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.
Bungalows around Tyne and Wear with suspended timber floors usually make running new pipework simpler. Flats in Tyne and Wear heated by storage heaters can often switch, subject to the freeholder's consent and a workable outdoor position. Installers in Tyne and Wear work room by room, so you can stay in your home while radiators go in.
Who it suits
- Homes with storage heaters or panel heaters throughout
- Flats with a suitable wall, balcony or ground-floor space for the unit
- Bungalows and houses with suspended timber floors that make pipe runs easier
- Owners planning redecoration or other building work at the same time
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.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions at survey.
Electric heating to heat pump prices in Tyne and Wear
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Tyne and Wear, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Tyne and Wear 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 | £9,200–£12,150 | £1,700–£4,650 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,200–£13,100 | £2,700–£5,600 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,650–£15,050 | £4,150–£7,550 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,600–£17,450 | £6,100–£9,950 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,000–£21,850 | £8,500–£14,350 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Towns we cover in Tyne and Wear
We cover 10 towns in Tyne and Wear 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle upon Tyne | NE1 | Wallsend | 7 h 10 min |
| Sunderland | SR1 | Washington | 7 h 11 min |
| South Shields | NE33 | Tynemouth | 7 h 10 min |
| Washington | NE38 | Houghton-le-Spring | 7 h 11 min |
| Tynemouth | NE30 | South Shields | 7 h 10 min |
| Wallsend | NE28 | Jarrow | 7 h 10 min |
| Newburn | NE15 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 7 h 10 min |
| Whitley Bay | NE26 | Tynemouth | 7 h 09 min |
| Houghton-le-Spring | DH4 | Washington | 7 h 12 min |
| Jarrow | NE32 | Wallsend | 7 h 10 min |
Replacing electric heating with a heat pump questions
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.
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.
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.