A Rated HomesDRAFT · info only

Rules, costs and installer questions

How it fits together

Fabric first: insulation, draughts, ventilation.
Heat pump (monobloc, R290) for UFH downstairs and hot water.
AC upstairs for heating and cooling.
Solar, battery, EV on a smart tariff.

The rules (Oct 2026)

No gas boiler ban in existing homes.
Grant: £7,500 heat pump, £2,500 air-to-air. One per property. (GOV.UK)
0% VAT until 31 Mar 2027, then 5%.
New homes need a heat pump and solar from 24 Mar 2027.
Outdoor units: max 1.5m³ incl. housing. Detached: 2. Others: 1.
Landlords: EPC C by 1 Oct 2030, £10,000 cap.
New EPCs: second half of 2027. [Verify the exact launch month]
Plug-in solar: up to 800W, since 27 Aug 2026.
ECO4 ends 31 Dec 2026.

The Budget on 28 Oct 2026 may change this.

Order of works

Assessment and heat-loss survey (MCS).
Repairs and damp.
Insulation and ventilation.
Electrics and supply upgrade.
Heat pump and emitters.
Solar and battery.
EV charger.
Smart meter and tariff.
Timeline [Indicative]: weeks to months; network and planning approvals cause most delays.
Battery: outdoors, never in lofts or escape routes (PAS 63100).
Network notification: G98 after, G99 before. [Verify: the 16A per phase (about 3.68kW) G98 limit]
Gas cap-off ends the standing charge. [Verify: process and fee vary by network]
Shower heat recovery (WWHRS): optional. [Verify: get product performance data before recommending]

Upkeep

Heat pump service yearly. [Verify against each manufacturer's warranty terms]
MVHR filters (if fitted) every 6–12 months. [Verify]
Check outdoor units are clear of leaves and snow.

Costs

Heat pump: median £12,908, ~£5,400 after grant.
Solar: ~£1,780/kW.
Powerwall 3: ~£7,400–£8,000 installed.
Everything else: compare prices from at least two MCS installers.

Installer red flags

Sized "same as your boiler", no heat-loss survey.
Pressure to sign today; cash only.
No MCS or F-gas certification.
Batteries in lofts or under stairs.

Questions to ask your installer

Is an assessment and EPC included?
Do repairs or damp need fixing first?
What insulation and ventilation comes first?
Is the supply big enough? Who tells the network operator?
Is the heat pump sized from a room-by-room heat-loss survey?
Are outdoor units within limits, with the noise check passed?
Who applies for the grant?
Where will the battery go (outdoors)? Is the EV charger 7kW?
Which smart meter and tariff suit the system?
Which certificates (MCS, electrical) will be handed over?

Real-world notes

[Placeholder: notes from one real install (Vaillant aroTHERM heat pump, Panasonic AC, solar on FiT, Octopus tariff), in neutral third person. Add real bills and COP.]

← All home types