Heat Pump Installers Portsmouth: MCS Certified

Portsmouth's housing is mostly terraced, and most terraces have small rear yards. That is the main practical question for a heat pump here: finding a spot for the outdoor unit that meets planning and noise limits and still has airflow around it.

Portsmouth at a glance

Terraced housing: 43.4% of Portsmouth households (37,361) lived in a terraced house in 2021. Only 4.5% lived in a detached house. Source
Flats: 26.5% of households lived in a purpose-built block and 6.3% in a converted or shared house, about 35% in flats of all kinds. Source
How homes are heated: 75.8% of households heat with mains gas only and 11.5% with electricity only. Oil-only heating was recorded in just 32 homes, and 2.4% (2,091) had no central heating. Source
Local grant: Portsmouth City Council leads a Warm Homes: Local Grant consortium of councils across the South East with £34,807,254 of funding. The scheme runs as Warmer Homes, delivered by Agility Eco. Source
Energy ratings: About 50% of homes with an EPC in Portsmouth are rated band D or below (median score 69, band C), against 47% across England. Based on certificates lodged in the 10 years to March 2025. Source

Paying for it

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme takes £7,500 off an air or ground source heat pump, with no income limit. Your MCS installer claims it.

On lower incomes, Warmer Homes, the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme that Portsmouth City Council leads, can fund heat pumps and insulation in homes rated EPC D to G. It is currently oversubscribed with a waiting list.

Fitting one to a terrace

Most air source heat pumps on houses are permitted development if they meet the Planning Portal's size and siting conditions. Many Southsea streets are in conservation areas, where a unit facing the road usually needs permission; the rear yard is the normal position.

Noise matters with neighbours a few metres away. The installer should check the sound level at the nearest window as part of the MCS design.

What the survey covers

A room-by-room heat loss calculation, radiator sizes, the cylinder location and the electrical supply. Solid-walled terraces often need some larger radiators to run at the low flow temperatures heat pumps prefer. Our air source heat pumps guide explains why.

Portsmouth homes and what they need

Victorian and Edwardian terraces

A cylinder needs a cupboard about the size of an old airing cupboard. In a two-up two-down, that often means losing some bathroom or landing space.

Converted houses and purpose-built flats

Flats are hard: the unit needs a wall, balcony or roof, and the freeholder's consent. Communal systems are better handled by the building owner.

1930s semis on the mainland side

Side and rear gardens give plenty of options for the outdoor unit. Many semis already have cavity walls that can be filled, bringing the heat loss down.

Areas covered

Engineers who cover Portsmouth work across areas including Southsea, Fratton, North End, Copnor, Milton, Eastney, Hilsea, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington.

View Portsmouth on Google Maps

Questions people in Portsmouth ask

Does the sea air affect heat pumps?

Units close to the shore in Southsea and Eastney can corrode faster. Ask about coastal-rated units or protective coatings.

What does a heat pump cost?

Our heat pump cost guide gives national figures before and after the grant.

Will my electricity supply cope?

Most homes can take a heat pump on their existing supply, but the installer must notify the network operator, SSEN in this area, and occasionally the fuse or cable needs upgrading first.

Sources

Also nearby: Heat pump installation in Southampton, Heat pump installation in Brighton, Heat pump installation in Bournemouth

All heat pump installation locations →