- Area
- Dorset
- Postcode district
- BH19
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,600 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Swanage
Every property in Swanage is different, so the design starts from measurements rather than a rule of thumb. That keeps the system the right size and the running costs predictable.
Rural properties near Swanage usually have garden space for the outdoor unit, sited away from windows and sheltered where possible. For homes outside Swanage reached by a long drive or narrow lane, delivery of the unit and cylinder is planned in advance.
Off-gas homes have a lot to plan when switching to a heat pump: the fuel tank, older walls, rural power supplies and higher heat loss.
- Eligible homes in England and Wales within the higher grant window
- Older oil boilers nearing the end of their life
- Detached houses and bungalows with garden space for the unit
What's included
- Outdoor unit, heat pump cylinder, controls and radiator changes
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
- MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
- Oil tank draining and removal or making safe, as set out in your quote
- Free survey with a detailed heat loss calculation for older construction
If your home near Swanage is off the mains gas grid, a heat pump removes the need for oil or LPG deliveries.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Swanage 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.
Guide prices for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Swanage
These are guide prices for Dorset, 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 £9,000 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,600–£12,650 | £600–£3,650 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,600–£13,650 | £1,600–£4,650 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,100–£15,650 | £3,100–£6,650 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,150–£18,200 | £5,150–£9,200 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,650–£22,750 | £7,650–£13,750 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. The £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme figure applies to oil and LPG replacements in England and Wales installed from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Short winter days in Swanage and what they mean
Swanage sees roughly 7 hours 58 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 29 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.
From survey to switch-on in Swanage
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Swanage gives us the room-by-room heat loss.
- Your written quote sets out the design, the price and the grant position where you live.
- Installation is booked for dates that suit you; most homes take 2–4 days on site.
- After commissioning you get a handover of the controls and settings, plus the certificates.
Replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Swanage: questions
How long does a heat pump survey take in Swanage?
A home survey in Swanage usually takes one to two hours. The surveyor measures every heated room, checks windows, walls and radiators, and looks at where the outdoor unit and cylinder can go.
How long does installation take in Swanage?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Swanage home states the expected time.
How soon can you survey a home in Swanage?
Survey dates depend on how busy installers are in Dorset. We offer the next available dates when you enquire and confirm them in writing.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than oil?
It depends on oil prices, your home's insulation, the flow temperature and your electricity tariff, so there is no single answer. At the October to December 2026 price cap, a heat pump with a seasonal efficiency of 3.0 delivers heat for about 8.8p per kWh, and at 3.5 about 7.5p. Compare that with your oil cost per kWh of heat, allowing for your boiler's efficiency; the survey estimate gives a figure for your home.
What happens with a leased LPG tank?
Leased LPG tanks belong to the supplier, so the supplier arranges collection. Check your contract for notice periods and any charges before you fix a date. We time the switchover so you are not left without heating, and once the heat pump is commissioned the supplier can empty and remove the tank. Bottled LPG cylinders are simply returned.