Find out what a heat pump would cost your London home
Answer a few quick questions. Get a personalised cost estimate and free quotes from MCS-certified installers, with the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant already deducted.
Takes 60 seconds · Free · No obligation
- MCS-certified installers only
- £7,500 grant deducted at source
- 0% VAT on all installations
- Grant applied by your installer
How your cost check works
Four quick questions. A personalised estimate. Free quotes from local installers.
Tell us about your home
Property type, size, and your London postcode. Takes about 60 seconds.
Get your cost estimate
See a realistic price range for your home, with the £7,500 grant already deducted.
Compare free quotes
MCS-certified installers covering London review your job and provide competitive quotes. No obligation.
What does a heat pump cost in London?
London install prices run slightly above the UK average, mainly due to access, parking and the age of the housing stock. These are realistic ranges for a full MCS-certified installation in Greater London, including the heat pump unit, labour, hot water cylinder and commissioning:
| Air source heat pump (flat or small terrace) Before grant; compact 4–6kW unit | £8,000 – £11,000 |
| Air source heat pump (3-bed semi or terrace) Most common London job, 6–8kW unit | £10,000 – £14,000 |
| Air source heat pump (large detached) 8–12kW unit, possible radiator upgrades | £13,000 – £18,000 |
| Minus Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant Applied by your installer, deducted at quote | – £7,500 |
| Typical net cost to a London homeowner Comparable to a premium boiler swap | £2,500 – £7,500 |
Prices are indicative 2026 ranges for guidance only. Your actual quote depends on your home's heat loss, radiators, electrics and the installer. That's exactly why comparing quotes matters.
Heat pumps and London homes: what to know
Around 40% of London's homes were built before 1945, which means solid walls, sash windows and, in thousands of Victorian and Edwardian terraces, conservation area rules. The good news: most heat pump installs fall under permitted development, and since 2024 the planning rules for air source units have been relaxed. In conservation areas (much of Islington, Camden, Kensington & Chelsea and Greenwich), the unit simply needs to be positioned away from the street-facing elevation, which a good installer plans around as routine.
Flats are the fastest-growing part of the London market. If you own a flat, you'll typically need freeholder or managing-agent consent, and shared or communal systems are increasingly common in new developments. Noise rules matter more in dense London streets. Modern units run at around 40–60 decibels, roughly a quiet conversation, and must meet MCS 020 planning noise standards for neighbouring windows.
London's climate also works in your favour: it's one of the mildest parts of the UK, so heat pumps here operate at their most efficient. On the coldest January night a correctly sized unit still heats your home to 21°C. Sizing is done from a room-by-room heat loss survey, which any quote you receive should be based on.
Key facts for London homeowners
- Most London installs need no planning permission. Permitted development applies.
- Conservation area? The unit goes on the rear or side elevation. Routine for experienced installers.
- Flat owners: freeholder consent usually needed; communal options exist
- London's mild winters mean higher real-world efficiency than most of the UK
- £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant applies across all London boroughs
- 0% VAT on heat pump installations until 31 March 2027
How much does a heat pump cost in London in 2026?
Most London homeowners pay £10,000–£14,000 before grants for a full air source heat pump installation on a typical 3-bed home. After the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, which your MCS-certified installer applies for and deducts from your quote, the net cost is typically £2,500–£6,500. Installation is also 0% VAT until March 2027.
Can I get the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in London?
Yes, the grant covers all of Greater London. You need to own the property, have a valid EPC (issued in the last 10 years) with no outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations, and use an MCS-certified installer. The installer applies on your behalf and deducts £7,500 directly from your quote, so you never handle the money.
Do heat pumps work in London's older terraced houses?
Yes. Victorian and Edwardian terraces are the most common London heat pump jobs. Solid-walled homes may need some radiator upgrades and benefit from insulation first, but a proper heat loss survey sizes the system correctly. Thousands of pre-war London homes already run on heat pumps, typically keeping the house at a steady 18–21°C.
Do I need planning permission for a heat pump in London?
Usually no. Air source heat pumps are classed as permitted development across England provided the unit meets MCS 020 noise standards and is positioned correctly. In conservation areas, which cover large parts of inner London, the unit must not sit on a wall or roof facing the highway. Flats and listed buildings need consent from the freeholder and/or council.
Are heat pumps noisy? My neighbours are close.
Modern air source units run at 40–60 decibels at one metre, about the level of a quiet conversation or a fridge hum, and get quieter with distance. To pass permitted development rules the unit must meet MCS 020 noise limits at your neighbour's nearest window, which the installer calculates before fitting. In practice, correctly sited units in dense London streets cause no issues.
How long does a heat pump installation take?
A straightforward London install takes 2–4 days: day one is usually removing the old boiler and fitting the cylinder, with the outdoor unit and commissioning after. If radiators need upgrading or your electrics need work, allow up to a week. You'll typically be without heating for less than a day.
Ready to find out what a heat pump would cost you?
Takes 60 seconds. Free, no obligation. The £7,500 grant is deducted automatically.