In England and Wales, replacing electric heating is eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, so eligible owners can receive £7,500 towards an air-to-water system. Flats need extra thought about where the outdoor unit goes and who must agree to it, and for some an air-to-air system is a simpler fit.
For Northumberland homes with solid floors, the survey plans pipe routes through walls and ceilings to keep disruption predictable. Bungalows around Northumberland with suspended timber floors usually make running new pipework simpler. Flats in Northumberland heated by storage heaters can often switch, subject to the freeholder's consent and a workable outdoor position.
Who it suits
- Bungalows and houses with suspended timber floors that make pipe runs easier
- Homes with storage heaters or panel heaters throughout
- Owners planning redecoration or other building work at the same time
- Flats with a suitable wall, balcony or ground-floor space for the unit
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 Northumberland
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Northumberland, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Northumberland can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,400–£12,400 | £1,900–£4,900 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,400–£13,350 | £2,900–£5,850 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,900–£15,350 | £4,400–£7,850 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,850–£17,800 | £6,350–£10,300 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,350–£22,300 | £8,850–£14,800 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Towns we cover in Northumberland
We cover 10 towns in Northumberland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blyth | NE24 | Bedlington | 7 h 08 min |
| Cramlington | NE23 | Bedlington | 7 h 09 min |
| Ashington | NE63 | Bedlington | 7 h 08 min |
| Bedlington | NE22 | Cramlington | 7 h 08 min |
| Alnwick | NE66 | Morpeth | 7 h 05 min |
| Berwick-upon-Tweed | TD15 | Alnwick | 7 h 00 min |
| Hexham | NE46 | Prudhoe | 7 h 10 min |
| Morpeth | NE61 | Bedlington | 7 h 08 min |
| Ponteland | NE20 | Cramlington | 7 h 09 min |
| Prudhoe | NE42 | Newburn | 7 h 10 min |
Replacing electric heating with a heat pump questions
Can I replace storage heaters with a heat pump?
Yes. Storage heaters are removed and replaced with an air-to-water heat pump connected to new radiators or underfloor heating and a hot water cylinder. Because there is no existing wet system, pipework has to be run to each room, so the job is larger than a boiler swap. The survey plans pipe routes and radiator sizes before you receive a written quote.
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.
How disruptive is fitting radiators in a home that has none?
More disruptive than a boiler swap, but planned. Floorboards are lifted to run pipes, some holes are drilled through walls and radiators are hung room by room. Rooms are worked on in a set order so you can keep living at home, and holes are made good, while redecoration is usually yours. The programme in your quote shows how long each stage typically takes.
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.