The other decision is the gas supply. If gas is used for nothing else — no gas hob, fire or cooker — you can have the supply capped and the meter removed, which ends the gas standing charge of about £108 a year at current price cap rates. We talk through each choice at the survey so you can decide before you accept the quote.
Rear gardens and side returns in the Highlands and Islands usually offer a sensible spot for the outdoor unit, checked for airflow and neighbours. Semi-detached and terraced houses in the Highlands and Islands often have an airing cupboard that can be reused for a heat pump cylinder. If your home still cooks on gas, we talk through whether to keep the supply or switch to an induction hob.
Who it suits
- Boilers that are old, unreliable or due for replacement
- Combi owners who can find space for a hot water cylinder
- Households ready to give up gas entirely and drop the standing charge
- System or regular boiler homes with an existing airing cupboard
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For a home in the Highlands and Islands, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Scotland has its own permitted development rules for air source heat pumps and its own building standards, so we confirm what applies to your property at survey.
Gas boiler to heat pump prices in the Highlands and Islands
These are guide prices for the Highlands and Islands, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £10,650–£14,000 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £11,750–£15,100 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £13,450–£17,350 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £15,700–£20,150 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £18,500–£25,200 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland grants of up to £7,500 and interest-free loans may reduce the cost.
Towns we cover in the Highlands and Islands
We cover 12 towns in the Highlands and Islands for replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Scotland.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inverness | IV1 | Dingwall | 6 h 35 min |
| Fort William | PH33 | Oban | 6 h 45 min |
| Aviemore | PH22 | Inverness | 6 h 40 min |
| Dingwall | IV15 | Inverness | 6 h 34 min |
| Kirkwall | KW15 | – | 6 h 11 min |
| Lerwick | ZE1 | – | 5 h 49 min |
| Nairn | IV12 | Forres | 6 h 34 min |
| Portree | IV51 | – | 6 h 36 min |
| Stornoway | HS1 | – | 6 h 24 min |
| Thurso | KW14 | Wick | 6 h 17 min |
| Ullapool | IV26 | Dingwall | 6 h 29 min |
| Wick | KW1 | Thurso | 6 h 20 min |
Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump questions
Will my hot water run out with a heat pump?
Not if the cylinder is sized properly for your household. The survey asks how many people live in the home, how many bathrooms you have and whether you prefer baths or showers, then sizes the cylinder to suit. The heat pump reheats the cylinder on a schedule, often overnight and again during the day, and an immersion heater acts as a backup.
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.
Is there a grant to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump?
In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air-to-water heat pump that replaces a gas boiler, for eligible owners of existing homes. The MCS-certified installer applies to Ofgem and deducts the grant from your quote, and Ofgem contacts you to confirm. Scotland has separate Home Energy Scotland funding, and Northern Ireland has no dedicated homeowner grant at present.
Should I have my gas meter removed?
If gas is used for nothing else, removing the meter ends the gas standing charge, which is about £108 a year at the October to December 2026 price cap. If you still cook on gas or have a gas fire, you will need to keep the supply. Meter removal is arranged through your gas supplier, usually once the heat pump is running; the pipe at the boiler position is capped during the installation.