Which? has called on the government to provide more support for greener home heating, as its new research shows cost and other barriers are putting people off making the switch.
Which? said its annual sustainability tracker found a range of barriers deterring households from buying heat pumps and electric vehicles (EVs), from cost to low awareness and insufficient information about heat pumps, to concerns about availability and reliability of the UK’s EV charging network.
The company’s survey revealed that 71% of homeowners who knew what heat pumps were said they were too expensive for them to install. This figure has remained static, it cited, despite the government increasing the grant available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in 2023.
The median price for installing an air source heat pump is just under £13,000, according to data collected from installers under the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). With a grant, the overall cost can be lowered by £7,500. The average cost of installing a standard combi boiler is £2,597 based on all models on Which?’s website. The cost of installing a heat pump varies based on the heat source and any additional changes that are required to the heating system and insulation.
Which? also found that 2% of homeowners own a heat pump and 55% of homeowners are aware of what they are. Of those, 54% said that they would not consider installing one.
Heat pump ownership is rising but from a low base, it added. The data showed that from January to July 2024, more than 30,000 heat pumps were installed in homes and small businesses across the UK, which is a 45% increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to MCS.
The research found that younger homeowners are considerably more likely than older ones to have installed a heat pump or seriously considering making the switch.
Among those who do not have a heat pump installed, 18 to 34 year olds are three times more likely to definitely consider installing one. This is 15% compared to 5% of over 55 year olds.
In the recent Budget, the government allocated £3.4bn to the Warm Homes Plan, including £1.8bn to support fuel poverty schemes. The government described this as an ‘initial’ commitment. It also introduced tax incentives to encourage people to buy electric vehicles.
Which? is now calling on the government to support consumers in the transition from gas and oil heating to electrified heating, such as heat pumps. The company said that the government’s Warm Homes Plan must include measures to support consumers with the high upfront costs of installing a heat pump, through new financial products that make the transition more affordable and direct support for low income families.