A heat pump for a let property is a full air source heating and hot water system designed around how tenants use the home, with installation, handover and servicing planned to suit both landlord and tenant. Landlords follow the same survey and design process as owner-occupiers, and in England and Wales they can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for their let homes.
Landlords with let homes in Cambridgeshire can have each property surveyed and quoted separately or as a group. For tenanted homes in Cambridgeshire, installation dates and access are agreed in writing before work starts. Terraced rental homes in Cambridgeshire often have small yards, so outdoor unit siting is checked carefully at survey.
Who it suits
- Properties between tenancies, when access and disruption are easier to manage
- HMOs with high hot water demand that need careful cylinder sizing
- Portfolio landlords planning upgrades across several properties
- Landlords in England and Wales replacing gas, oil or electric heating in let homes
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Cambridgeshire 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.
Heat pumps for landlords prices in Cambridgeshire
These are guide prices for Cambridgeshire, 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 | After £7,500 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,700–£12,750 | £2,200–£5,250 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,700–£13,750 | £3,200–£6,250 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,250–£15,800 | £4,750–£8,300 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,300–£18,350 | £6,800–£10,850 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,850–£22,950 | £9,350–£15,450 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning.
Towns we cover in Cambridgeshire
We cover 9 towns in Cambridgeshire for landlords and let properties. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peterborough | PE1 | Whittlesey | 7 h 38 min |
| Cambridge | CB2 | Royston | 7 h 42 min |
| Wisbech | PE13 | March | 7 h 37 min |
| St Neots | PE19 | Huntingdon | 7 h 42 min |
| Huntingdon | PE29 | St Neots | 7 h 41 min |
| March | PE15 | Wisbech | 7 h 39 min |
| Ely | CB6 | March | 7 h 40 min |
| Ramsey | PE26 | Whittlesey | 7 h 40 min |
| Whittlesey | PE7 | Peterborough | 7 h 38 min |
Landlords and let properties questions
How much does a heat pump cost for a rental property?
A full air-to-water system for a typical 3 bedroom home has an installed guide price of £12,000–£15,500, including VAT, or £4,500–£8,000 after the standard Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in England and Wales. Flats and small terraces typically sit at £9,500–£12,500. Your written quote fixes the price after the survey.
Can I install a heat pump while tenants are living in the property?
Yes. Most installations typically take 2–4 days on site, with heating and hot water off for part of that time. We agree dates and access with you, provide written details to pass to tenants, and plan the changeover to keep downtime short. Preparing the outdoor unit and cylinder first shortens the period without heating.
Do tenants need training to use a heat pump?
Not training, but a clear explanation helps. Heat pumps are designed to run steadily, with radiators feeling warm rather than hot, so tenants used to boilers may be tempted to switch them off. We provide a handover sheet written for tenants covering the controls, hot water times, what to do if an error appears and why the unit should stay on.
Will a heat pump improve my property's EPC rating?
It can, but the effect varies. EPC ratings depend on insulation, glazing, the heating system and how the assessment is modelled, so a heat pump in a poorly insulated home may change the rating less than expected. Check the current letting standards for your nation, and ask an EPC assessor to model the change if the rating matters for your plans.