Sutton and Epsom sit either side of the boundary between Greater London and Surrey. Sutton is run by the London Borough of Sutton. Epsom is in Epsom and Ewell Borough, which is due to join the new East Surrey Council on 1 April 2027. This guide sets out our prices, then compares the two sides of the line.
What it costs
Installation prices, + VAT, including equipment, fitting, commissioning and F-Gas documentation:
- single room: £1,200–£2,200
- two rooms on one outdoor unit: £2,800–£4,500
- three to five rooms: £4,500–£8,500
An annual service is £95–£150 + VAT and a repair visit starts at £75 + VAT. Air-to-water heat pumps are £8,000–£16,000, with 0% VAT on homes at present and before the £7,500 grant. Commercial systems are priced after a survey.
Sutton: London practicalities
On the Sutton side, two things come up often in London jobs. First, flats: if you’re a leaseholder, you’ll normally need the landlord’s written consent before an outdoor unit goes on an outside wall or roof, and the planning limit for a heat pump on a flat is 0.6 m³. Second, parking: let us know about controlled parking, permits and access at the survey stage so we can plan the day.
Sutton has several conservation areas, including the Sutton Town Centre High Street Crossroads area and Sutton Garden Suburb. In a conservation area, an outdoor unit facing a road isn’t permitted development. The council’s planning guidance explains how applications work. See our leasehold consent guide; general information, not legal advice.
Epsom: Surrey rules, same national test
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council lists 21 conservation areas, including Epsom Town Centre, Church Street, Woodcote, Stamford Green and the Hospital Cluster areas such as Horton and Long Grove. The same conservation area rule applies: no outdoor unit on a wall or roof that faces a road under permitted development. Listed buildings need listed building consent.
Epsom and Ewell will become part of the new East Surrey Council from 1 April 2027, according to the Surrey reorganisation hub. Until then, the borough council deals with planning.
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Businesses on both sides
For shops, clinics and offices in Sutton or Epsom, we look at the ceiling (cassette and ducted units need a void), where outdoor plant can go, landlord rules and when we can work. Larger systems need regular F-Gas leak checks, and systems over 12 kW may need TM44 inspections; our TM44 guide explains. We quote after a survey, and business installations pay standard-rate VAT.
Side by side
| Sutton | Epsom | |
|---|---|---|
| Council | London Borough of Sutton | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council (East Surrey Council from 1 April 2027) |
| National permitted development rules | The same in both | |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme | Available in both (England and Wales) | |
| Our price bands | The same in both | |
What pushes a price up or down
On either side of the line: a ground-level outdoor unit close to the room is cheapest. Prices rise with long or awkward pipe runs, high wall positions that need access equipment, solid walls, condensate pumps, and consumer unit upgrades. For businesses, ceiling type, landlord rules and working hours all count. Each item is listed on the quote.
Planning, grants and VAT
The Planning Portal explains the national rules: a heat pump on a house can be permitted development if the outdoor unit is no more than 1.5 m³, it meets MCS 020(a), it isn’t only for cooling and it’s not on a pitched roof. Air-to-air heat pumps have been included since 2025. Cooling-only units need a check with the council.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £2,500 for an air-to-air heat pump, provided it takes over the property’s whole heating load from fossil fuel, or £7,500 for air-to-water. It isn’t available for a unit added alongside 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.
Local pages: Sutton and Epsom.
Quick answers
Is air conditioning more expensive in Sutton because it’s in London?
Our price bands are the same. London jobs sometimes need more planning for parking and access, which we cover at the survey.
Who handles planning in Epsom after April 2027?
The new East Surrey Council. Until then, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
Do I need the landlord’s consent in a Sutton flat?
Usually yes, for anything fixed outside the flat or on shared parts. Check your lease and ask in writing.
Is Epsom Town Centre a conservation area?
Yes, it is one of the 21 conservation areas listed by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
Related services
More advice
- Air Conditioning Cost in Croydon: 2026 Price Guide
- Air Conditioning Cost in Wimbledon and Kingston: 2026 Price Guide
- Air Conditioning in a Leasehold Flat: Getting Consent
- Air Conditioning Cost in Dorking and Leatherhead: 2026 Price 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.