Busiest Ever January for MCS Heat Pumps
Throughout January 2026, 4,743 heat pumps were installed under the UK’s main certification scheme, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), which covers the vast majority of domestic heat pump installations. That’s a 25% increase compared with January 2025—and the busiest ever start to the year on record.
At the same time, applications for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) rose by nearly 80% in January compared with the same month last year, underlining strong homeowner interest in the £7,500 grant and in switching from gas to heat pumps.
New-Builds: Heat Pumps Doubling as a Share of the Market
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data shows that 21% of the UK’s new-build homes had a heat pump installed in January 2026, up from 11% in January 2024. For developers and house builders, heat pumps are increasingly the default—and that trend is set to continue under the Future Homes Standard and the government’s wider net zero targets.
David Cowdrey, chief executive of the MCS Foundation, said the figures show heat pumps are an “increasingly popular choice” for developers and home buyers: “That is no surprise as heat pumps can bring down bills and make a home fit for the future.”
Policy and Grants Are Driving Uptake
Irene Omaswa, chair of Ambient, which collated the MCS data, highlighted the role of government policy: “The data demonstrates the importance of policy—Government schemes have significantly driven up adoption of electrified heating technologies.” She added that it is “important to remove barriers for those interested in electrified heating systems.”
The £7,500 BUS grant has been a major lever. When grants were increased to that level, applications tripled in the first week and remained well above historical averages. The recent Warm Homes Plan—with £15 billion for home upgrades, including £2.7 billion for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme—is expected to sustain and increase that momentum.
Landlords and EPC C: A Coming Wave of Upgrades
Under proposals set out for consultation in February 2026, all private landlords in England and Wales will be required to meet EPC C or above by the end of the decade, up from the current minimum of EPC E. Landlords will be able to choose how to meet the standard—including loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, double-glazing, and then options such as solar panels, batteries, smart meters, or low-carbon heating such as heat pumps.
That implies a sizeable pipeline of retrofit work and, for many properties, heat pump installations. For installers and surveyors, it’s a signal to prepare for higher demand for heat loss calculations, EPC-linked evidence, and site surveys that support both MCS and grant applications.
What This Means for Installers and Survey Demand
More heat pump installations mean more demand for pre-installation surveys and evidence. Every MCS heat pump installation and BUS application needs:
- Heat loss calculations for correct system sizing
- RdSAP and EPC evidence for grant eligibility and MCS
- Site survey documentation—measurements, photos, and technical assessments—to avoid callbacks and delays
With BUS applications up nearly 80% and record-breaking installation numbers, installers who have robust survey and evidence workflows in place will be better able to convert enquiries into completed, compliant jobs. Those who are short on capacity or documentation may see longer lead times and more follow-up visits.
Professional, installer-ready survey packs—that deliver heat loss inputs, EPC-ready evidence, and the paperwork needed for MCS and BUS—become more valuable as volumes rise. Getting the survey right first time reduces callbacks and keeps projects moving toward MCS sign-off and grant payment.
Context: Warm Homes Plan and 450,000 Installations a Year
The record January aligns with the government’s ambition to reach 450,000 heat pump installations per year by 2030. The Warm Homes Plan, launched in January 2026, reinforces that with extra funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, low-interest loans for households, and support for low-income and rented homes.
Phasing out gas boilers and scaling heat pumps is central to cutting emissions from UK homes. Upfront cost has been a barrier; the £7,500 BUS grant, plus loans and other support, is designed to close the gap. The sharp year-on-year rise in both installations and applications suggests that, where the right incentives and information are in place, appetite among homeowners is strong.
Summary
January 2026 has been the busiest ever January for MCS-certified heat pump installations: 4,743 installs (25% up on the previous year) and BUS applications up nearly 80%. New-builds are adopting heat pumps at roughly twice the rate of two years ago, and proposed EPC C rules for landlords point to a growing retrofit segment.
For installers, that means more demand for surveys and evidence—heat loss calculations, EPC-linked documentation, and site surveys that support MCS and BUS. Reliable, installer-ready survey provision will be increasingly important as volumes grow and as the Warm Homes Plan and policy changes push the market toward 450,000 installations a year.
Sources: Bradford Telegraph and Argus / PA, MCS, Ambient, UK government (Warm Homes Plan, BUS, EPC proposals).