Heat Pump Installers Glasgow: MCS Certified

Heat pumps are easiest in houses with gardens, and Glasgow has fewer of those than anywhere else in Scotland. Only 31% of households live in a house, and just 5.1% in a detached one. So most heat pump projects in the city are either in the suburbs or in flats where owners have agreed a spot for the unit.

Glasgow at a glance

Homes that are flats: 68.5% of Glasgow households live in a flat, maisonette or apartment, the highest share of any Scottish council area (34.4% nationally). Detached houses are just 5.1%. Source
How homes are heated: 75.3% of Glasgow households use mains gas central heating and 12.6% electric (about 37,100 homes). 3.3% have no central heating and 1.1% use a district or communal network. Oil heats 183 households. Source
Age of homes: Only 57% of Glasgow dwellings were built after 1945, joint lowest with Edinburgh (72% across Scotland). Source
Heat pump grant: Home Energy Scotland offers homeowners up to £7,500 in grant towards a heat pump plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not cover Scotland. Source
Energy ratings: 65% of homes in Glasgow were rated EPC A, B or C (SAP 2012) in 2022 to 2024, so about 35% were D or below. The Scottish average was 55%. Source

Tenements and blocks

An outdoor unit for a tenement flat usually goes in the back court or on a rear wall bracket. Back courts are often common property, so you need the other owners' agreement. Under the Tenement Management Scheme, a majority decision can cover some common works, but check the title deeds first.

If you are a council or housing association tenant, any change to the heating system comes through your landlord.

Planning

Scottish permitted development covers one air source heat pump on a house or flat, protruding no more than 1 metre and meeting the MCS planning standard. In a conservation area the unit must be at ground floor level on the back of the building. Listed buildings need permission.

Funding

Home Energy Scotland offers owner-occupiers up to £7,500 in grant and an optional £7,500 interest-free loan towards a heat pump. Insulation can be funded too. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland.

Apply before you sign a contract, because Home Energy Scotland funding is allocated first come, first served in each financial year.

Glasgow homes and what they need

Sandstone tenement flats

Thick sandstone walls and big bay windows mean high heat loss. Expect larger radiators and a careful survey, and look at secondary glazing and floor insulation first.

Four-in-a-block and cottage flats

Each flat usually has its own garden or door, which makes siting easier than in a tenement. Agree the spot with the neighbour who shares the wall.

Suburban semis and bungalows

The best fit in Glasgow: gardens, cavity walls and space for a cylinder. Fill the cavity and top up the loft before the survey.

Areas covered

Engineers who cover Glasgow work across areas including Partick, Dennistoun, Shawlands, Hyndland, Govan, Maryhill, Pollokshields, Cathcart, Bearsden and Rutherglen.

View Glasgow on Google Maps

Questions people in Glasgow ask

Can I get the grant if I live in a flat?

Yes, if you own and live in it and the system is suitable. The practical hurdles are siting and neighbours' consent, not eligibility.

What about electric heating?

About 37,000 Glasgow homes use electric heating. Swapping storage heaters for a heat pump can cut running costs sharply, and our heat pump cost guide shows how.

Sources

Also nearby: Heat pump installation in Edinburgh, Heat pump installation in Dundee

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