The efficiency difference is the main reason to consider it. A panel heater turns one unit of electricity into one unit of heat, so heat costs the full unit rate of 26.32p per kWh at the October to December 2026 price cap. A heat pump with a seasonal efficiency of 3.0 delivers heat for about 8.8p per kWh. Storage heaters on an off-peak tariff narrow the gap, so we compare against your actual tariff, insulation and expected flow temperature.
Owners across Bedfordshire moving off storage heaters can arrange a survey in Bedfordshire that compares running costs on their real tariff. For Bedfordshire homes with solid floors, the survey plans pipe routes through walls and ceilings to keep disruption predictable. Installers in Bedfordshire work room by room, so you can stay in your home while radiators go in.
Who it suits
- Flats with a suitable wall, balcony or ground-floor space for the unit
- Properties with an electric boiler and existing radiators
- Owners planning redecoration or other building work at the same time
- Bungalows and houses with suspended timber floors that make pipe runs easier
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
In England the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (£9,000 if it replaces oil or LPG, from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), and since 28 April 2026 a valid EPC is no longer needed. The grant is applied for by the MCS-certified installer and shown as a deduction on your quote.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Since 29 May 2025, permitted development in England allows up to two air source heat pumps on a house, each up to 1.5 m³, with no blanket 1 m boundary rule — the installation must still meet the MCS planning standards, including the noise check. Listed buildings, flats and some conservation-area positions need extra consent, which we check at survey.
Electric heating to heat pump prices in Bedfordshire
These are guide prices for Bedfordshire, installed and including VAT. Your final price is fixed in a written quote after the survey and depends on the heat loss of the house, the radiators that need changing and where the unit goes.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,700–£12,750 | £2,200–£5,250 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,700–£13,750 | £3,200–£6,250 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,250–£15,800 | £4,750–£8,300 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,300–£18,350 | £6,800–£10,850 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,850–£22,950 | £9,350–£15,450 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Towns we cover in Bedfordshire
We cover 9 towns in Bedfordshire for replacing electric heating with a heat pump. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luton | LU1 | Dunstable | 7 h 46 min |
| Bedford | MK40 | Kempston | 7 h 43 min |
| Dunstable | LU6 | Luton | 7 h 46 min |
| Leighton Buzzard | LU7 | Dunstable | 7 h 45 min |
| Ampthill | MK45 | Flitwick | 7 h 44 min |
| Kempston | MK42 | Bedford | 7 h 43 min |
| Biggleswade | SG18 | Sandy | 7 h 43 min |
| Flitwick | MK45 | Ampthill | 7 h 44 min |
| Sandy | SG19 | Biggleswade | 7 h 43 min |
Replacing electric heating with a heat pump questions
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than storage heaters?
It can be, but it depends on your tariff. Direct electric heat costs the full unit rate, 26.32p per kWh at the October to December 2026 price cap, while a heat pump with a seasonal efficiency of 3.0 delivers heat for about 8.8p per kWh. Storage heaters charged on a cheap overnight rate narrow that gap, so the survey compares on your actual tariff, insulation and expected flow temperature.
What if I live in a flat?
Many flats can have a heat pump, but you need a suitable outdoor position, such as a balcony, yard or wall bracket, and leaseholders need consent from the freeholder or management company. Planning permission may be needed depending on the nation and the building, which we check at survey. Where a wet system is impractical, an air-to-air heat pump with separate hot water is an alternative.
Do I qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme if I have electric heating?
In England and Wales, owners of existing homes replacing electric heating can qualify, provided the heat pump meets the home's full heating and hot water needs and the other scheme conditions are met. The grant is £7,500 for an air-to-water system. The scheme does not cover Scotland or Northern Ireland; Scotland has separate Home Energy Scotland funding.
Can I keep my electric immersion cylinder?
Usually not for heating by the heat pump, because a standard immersion cylinder has no coil, or one too small to take heat at low flow temperatures. A heat pump cylinder replaces it, often in the same cupboard, and keeps an immersion element as backup. If you choose an air-to-air system instead, which does not make hot water, the existing cylinder stays in use.