Audit checks

Why we audit

We pay out public money so we need to make sure it's being spent properly and people are following the rules. Audit checks are one way to do this. They also help us identify and protect against errors and fraud.

Anyone can be selected for an audit check at any time. We select heating systems based on a number of reasons including random sampling.

What does an audit check involve?

There are two different types of audit and your heating system could be selected for either:

Pre-accreditation audits

Where we audit your application before it’s accredited. This could involve us asking you for certain documents or inspecting your heating system to verify its eligibility. 

Post accreditation audits

1. A desk audit, which involves us asking you to supply certain documents and records.

2. A site audit, which is done onsite where we need to inspect the heating system and also see certain documents and records. It's carried out by external auditors. Owner-occupiers need to submit a declaration confirming that you permit us to access the site to inspect the heating system. Landlords need to submit a declaration confirming the tenant of the property permits access for inspection.

If we don’t have your cooperation, we may suspend your payments.

Documents you need to keep for your entire membership on the scheme

  • a copy of the  certificate
  • a copy(s) of the MCS compliance certificates
  • a copy of the domestic 
  • a copy of your utility bill or council tax bill
  • purchase receipts for the heating system
  • fuel receipts for biomass boilers and stoves
  • calibration certificates, if applicable (where the heating system is metered).

You might also be asked for further evidence - for example, photographic evidence for the heating system or meter, copies of utility bills, copies of correspondence for grant funding and a copy of the metering for payment checklist that your installer gives you, if your heating system is metered.

If we suspect or discover that you’re not complying with your ongoing obligations, or that your installation was accredited based on incorrect information, we have the right to suspend all or part of your payments while we investigate. Once we have concluded the investigation, you will be informed of our decision and any action that will be taken. If we find that a non-compliance has occurred, depending on its severity, we may withhold all or part of your payments, or revoke your installation’s accreditation.

What actions can we take?

If you are found to be non-compliant, depending on severity, we may:

• suspend payments temporarily or withhold payments permanently

• revoke the installation’s accreditation

• recover overpayments

Where overpayments have been made, we will seek to recover these amounts be offsetting them against future payments. Where this isn’t possible, we will instead request the money owed to be repaid. We will be flexible in repayment terms, but we expect participants to engage with us or our agents. We will use a debt collection partner if we are satisfied money is owed and participants in debt are not engaging with us.

Fraud and counter fraud

We take a zero tolerance approach to fraud and have a dedicated Counter Fraud Team to detect, prevent and deter it. Examples of dishonesty to make a financial gain from the scheme include:

  • intentionally not reporting a change in your circumstances
  • applicants or other individuals within the supply chain submitting false or misleading documents to gain access to the scheme, or to increase payments due from the scheme.

Where we identify suspected fraud or unethical practices, we’ll refer the individuals in question to the relevant authorities which may include Action Fraud, the Police or Trading Standards.

If you have concerns about suspected fraud, please report it to us:

For further information, visit our Counter Fraud web page.