Heat Pump Installers Leicester: MCS Air Source

Leicester's housing makes heat pumps a mixed picture. Semis and newer estates often have the garden space and insulation that make an air source system straightforward. The city's large stock of pre-1919 terraces, about a quarter of all homes, needs more thought, because solid brick walls lose heat quickly and back yards can be tight.

None of that rules a heat pump out. It means the survey matters more than the brochure.

Leicester at a glance

Age of homes: 26% of homes in Leicester were built before 1919, and 20% before 1900, according to the Valuation Office Agency's March 2024 count. Source
House types: 29.2% of Leicester households live in a terraced house, 36.4% in a semi, 11.4% in a detached house and about 23% in a flat or maisonette. Source
How homes are heated: 74.0% of Leicester households heat with mains gas only and 11.0% with electricity only. 1.9% are on a communal or district heat network and 1.9% have no central heating. Only 49 households use oil alone. Source
Local grant: Leicester City Council was awarded £4,507,699 of Warm Homes: Local Grant funding for privately owned homes rated EPC D to G, aimed at households with income under £36,000. Source
Energy ratings: About 57% of homes with an EPC in Leicester are rated band D or below (median score 67, band D), against 47% across England. Based on certificates lodged in the 10 years to March 2025. Source

Start with heat loss

An MCS installer must calculate the heat loss room by room. In a solid-walled terrace, expect some radiators to be upsized and the flow temperature to be set lower than a gas boiler's. Loft insulation and draught-proofing first can shrink the unit you need.

You will also need space for a hot water cylinder. A terrace that switched to a combi years ago may need a cupboard found again.

Where the outdoor unit goes

On a house, an air source unit is usually permitted development if it is under 1.5 cubic metres and sits at least a metre from the boundary. In a conservation area it cannot face a road, and listed buildings need consent. If your street is in one of Leicester's conservation areas, check with the city council before you commit.

In a small yard, the one-metre rule is often the sticking point. Ask the installer to mark the position on a plan.

Grants

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 towards an air or ground source heat pump, with no income test. Leicester City Council also holds Warm Homes: Local Grant funding for lower-income households in homes rated EPC D to G, which can include heat pumps. Before grants, typical prices are in our heat pump cost guide.

Heat pumps by house type

Red-brick Victorian terraces

The yard is usually the only spot for the outdoor unit. Bay-fronted terraces lose a lot of heat through the bay, so insulating it and fitting heavier curtains can cut the size of heat pump you need.

Interwar and postwar semis

The side passage or back garden gives room for the unit, and filled cavities keep heat loss modest. These are often the easiest Leicester homes to convert.

Estates built from the 1990s onwards

Good insulation and modern radiators mean fewer upgrades, but small gardens and close neighbours make noise placement important.

Areas covered

Engineers who cover Leicester work across areas including Clarendon Park, Stoneygate, Knighton, Belgrave, Evington, Aylestone, Braunstone, Oadby, Wigston and Birstall.

View Leicester on Google Maps

Questions people in Leicester ask

Will a heat pump work in a Leicester terrace?

Usually, if the heat loss is worked out properly and the radiators and insulation are up to the job. A good installer will tell you if your house needs work first.

I live in a flat. Can I have one?

Possibly, but you will need the freeholder's permission and a place for the outdoor unit. Around 23% of Leicester households live in flats, and many will find it easier to wait for a shared scheme.

Sources

Also nearby: Heat pump installation in Nottingham, Heat pump installation in Coventry, Heat pump installation in Northampton, Heat pump installation in Derby

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