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ASHP install contract and BUS grant money

 
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs)
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 sussex-greenish
(@sussex-greenish)
Eminent Member Member
Joined: 2 months ago
Posts: 15
Topic starter 03/03/2025 1:35 pm  

Hello! I today received my first quote from an installer who actually came to the house (two others so far were preliminary online-only guess-quotes). I was a little surprised to see one thing in the contract: it states that I have the pay the £7500 extra if the BUS grant does not go through.

Is that a typical way that installers deal with the BUS grant in contracts?

My first thought was: they are MCS certified, so they know what is required to be done with the actual install and the paperwork ... I have no ability myself to influence if the BUS grant succeeds, so why am I on the hook for the cost (lack of rebate) if Ofgem does not pay out?

I searched on this forum and found @grahamh  Graham's post about BUS ( https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/renewable-heating-air-source-heap-pumps-ashps/the-new-heat-pump-grant-bus ) and he did mention something that made me have a second thought -- to quote him:

They will quote and then register the quote with the BUS website. Ofgem who run the BUS scheme will contact the homeowner to check they have been quoted and are happy, if they are the installer will be told to proceed and a voucher will be put aside for the job. Once the job is installed the installer will invoice the homeowner the cost of the heat pump minus £5000. The homeowner will be asked to confirm to Ofgem that they are happy. When they confirm they are the voucher will be issued to the installer, they will or should receive the £5000 within a week from Ofgem.

(He wrote this before it went up to £7500)

Is the installer just trying to cover himself if I do NOT confirm to Ofgem that "I'm Happy" with the installation? That part I guess I do control.


   
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Toodles
 Toodles
(@toodles)
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Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 1890
03/03/2025 4:45 pm  

Sounds to me like a bit of rear-end covering tactics; should things go pear shaped for any reason, you are on the hook for the ‘Bus Ticket’ element. This may be a component in their standard contract terms, but if so, it suggests that they may not have sufficient confidence in their own workmanship! Are you otherwise happy with the installer? What is your gut feeling telling you? Regards, Toodles.

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.


   
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 JamesPa
(@jamespa)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 2302
04/03/2025 11:09 am  

Posted by: @sussex-greenish
↑

Hello! I today received my first quote from an installer who actually came to the house (two others so far were preliminary online-only guess-quotes). I was a little surprised to see one thing in the contract: it states that I have the pay the £7500 extra if the BUS grant does not go through.

Mine did that also, I wouldn't be surprised if its common/written into the MCS contract template.

You get about 3 emails from the BUS people either asking you to confirm the installer or confirming that the grant has been provisionally authorised, so in practice there is a reasonable degree of reassurance.  In particular there is a point in the process (before the installation) where the installer has made the application for the grant and you have to confirm that you authorise the installer to access the grant on your behalf.  Until this point I wouldn't regard it as secure, so no way would I let an installer go ahead until this point was reached.

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.


   
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 sussex-greenish
(@sussex-greenish)
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Joined: 2 months ago
Posts: 15
Topic starter 04/03/2025 12:52 pm  

Thanks @jamespa  and @toodles. This company has done work for me before so I am pretty comfortable with them.


   
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