Greater London · Heat pump installation
Chelsea air source heat pumps
For MCS certified installation of air source heat pumps for heating and hot water, with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant applied for in Chelsea, choose an F-Gas certified, NICEIC approved company. A fixed price before work begins, and a 24/7 emergency line.
- Planning and permitted development questions
- Checking eligibility for a heat pump grant
- Working out where a cylinder could go
How we handle air source heat pumps in Chelsea
Many air source heat pumps can be installed as permitted development in England, without a planning application. The conditions include an outdoor unit of no more than 1.5 m³ and compliance with MCS 020(a), and the unit cannot be used solely for cooling or sit within the curtilage of a listed building. We check the rules for your property as part of the survey. If the problem is not knowing whether a grant applies and working out whether radiators need upsizing, we can sort it out.
For flats in Chelsea, the lease, the freeholder and the rules for flats all come into it. Permitted development limits are different for flats, and we check before designing.
Looking after a system is mostly common sense: keep the outdoor unit clear, follow the manufacturer’s guidance on cleaning and book a service at the interval they recommend. That also helps where the warranty terms ask for regular servicing.
- Location
- Chelsea (SW3, SW10, SW1X, SW1W)
- Region
- Greater London
- Costs
- Air-to-water £8,000–£16,000 before any grant (0% VAT for homes)
- Quotes
- Fixed after a survey or photos
- Accreditations
- NICEIC and F-Gas, MCS
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Checked
- 30 October 2026
When to call us in Chelsea
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has made people ask whether their home could qualify. Whether you can get the grant depends on your home and the scheme conditions, so we check before you commit.
Look out for any of the following:
- Checking emitters for a heat pump
- Ageing boilers that will need replacing
- Deciding which kind of heat pump suits the home
Period properties close to Former Welsh Congregational Church can suit a heat pump, though insulation and any heritage protection are checked first.
Before booking anyone
- What paperwork you’ll receive afterwards
- If the quote is based on a survey, pictures or a diagnosis
- Whether they hold F-Gas company certification, not just individual qualifications
What air conditioning won’t do
We’ll always give you a straight diagnosis, so here’s what air source heat pumps won’t do:
- Improving the building’s insulation
- Gas boiler work, such as disconnecting the old boiler, which needs a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Promising eligibility for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us a line and we will say what we think.
Parts of the system we cover
- Underfloor heating
- Hot water cylinders
- Homes heated by oil, LPG or gas
- Air-to-air heat pumps
- Radiator systems
- Air-to-water heat pumps
Towns and villages near Chelsea
Also in Chelsea
Air source heat pumps around Chelsea
About 68% of homes in Chelsea and the neighbourhoods around it were built before 1919, according to VOA council tax data, and the 2021 Census found about 76% of households live in flats. Period properties can still suit a heat pump, but the design has to start from accurate heat loss figures. Flats are often harder for air-to-water systems, so we look at whether air-to-air suits better. London homes can be short of space for an outdoor unit and cylinder, which affects the choice of heat pump.
Carlyle's House, roughly 0.4 miles south-west, is a reminder to check your home’s listing status: permitted development does not cover listed buildings.
Chelsea is about 2 miles south-east of Kensington, in Greater London. From the centre of Chelsea to the outskirts, our engineers cover air source heat pumps, from small jobs to large ones. Our list for Greater London has 764 entries and Chelsea is among them.
Not far from Chelsea, a recent job of ours was on East Hill, Wandsworth (SW18), about 3 miles south-west: installing a Daikin wall-mounted unit in the open-plan living area.
Markham Square, Wellington Square and Tedworth Square and the roads off them are all inside our area. Chelsea sits on or near the B302 and B304, which makes travel easy. We also cover the places around Chelsea: Brompton (1 mile north), South Kensington (1 mile west), Little Chelsea (1 mile south-west), Belgravia (1 mile north-east) and World's End (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include London (3 miles east), St Pancras (3 miles north-east), Shoreditch (5 miles north-east) and Walthamstow (9 miles north-east).
What’s near Chelsea
We fit and service air conditioning in homes and premises around Burton’s Court, St Thomas More RC Language College and Markham Arms Public House, among other places. Other local landmarks include Natural History Museum Library and Archives (0.7 miles north-west) and Hellenic College of London (0.5 miles north). For rail, the closest station is London Victoria station, about 1 mile north-east. Well-known places in the area include Baynard's Castle (3.2 miles north-east) and Harrods (0.7 miles north). Not far away are Campden Hill and Battersea Park Lake.
Why it’s worth doing now in Chelsea
Choosing between air-to-water and air-to-air is easier with the facts. Air-to-water heats radiators and hot water, and can attract a £7,500 grant where eligible; air-to-air heats and cools rooms, and only qualifies for £2,500 under strict conditions. We explain which makes sense for you. Consents in London blocks can take time, which is another reason to plan the job in Chelsea early.
No two properties are the same, so we price each one individually. The equipment, how we reach it, the route between units and the work needed all play a part.
Why us?
- F-Gas company certification
- Clear warranty information from the manufacturer
- MCS certified for heat pumps
- Covering London and the South East
Take a look at how installs are priced or how to check a contractor.
Common questions in Chelsea
Can I fit a heat pump in Chelsea without planning permission?
It depends on the property. The centre of Chelsea is in the Chelsea Conservation Area. The permitted development rules for heat pumps leave out listed buildings and stop outdoor units going on road-facing walls or roofs in conservation areas. Anything outside the rules needs an application, and we raise it with the planning department at Kensington and Chelsea council, typically the authority for Chelsea first.
Can you fit air conditioning in a London flat in Chelsea?
In many cases, yes, once the lease and the building’s rules are checked. Permitted development rules for flats are tighter than for houses, so we check the outdoor unit position and give you the details to send to the freeholder or managing agent.
Can we book visits on a schedule?
Yes. We offer maintenance contracts, set at the interval the system and the manufacturer’s terms need. Each visit is recorded, with F-Gas records where refrigerant work is involved.
Do you work on commercial properties?
Yes. We work for homeowners, landlords, letting and managing agents, and businesses of every size across London and the South East. Tell us who should receive the paperwork.
Do you cover Chelsea?
Yes. We work across Greater London, Surrey, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex, Chelsea included.
How quickly will you reply?
We reply to enquiries the same working day. If it’s an emergency, ring the 24/7 line instead.
Which brands do you work with?
The main ones, including Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Toshiba, LG, Samsung, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hitachi. For a new system, we suggest the make and model that suit the property and tell you why.
The process
Every visit follows the same order: agree the plan on site, protect the area, do the work, test what we’ve done and explain it all to you. The visit itself takes several days for an air-to-water system with a new cylinder, less for an air-to-air system. Let us know who controls access to the building in Chelsea, as that saves time on the day.
- We start with your plans and the property.
- We survey for heat loss and look at radiators, cylinder space and outdoor unit options.
- You get our view on the right type for the house, and on whether the Boiler Upgrade Scheme applies.
- Installation follows on the agreed dates.
- After commissioning, you get the MCS certificate and a handover.
How to prepare
- Let us know where the consumer unit is
- Tell us about parking and loading
- Mention any roof access, ladders or high-level work
How to get a quote
For air source heat pumps in Chelsea, phone us on 07833 053749. Tell us what kind of property it is and what you’d like done, and send a few photos if you can. We reply the same working day.
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From one of our customers
“Very professional from the initial survey through to installation. The engineer explained everything clearly and the quote was exactly what we paid. Would not hesitate to recommend AirCon Doctor.”
David W., Haywards Heath