England · Updated 8 November 2026

Air to air heat pumps in London

Air to air heat pumps suit many London homes, especially flats and smaller homes on electric heating. A typical install for a flat or small house is about £4,500, and if you're replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating the £2,500 grant comes off that. Tell us about your home and we'll pass your enquiry to up to three F-gas certified installers who cover London.

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London homes and air to air heat pumps

London has a far higher share of flats than anywhere else in the UK: mansion blocks, Victorian houses converted into flats, council estates and new-build towers. Many flats are heated by electric panel or storage heaters, or by a gas combi, and have no space for a hot water cylinder, which makes air to air the most practical heat pump. London also runs hotter than the rest of the country in summer because of the urban heat island effect, so the cooling side is valued more here than anywhere.

What to know locally

  • Freeholder consent: most Londoners in flats are leaseholders. Get written consent from the freeholder or managing agent before anything is fixed to the outside wall.
  • Conservation areas: London has a very large number of conservation areas. A unit can't go on a wall or roof facing a highway in one without planning permission.
  • One unit per block: permitted development allows only one outdoor unit on a block of flats, and no bigger than 0.6 cubic metres, so multi-split systems are the usual answer.
  • Access and parking: upper-floor flats without rear access may need a platform or scaffold, and parking permits or suspensions can add to the cost. Ask what the quote includes.
  • Noise: homes are close together, so siting the outdoor unit to meet 42 dB at the neighbour's window takes care. Rear walls and flat roofs (at least 1m from the edge) are often best.

Grant

The £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant applies in London as in the rest of England. The system must replace your existing heating, be able to meet your home's heating needs, and be fitted by an installer MCS certified for air to air. It doesn't heat water, so plan for that if you're removing a boiler.

Planning

In England, a unit that provides heating is usually permitted development if it's installed to MCS 020 and meets the size, siting and 42 dB noise limits. Planning decisions here are made by your borough council (London has 32 boroughs plus the City of London Corporation, each its own planning authority). See our planning guide.

Costs

SystemTypical priceAfter £2,500 grant
Single roomFrom about £2,400Grant can cover most of it
Flat or small houseAbout £4,500About £2,000
Larger house£6,000 to £8,800+£3,500 to £6,300+

National guide prices, not local quotes. See the full cost guide.

Areas we cover

Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Ealing, Brent, Barnet, Haringey, Lewisham, Greenwich, Croydon, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston and the rest of London. Postcodes: E, EC, N, NW, SE, SW, W and WC, plus outer London BR, CR, DA, EN, HA, IG, KT, RM, SM, TW and UB.

Nearby

Brighton 47 milesSouthampton 69 milesCoventry 86 milesLeicester 89 miles

Questions

Can I get the £2,500 air to air heat pump grant in London?

Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers all of England, including London, if you're replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating and use an installer MCS certified for air to air.

Do I need my freeholder's permission for an air to air heat pump in a London flat?

Almost certainly, if you're a leaseholder. External walls usually belong to the freeholder. Get written consent before booking the install.

Are installs more expensive in London?

Quotes are often higher because of access, parking and labour costs, but the grant is the same £2,500. Compare at least two quotes.

Sources

Checked 8 November 2026.