- Area
- Kent
- Postcode district
- TN9
- Nation
- England
- Guide price
- From £9,800 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
Before you book: replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Tonbridge
The question for a Tonbridge home is rarely whether a heat pump can work, but what needs to change to make it work well: radiator sizes, pipework, controls and where the unit goes.
Bungalows and detached houses near Tonbridge running on LPG can move to a heat pump, with the tank collected by the supplier. Rural properties near Tonbridge 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.
- Owners tired of fuel deliveries and tank maintenance
- Older oil boilers nearing the end of their life
- Rural and village homes off the mains gas grid
What's included
- Help arranging LPG tank collection with your supplier
- Outdoor unit, heat pump cylinder, controls and radiator changes
- Network operator notification and electrical connection
- Free survey with a detailed heat loss calculation for older construction
- MCS certificate and grant application in England and Wales where eligible
Cottages and farmhouses in and around Tonbridge often have solid walls, so the survey looks closely at construction and draughts.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Tonbridge 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.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions at survey.
What to budget for replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Tonbridge
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Kent, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Tonbridge can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price | After £9,000 grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,800–£12,900 | £800–£3,900 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,800–£13,900 | £1,800–£4,900 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,350–£15,950 | £3,350–£6,950 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,400–£18,550 | £5,400–£9,550 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £17,000–£23,200 | £8,000–£14,200 |
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.
Winter daylight and heating in Tonbridge
Tonbridge sees roughly 7 hours 53 minutes of daylight in late December against 16 hours 35 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 Tonbridge
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Tonbridge home, measures every room and checks where the outdoor unit can go.
- You receive a heat loss design and a fixed written quote, with any grant shown where it applies.
- Installers fit the unit, cylinder and any radiator changes, typically over 2–4 days on site.
- The system is commissioned, set up with weather compensation and handed over with the paperwork.
Replacing an oil or LPG boiler with a heat pump in Tonbridge: questions
Where would the outdoor unit go on a Tonbridge house?
Usually at the side or rear, on a level base with space around it for airflow and servicing, away from bedroom windows where possible. The surveyor checks positions at your Tonbridge home.
How long does a heat pump survey take in Tonbridge?
A home survey in Tonbridge 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.
Can you service a heat pump in Tonbridge that someone else installed?
Yes. We arrange servicing and repairs for most air source heat pumps in Tonbridge, whoever fitted them. Tell us the make and model when you book.
Can a heat pump cope with an exposed rural spot?
Yes. Air source heat pumps are designed to keep working well below freezing, and they periodically defrost, giving off a little vapour, which is normal. In exposed locations the installer chooses a sheltered position where possible, raises the unit to clear snow and let defrost water drain, and sizes the system for the local winter design temperature used in the heat loss calculation.
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.