- Area
- Highlands and Islands
- Postcode district
- ZE1
- Nation
- Scotland
- Guide price
- From £10,650 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Oil and LPG boiler replacement for Lerwick homes
A heat pump suits most Lerwick homes, but the details decide how efficiently it runs. Our survey looks at insulation, radiators and hot water use room by room.
If your home near Lerwick is off the mains gas grid, a heat pump removes the need for oil or LPG deliveries. Rural properties near Lerwick usually have garden space for the outdoor unit, sited away from windows and sheltered where possible.
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.
- Rural and village homes off the mains gas grid
- Detached houses and bungalows with garden space for the unit
- Owners tired of fuel deliveries and tank maintenance
What's included
- 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
- Outdoor unit, heat pump cylinder, controls and radiator changes
- Removal of the oil or LPG boiler and flue
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
For homes outside Lerwick reached by a long drive or narrow lane, delivery of the unit and cylinder is planned in advance.
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 Lerwick home, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Scotland included, until 31 March 2027. Scottish permitted development rules and building standards apply, and the surveyor checks the unit position and any listed or conservation-area constraints.
Oil and LPG boiler replacement costs around Lerwick
Here are typical prices for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in the Highlands and Islands, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Short winter days in Lerwick and what they mean
Lerwick has about 5 hours 49 minutes of daylight at midwinter against 18 hours 56 minutes in midsummer. Heat pumps are designed to keep working well below freezing, but the design temperature for the survey is set for local conditions, not an average day.
The steps for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Lerwick
- Start online with a guide price or call us.
- A home survey in Lerwick 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.
Lerwick is in an area we cover by arrangement, so survey dates and any travel costs are confirmed individually in your quote.
Replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Lerwick: questions
Do I need new radiators for a heat pump in Lerwick?
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 Lerwick home gives a room-by-room list.
What size heat pump does a Lerwick home need?
It depends on the heat loss, not the postcode. As a rough guide, a 3 bedroom semi often needs 6–9 kW, but the room-by-room survey sets the actual size for your Lerwick home.
Can you service a heat pump in Lerwick that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Lerwick, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
How much is the grant for replacing an oil boiler with a heat pump?
In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is £9,000 when an air-to-water heat pump replaces oil or LPG heating, for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. Otherwise the standard £7,500 applies. The installer claims it and deducts it from your quote. Scotland's Home Energy Scotland funding works differently and includes extra for eligible rural homes; Northern Ireland has no dedicated homeowner scheme at present.
Will I need bigger radiators in an older cottage or farmhouse?
Often in some rooms, because thick solid walls and older windows lose more heat, and heat pumps work at lower water temperatures than oil boilers. The survey checks each room. Rooms with high ceilings or large windows are common candidates for a larger radiator. Where swapping radiators is impractical, a high-temperature unit can be considered, with lower efficiency as the trade-off.