Richmond and Twickenham are both in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The council’s conservation areas page maps more than seventy of them, including Richmond Green, Richmond Hill, Central Richmond, Twickenham Riverside and Twickenham Green. Add leasehold flats and London parking, and the price of air conditioning here often depends as much on preparation as on the equipment.
Start with the prices, then work through the checklist.
Our prices (+ VAT)
| Installation | Price |
|---|---|
| Single room split system | £1,200–£2,200 |
| Two-room multi-split | £2,800–£4,500 |
| Three to five rooms | £4,500–£8,500 |
| Air-to-water heat pump | £8,000–£16,000 before grant |
Included: equipment, installation, commissioning and F-Gas documentation. Annual service £95–£150; repair diagnosis from £75. Commercial and VRF systems are priced after survey.
Checklist 1: is your home in a conservation area?
Look it up on the council’s conservation areas map. If it is, an outdoor unit on a wall or roof facing a road isn’t permitted development, and you may need permission for a visible position. Where an Article 4 direction applies, it can remove permitted development rights altogether. A rear garden, a basement lightwell or a hidden flat roof are the usual answers. If the building is listed, you’ll also need listed building consent; see our listed building guide.
Checklist 2: who owns the outside walls?
For a leasehold flat, it’s usually the landlord or a management company. You’ll normally need written consent to fix an outdoor unit or run pipes, and the lease may set out a process and fees. Managing agents sometimes ask for a drawing, the unit’s noise data and our insurance details. We can supply those. Our leasehold consent guide explains what to send. This is general information, not legal advice.
Flats have their own planning limits too: the permitted development size for a heat pump on a flat is 0.6 m³, and other conditions apply.
Checklist 3: where will the outdoor unit go?
Distance is cost. The further the outdoor unit sits from the indoor unit, the more pipework, trunking and time the job needs. Noise matters as well: under MCS 020(a), the noise check is part of the permitted development test. Our outdoor unit guide covers the options and how to keep neighbours happy.
Want it done properly? AirCon Doctor installs, repairs and services air conditioning and heat pumps across London and the South East, from our base in East Grinstead. We’re an F-Gas certified company and NICEIC approved. Get a fixed-price quote.
Checklist 4: parking and access
Many London streets have controlled parking. Tell us where we can park, whether you can get a visitor permit, and about stairs, lifts and narrow side passages. That lets us plan the day properly and price it accurately.
Checklist 5: electrics
The system needs its own circuit. Check whether your consumer unit has a spare way. If not, an upgrade will show on the quote as a separate line. As an NICEIC approved firm, we fit and certify the circuit.
The national planning rules
The Planning Portal treats an air source heat pump on a house as permitted development when its outdoor unit is no more than 1.5 m³, it complies with MCS 020(a), it isn’t used only for cooling, it’s not on a pitched roof and it’s at least 1 m from the edge of a flat roof. Air-to-air heat pumps have been covered since 2025. A cooling-only unit is not, so check with the council.
Grants and VAT
In London, as in the rest of England, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump that replaces fossil-fuel heating and meets the full heating demand, or £7,500 for air-to-water. It can’t be fitted as an add-on to a boiler. HMRC’s Notice 708/6 zero-rates qualifying heat pumps in homes until 31 March 2027, then 5%. We confirm the VAT on your quote. This is general guidance, not tax advice.
See the Richmond and Twickenham local pages and our London air conditioning page.
Quick answers
Can I fit air conditioning in a Richmond Hill flat?
Often yes, with the building owner’s consent and a suitable position for the outdoor unit. Richmond Hill is a conservation area, so a position facing the road would need permission.
Which council handles planning in Twickenham?
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, which covers both Richmond and Twickenham.
Can you work on a house in Richmond with a basement?
Yes. A lightwell or rear garden can work for the outdoor unit, subject to the planning rules. We check the route and noise on the survey.
Does the landlord’s consent cost extra?
Your lease decides that, not us. Some landlords charge a fee for a licence.
Is Twickenham Riverside a conservation area?
Yes, it is one of the borough’s conservation areas.
Related services
More advice
- Air Conditioning in a Leasehold Flat: Getting Consent
- Air Conditioning for Apartments and Flats: Complete Guide
- Air Conditioning Cost in Wimbledon and Kingston: 2026 Price Guide
- Air Conditioning Installation in a Listed Building: Complete Guide
- All advice
This guide is general information, checked against the sources linked on 30 October 2026. It isn’t legal, tax or financial advice. Rules, grants and product ranges change, so check the current position before you rely on it.