- Area
- Greater London
- Postcode district
- SW12
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £10,650 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Gas boiler to heat pump for Balham homes
A heat pump suits most Balham homes, but the details decide how efficiently it runs. Our survey looks at insulation, radiators and hot water use room by room.
Semi-detached and terraced houses in Balham often have an airing cupboard that can be reused for a heat pump cylinder. Rear gardens and side returns in Balham usually offer a sensible spot for the outdoor unit, checked for airflow and neighbours.
Moving from mains gas to a heat pump means finding cylinder space, deciding what happens to the gas supply and comparing running costs on realistic assumptions.
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
- Combi owners who can find space for a hot water cylinder
- Homes in England and Wales eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
What's included
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- Free survey with heat loss calculation and cylinder siting
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
If your Balham home still cooks on gas, we talk through whether to keep the supply or switch to an induction hob.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Balham can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which takes £7,500 off the cost of an air source heat pump when it replaces fossil-fuel or electric heating. Replacing oil or LPG heating qualifies for £9,000 for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, and air-to-air systems for £2,500. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies for the grant and deducts it from the price.
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.
What to budget for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Balham
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Greater London, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Balham 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 | £10,650–£14,000 | £3,150–£6,500 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £11,750–£15,100 | £4,250–£7,600 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £13,450–£17,350 | £5,950–£9,850 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £15,700–£20,150 | £8,200–£12,650 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £18,500–£25,200 | £11,000–£17,700 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Winter daylight and heating in Balham
Balham sees roughly 7 hours 50 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 38 minutes in June. Milder southern winters suit heat pumps well, though the system is still sized for a cold snap rather than an average day.
The steps for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Balham
- Tell us about your home: postcode, property type and current heating.
- We book a survey in Balham; the surveyor measures rooms, windows and radiators and looks at cylinder space.
- The design and quote arrive in writing, including radiator changes and the outdoor unit position.
- On installation days the old system is removed and the new one fitted and filled.
- We commission the heat pump, show you the controls and register the installation.
Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Balham: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Balham house?
Usually at the side or rear, on a level base with space around it for airflow and servicing, away from bedroom windows where possible. The surveyor checks positions at your Balham home.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Balham?
Often some, not all. Heat pumps run best at lower water temperatures, so rooms with small radiators may need larger ones. The survey of your Balham home gives a room-by-room list.
Do you cover Tooting as well as Balham?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Tooting, which is about a mile south-west of Balham, and across Greater London.
What if my gas boiler is fairly new?
A newer boiler can still be replaced, but the timing is worth weighing. Some owners switch when the boiler needs a major repair; others prefer to plan the change for a convenient time. Across the UK, heat pump installation is zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027. A hybrid system, which keeps the boiler alongside a heat pump, is another option, though it is not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales.
Do I need to replace the cylinder I already have?
Usually, yes. Older cylinders have a small internal coil designed for water from a boiler at around 60–70°C, and they cannot take in heat quickly enough at the lower temperatures a heat pump runs at. A heat pump cylinder has a larger coil. On its own, a cylinder supplied and fitted has a guide price of £1,200–£2,200, installed and including VAT, though it is normally part of the full system price.