Heat Pump Grant for Social Housing: What Tenants Need to Know
If you live in council or housing association property, you could get a heat pump at no cost to you. The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) provides billions of pounds for energy efficiency improvements in social housing — including heat pump installations. Your housing provider manages the process; you simply benefit from lower bills and better heating.
Own your own home? Check what grant you qualify for
Use the Free CalculatorFor homeowners — social housing tenants should contact their housing provider.
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
The SHDF is a government programme providing grants to social housing providers (councils and housing associations) to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Heat pumps are a key measure, often installed alongside insulation improvements.
What Happens During Installation
Your housing provider will contact you to explain the programme, schedule the work, and provide information about the heat pump system. The installation typically takes 2 to 3 days. The old boiler is removed, the heat pump installed outside, and your heating system may be upgraded with new radiators or a hot water cylinder. Read our installation guide for what to expect.
Your Rights as a Tenant
- Your housing provider should consult with you before installation
- You should receive information about how the heat pump works
- There should be no cost to you
- You should receive a handover and explanation of controls
- Ongoing maintenance is typically your housing provider's responsibility
Benefits for Social Housing Tenants
Indicative figures. Actual savings depend on insulation, tariff, and usage patterns.
Private homeowner? Find out what grants are available to you
Get Free QuotesThe BUS grant provides £7,500 off for homeowners who own their property.
Want to understand heat pump running costs?
See Running Cost GuideFull breakdown of what a heat pump costs to run compared to gas and electric heating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can social housing tenants get a free heat pump?
Yes — through your housing provider, funded by the SHDF. There is no cost to the tenant.
What is the SHDF?
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund — government grants for councils and housing associations to improve energy efficiency.
Do tenants have a choice about heat pump installation?
Your housing provider should consult with you and explain the process and benefits.
About Social Housing Heat Pump Programmes
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is one of the UK Government's largest investments in home energy efficiency. It funds air source and ground source heat pump installations alongside insulation improvements in council and housing association properties. This sits alongside the BUS grant for private homeowners and ECO4 for low-income households. The broader UK grants guide covers all available funding. Social housing providers increasingly combine heat pumps with solar panels to maximise energy savings for tenants.