- Area
- Hertfordshire
- Postcode district
- SG7
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £10,000 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Gas boiler to heat pump for Royston homes
A heat pump suits most Royston homes, but the details decide how efficiently it runs. Our survey looks at insulation, radiators and hot water use room by room.
Households across Hertfordshire moving off gas can have a survey in Royston that compares running costs on realistic assumptions. If your Royston home still cooks on gas, we talk through whether to keep the supply or switch to an induction hob.
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.
- Combi owners who can find space for a hot water cylinder
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
What's included
- Commissioning, MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
- System flush and radiator upgrades where the design calls for them
- Capping of the gas pipe at the boiler position where you are giving up gas
- Removal of the gas boiler, flue and any loft tanks
- Heat pump cylinder, outdoor unit and weather compensation controls
Many gas-heated homes in Royston have a combi boiler in the kitchen, so the survey starts by finding the right place for a cylinder.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Royston 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.
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.
What to budget for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Royston
Here are typical prices for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Hertfordshire, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £10,000–£13,150 | £2,500–£5,650 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £11,050–£14,200 | £3,550–£6,700 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,600–£16,300 | £5,100–£8,800 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,700–£18,900 | £7,200–£11,400 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,350–£23,650 | £9,850–£16,150 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Short winter days in Royston and what they mean
On the shortest day Royston gets about 7 hours 44 minutes of daylight, with the noon sun around 15° up. The heating season runs from autumn into spring, so a heat pump that is sized correctly and set up with weather compensation does most of its work in steady, cool conditions.
From survey to switch-on in Royston
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Royston home, measures every room and checks where the outdoor unit can go.
- You receive a heat loss design and a fixed written quote, with any grant shown where it applies.
- Installers fit the unit, cylinder and any radiator changes, typically over 2–4 days on site.
- The system is commissioned, set up with weather compensation and handed over with the paperwork.
Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump in Royston: questions
How long does installation take in Royston?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Royston home states the expected time.
Do you cover Letchworth Garden City as well as Royston?
Yes. We arrange surveys and installation in Letchworth Garden City, which is about 10 miles south-west of Royston, and across Hertfordshire.
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Royston?
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 Royston home gives a room-by-room list.
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.
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.