It is important to be clear about funding. In England and Wales, hybrid systems are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which requires the heat pump to meet the home's full heating and hot water needs. You also keep a fossil-fuel boiler, its servicing and, on mains gas, the standing charge. We set out both options at survey so you can compare a hybrid with a full heat pump fairly.
Combi homes in Greater Manchester with no space for a cylinder can look at a hybrid that keeps the combi for hot water. Installers covering Greater Manchester set up the hybrid controller so you can see and adjust when each heat source runs. For Greater Manchester homes with a boiler that is still fairly new, a hybrid lets a heat pump take on much of the heating now.
Who it suits
- Large or hard-to-insulate homes where a full heat pump is difficult for now
- Owners who want a stepping stone towards a full heat pump later
- Homes with a fairly new boiler the owner wants to keep using
- Combi homes with no room for a cylinder
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Greater Manchester 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.
Hybrid heat pumps prices in Greater Manchester
Here are typical prices for hybrid heat pumps in Greater Manchester, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| System | Installed guide price |
|---|---|
| Hybrid heat pump alongside an existing boiler | £6,850–£10,800 |
Installed, inc VAT. Hybrid systems are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Towns we cover in Greater Manchester
We cover 29 towns in Greater Manchester for hybrid heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | M2 | Stretford | 7 h 28 min |
| Oldham | OL1 | Middleton | 7 h 27 min |
| Wigan | WN1 | Golborne | 7 h 27 min |
| Bolton | BL1 | Radcliffe | 7 h 27 min |
| Stockport | SK1 | Denton | 7 h 29 min |
| Rochdale | OL16 | Heywood | 7 h 27 min |
| Sale | M33 | Stretford | 7 h 29 min |
| Bury | BL9 | Radcliffe | 7 h 27 min |
| Altrincham | WA14 | Sale | 7 h 29 min |
| Middleton | M24 | Heywood | 7 h 27 min |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | OL7 | Denton | 7 h 28 min |
| Leigh | WN7 | Atherton | 7 h 28 min |
| Stretford | M32 | Urmston | 7 h 29 min |
| Urmston | M41 | Stretford | 7 h 29 min |
| Eccles | M30 | Swinton | 7 h 28 min |
| Tyldesley | M29 | Atherton | 7 h 28 min |
| Hyde | SK14 | Denton | 7 h 29 min |
| Walkden | M28 | Swinton | 7 h 28 min |
| Prestwich | M25 | Whitefield | 7 h 28 min |
| Radcliffe | M26 | Whitefield | 7 h 27 min |
| Heywood | OL10 | Middleton | 7 h 27 min |
| Denton | M34 | Hyde | 7 h 28 min |
| Saddleworth | OL3 | Oldham | 7 h 27 min |
| Golborne | WA12 | Leigh | 7 h 28 min |
| Whitefield | M45 | Radcliffe | 7 h 27 min |
| Swinton | M27 | Eccles | 7 h 28 min |
| Atherton | M46 | Tyldesley | 7 h 28 min |
| Irlam | M44 | Urmston | 7 h 29 min |
| Horwich | BL6 | Bolton | 7 h 27 min |
Hybrid heat pumps questions
Is a hybrid a good step towards a full heat pump?
It can be, if the outdoor unit and pipework are sized with a future full system in mind. Later, once insulation has improved or radiators have been upgraded, the boiler can be removed and the system converted, provided the heat pump is large enough for the full load. Raise this at survey so the design leaves room to change.
Can I get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for a hybrid heat pump?
No. In England and Wales hybrid systems are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, because the scheme requires the heat pump to meet the home's full heating and hot water needs on its own. If a grant matters to your budget, a full air-to-water heat pump is the option that can qualify. In Scotland and Northern Ireland we check at survey what, if any, funding applies.
Do I still need to service my boiler with a hybrid?
Yes. The boiler still needs its annual service, by a registered gas engineer for gas or LPG or an oil technician for oil, and the heat pump needs its own annual service, which is often a condition of the manufacturer's warranty. Two heat sources mean slightly more maintenance than either a boiler or a heat pump on its own.
Will a hybrid heat pump lower my bills?
It can reduce how much gas, LPG or oil you burn, but the effect depends on how the controller is set, your insulation, your tariff and fuel prices. You keep a boiler to service and, on mains gas, the standing charge. We do not promise a figure; instead the survey gives an estimate for your home comparing a hybrid with a full heat pump.