Can You Install a Heat Pump in a Flat?
It's possible but more complicated than a house. You'll need freeholder or management company permission, somewhere to put the outdoor unit, and agreement from neighbours about noise. Ground floor flats with garden access are the easiest.
At a glance
- Feasibility
- Possible, especially ground floor
- Cost (after grant)
- £500–£4,500
- Key requirement
- Freeholder permission
- Communal heating?
- Needs building-wide approach
Get a personalised estimate for your home
Answer a few quick questions and get a clear, honest answer — plus cost estimates and installer quotes.
The freeholder question
If you own a leasehold flat, you'll almost certainly need written permission from the freeholder or management company to install a heat pump. This covers both the outdoor unit placement and any changes to the building's exterior. Start this conversation early — it can take weeks or months to get approval.
Where to put the outdoor unit
Ground floor flats with a patio or garden: put it in the garden, similar to a house. Upper floor flats: the unit can sometimes be wall-mounted on a bracket, similar to an air conditioning unit. Balconies can work but check structural loading. Shared communal areas need agreement from all residents.
Shared heating systems
Some flats share a communal heating system. In this case, individual heat pumps don't make sense — instead, the whole building would need a communal heat pump system. This is a bigger project that needs the freeholder to lead. If you have your own individual boiler, you can more easily switch to an individual heat pump.
Costs and practicalities
A heat pump for a flat typically costs £8,000–£12,000 before the grant. The BUS grant applies to flats too, so £500–£4,500 after the grant. However, additional costs for brackets, longer pipe runs, and planning applications can add £1,000–£3,000. The smaller size of most flats means a smaller, cheaper heat pump is usually sufficient.
How we calculate estimates
Our estimates use published data from the Energy Saving Trust, Ofgem tariff caps, and MCS installer pricing. We model savings based on your home size, insulation level, and current heating system. All figures are indicative — your actual costs will depend on your installer's survey and quote.