Boiler vs Heat Pump in Norwich: Should I Switch?

The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme has changed the maths. For the first time, swapping a gas boiler for an air source heat pump can cost a Norwich homeowner less than replacing the boiler like-for-like. Whether you should actually do it depends on your house, your habits, and your budget for the years 2027 and beyond.

This is the honest comparison. We install both. We don't favour one over the other — we favour the right answer for your specific property.

What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a UK government grant launched in 2022, extended in 2024, and currently running through 2028. It pays:

• £7,500 towards an air source heat pump replacing a gas, oil, or LPG boiler
• £7,500 towards a ground source heat pump (same eligibility)
• £5,000 towards a biomass boiler (rural off-gas properties only)

The grant is paid to the MCS-certified installer, who deducts it from the installation cost. You don't claim it yourself — you pay the post-grant price directly.

The headline cost comparison

	New gas boiler	Air source heat pump
Equipment + install (Norwich, 2026)	£2,400 – £4,500	£8,000 – £14,000
BUS grant	— none —	£7,500 deducted
Out of pocket	£2,400 – £4,500	£500 – £6,500
Annual running cost (avg Norwich 3-bed)	~£1,400/yr gas	~£700/yr electricity
Lifespan	10-15 years	15-25 years
10-year total cost (capital + running)	~£17,000	~£10,500

On paper, the heat pump wins comfortably over a 10-year horizon. The challenge is the gap between "on paper" and "in your specific Norwich house". The running-cost figures depend heavily on insulation, radiator sizing, and electricity tariff — all of which can shift the maths.

When a heat pump is the right answer

The "hidden" costs of heat pump installation

The £7,500 grant offsets the heat pump unit cost. What it doesn't cover are the changes most older properties need to make heat pumps work well:

Radiator upgrades (£800-£3,000)

Heat pumps run at lower flow temperatures than gas boilers (typically 45-55°C vs 65-80°C). That means radiators need more surface area to deliver the same heat output. Most Norwich homes need 30-60% of radiators upsized — usually the ones in coldest rooms and bedrooms.

If your radiators are already oversized (e.g. a previous owner over-specced them), you may need no upgrades at all. The pre-installation survey will tell you.

Hot water cylinder (£600-£1,200)

Heat pumps store hot water in a cylinder rather than producing it on demand. If you currently have a combi boiler with no cylinder, you'll need new cupboard space — typically an airing cupboard footprint of about 60cm × 60cm × 180cm. Most homes can accommodate this, but it's a real spatial change.

Insulation upgrades (£500-£8,000)

Heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes. If you have uninsulated cavity walls, an MCS installer may decline to install at all — or recommend you insulate first. Cavity wall insulation in Norwich runs £500-£1,000 typically. Solid wall insulation is much more (£5,000-£15,000) and changes your house's exterior or interior finish.

The realistic running cost difference

Mainstream press numbers are based on average UK properties on average tariffs. Norwich specifics:

• Gas heating, 3-bed semi: Typically £1,200-£1,600/year on the UK price cap (April 2026 rates)
• Heat pump, same property, standard electricity tariff: £900-£1,200/year (saves ~25%)
• Heat pump on Octopus Cosy or similar: £500-£800/year (saves ~50-60%)

The tariff matters more than most installers tell you. Heat-pump-specific tariffs offer cheap electricity in off-peak hours (typically 04:00-07:00 and 13:00-16:00) when the pump can preheat the cylinder and the home. Standard tariffs don't, so the heat pump runs more expensively than it should.

Disruption and timeline

Gas boiler like-for-like swap in Norwich: 1-2 days on site. Heating off for 4-8 hours during the changeover.

Heat pump installation: 2-4 days on site, sometimes 5-7 if radiator upgrades are extensive. Outdoor groundwork for the unit base. Indoor cylinder installation. Pipework reroutes. New thermostat and controls.

For most homeowners, a heat pump installation is comparable to a kitchen refurb in disruption — significant but manageable, with a clear endpoint. Plan for a holiday or work-from-elsewhere week if possible.

Property value impact

EPC ratings affect Norwich property valuations and rental yields. A heat pump typically lifts an EPC by 1-2 bands (D to B is common in well-insulated homes). For owner-occupiers planning to stay, this is a long-term store of value rather than an immediate gain. For landlords, the MEES regulations (proposed C-rating minimum for rentals from 2028 onwards, though deadlines have shifted multiple times) make heat-pump-readiness a real factor in future rentability.

Our honest recommendation

For most Norwich homeowners in 2026:

• Old gas boiler that just died: like-for-like swap (~£2,400-£3,500). You'll get 10-12 more years on the gas system, by which time the heat pump market will be more mature and the BUS may be replaced by something better
• Considering a renovation/extension anyway: seriously consider heat pump while everything is open. Radiator upgrades and cylinder relocation are far cheaper alongside other work
• Well-insulated home, planning to stay long-term: heat pump. The maths is genuinely good
• Solid-wall Victorian terrace with mixed insulation: gas boiler now, plan for insulation + heat pump in 7-10 years
• Selling within 3 years: gas boiler. Heat pumps don't yet add full installation cost to a property value

We'll quote both — gas and heat pump — for any Norwich enquiry and tell you which one we'd recommend for your specific property. If we'd recommend the gas option, we say so even though the heat pump install is the bigger ticket.