looked at worked.

[JohnMo]

15 minutes ago, JamesPa said:

Your MCS installer applies

Unless you are in Scotland and the system is completely different after reading up on. The home owner actually gets the money, to make the contractors competitive.

[flanagaj]

"MCS Umbrella scheme" - thanks,  I'll look into that.

[nod]

10 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

Unless you are in Scotland and the system is completely different after reading up on. The home owner actually gets the money, to make the contractors competitive.

Once the contractor had finished the installation We where sent a questionnaire from the MCS 

Asking if we where satisfied and happy for the Buzz grant to be paid directly to the contractor 

[flanagaj]

6 minutes ago, nod said:

Once the contractor had finished the installation We where sent a questionnaire from the MCS 

Asking if we where satisfied and happy for the Buzz grant to be paid directly to the contractor 

But does it work out cheaper than buying the ashp and cylinder outside of the grant scheme and then getting a mcs certified installer to commission it.  As a cynic, I can't help but think the grant scheme is just a licence for installers to just make extra money.

[nod]

2 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

But does it work out cheaper than buying the ashp and cylinder outside of the grant scheme and then getting a mcs certified installer to commission it.  As a cynic, I can't help but think the grant scheme is just a licence for installers to just make extra money.

Some will tell you yes 

The difference with ours was just under 5k for a 11 KW Mitsubishi Cylinder pumps buffer control panel and commissioning my UFH instal 

I couldn’t buy the equipment in for 5k 

I did try 

 

[JohnMo]

37 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

But does it work out cheaper than buying the ashp and cylinder outside of the grant scheme and then getting a mcs certified installer to commission it

That's not how the scheme works, anything you buy just will not count towards the grant money. Even the umbrella scheme you get everything from them.

 

Been a Vaillant 5kW heat pump on eBay for a while £1k, add a cylinder £1k.  You have most of what you will get from the grant for £2k.

[flanagaj]

20 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

That's not how the scheme works, anything you buy just will not count towards the grant money. Even the umbrella scheme you get everything from them.

 

Been a Vaillant 5kW heat pump on eBay for a while £1k, add a cylinder £1k.  You have most of what you will get from the grant for £2k.

I did look for it, but could not find it.  Will that be cheaper than going the grant route?

[SimonD]

2 hours ago, flanagaj said:

I know this might sound like a stupid question, but how do you go about getting the grant for a heat pump and making sure that is was given and not swallowed up by the supplier.  My plan is to purchase a 5K ASHP that can run in both heating and cooling mode and I also want a 250 litre cylinder, but I have no idea whether the price I see listed on websites for the ASHP is with the grant taken into consideration or not.

Is it possible to get all the parts as supply only and I can then fit them and get them commissioned when ready?

 

The MCS rules require any supply and install company to provide a quote minus the BUS grant so you can see that it has been given. The supply & install company, or their umbrella scheme will apply for the grant on your behalf. You'll get a message from OFGEM when they apply where you give consent for the application.

 

As has already been mentioned. If you purchase supply only, you have to pay VAT for all materials and then you'll have to pay VAT on labour because it's not part of a supply and install under the MCS scheme. Best thing to do is find installers local to you, and even try the larger ones like Octopus, Aira, Heat Geek and get some prices - on Heat Geek's site you can get an estimate straight away to give you an idea of costs. Get some quotes and then you can look at the costs and compare.

 

If you can find an umbrella scheme happy to do the MCS side of things for you, you'll most likely be paying something like £1000 plus VAT for the MCS/design stuff, plus another £400 or so for commissioning too. They will usually supply all the heatpump kit from their supplier at their markups, so again best to go out and get price comparisons. With some of these services, you won't see change from your BUS grant and you'll have to complete the installation yourself and probably pay for all required emitters on top.