Octopus Energy vs Aira vs Local Installer — Which Is Best for London?

Three Ways to Get a Heat Pump in London

If you are thinking about switching from a gas boiler to an air source heat pump, you have more options than ever in 2026. Broadly, those options fall into three camps: national budget providers like Octopus Energy, national premium brands like Aira, and local M&E specialists like Electromatic.

Each route involves trade-offs. National providers benefit from scale — they can negotiate lower hardware costs and offer streamlined online journeys. Budget nationals, in particular, keep prices low by manufacturing their own equipment and limiting the scope of each job. Premium nationals add longer warranties and subscription-style financing, but that convenience comes at a higher monthly cost. Local specialists, on the other hand, flex around the realities of your specific property — combining heat pump installation with solar panels, electrical upgrades and plumbing under a single contract, and responding faster when something needs adjusting.

There is no single “best” answer. The right choice depends on your budget, the complexity of your property, how much additional work you need done, and how much you value having a local point of contact. This page lays out the facts so you can decide for yourself.

Head-to-Head Comparison

All competitor prices are approximate, based on publicly available data at time of writing. Actual quotes may vary.

Octopus Energy: The Budget National

Octopus Energy has become the most talked-about name in domestic heat pumps, and the reason is simple: price. By manufacturing their own Cosy heat pump in-house, Octopus has cut out a layer of margin that most installers cannot avoid. After the £7,500 BUS grant (subject to eligibility), a typical Octopus installation comes in between £2,500 and £5,000 — comfortably the cheapest option on the market for a straightforward heat pump swap.

The trade-off is scope. Octopus focuses on the heat pump itself: the outdoor unit, the indoor controller, the connection to your existing heating circuit, and the removal of your old gas boiler. If you also need solar panels, a consumer unit upgrade, new circuits for an EV charger, or any non-standard plumbing, those are separate jobs with separate contractors. The 7-year warranty is solid but shorter than what premium providers now offer. Lead times sit at four to eight weeks, which is standard for a national operation but longer than what a small local firm can often manage.

Best for: Homeowners on a tight budget who need a simple boiler-to-heat-pump swap in a relatively modern, well-insulated property — and who do not mind coordinating other trades themselves.

Aira: The Premium National

Aira positions itself as the “everything handled” heat pump brand. Founded in Sweden and now operating across the UK, Aira designs its own heat pump hardware, offers a 15-year warranty — the longest in the mainstream market — and wraps the whole thing in an optional subscription model at £62.50 per month. For homeowners who dislike large upfront costs, that monthly payment can be attractive.

The premium positioning comes with a premium price. After the BUS grant (subject to eligibility), expect to pay between £4,000 and £7,000 for a heat pump installation, or more if you add solar panels as an optional extra. Aira’s solar offering exists but is treated as a bolt-on rather than a fully integrated M&E package, meaning the solar and heat pump systems may not be designed as a single energy solution from the outset. The 4.4 Trustpilot rating is strong, though slightly below Octopus, and reflects the fact that Aira is still scaling its UK operations.

Best for: Homeowners who want a long warranty, prefer monthly payments to a lump sum, and are happy with a national provider managing the project from survey to commissioning — even if the price is higher than budget alternatives.

Electromatic: The Local Specialist

Electromatic M&E Ltd is a multi-discipline mechanical and electrical contractor based in the TW postcode area, covering London, Surrey and the surrounding Home Counties. Unlike national providers who specialise in the heat pump alone, Electromatic handles the full scope of work that a heat pump installation often requires: the heat pump itself, solar PV panels, consumer unit upgrades, new circuits, gas boiler decommissioning (Gas Safe registered), and any associated plumbing — all under one contract and one point of accountability.

That combined M&E capability matters more than it might seem. In many London and suburban properties, fitting a heat pump is not a standalone job. You may need a new electrical supply, a relocated meter, trunking work to satisfy UKPN requirements, or a solar array designed to offset the heat pump’s electricity consumption. With a national provider, each of those tasks means another contractor, another schedule, and another invoice. With a local specialist, a single team surveys the whole picture and delivers a coordinated solution.

Being local also means faster response times — a typical turnaround of two to four weeks from survey to commissioning — and a team that knows the housing stock, the local DNO requirements, and the planning quirks of specific London boroughs and Surrey districts. There is no subscription model; you pay for the work, claim your BUS grant (subject to eligibility) (Electromatic handles the paperwork), and own the system outright from day one.

Best for: Homeowners in London, Surrey or the TW area who need more than just a heat pump — especially those combining solar panels with a heat pump, or whose property needs electrical or plumbing upgrades as part of the installation.

When to Choose Each

Choose Octopus Energy If…

• Your budget is tight and you want the lowest possible upfront cost after the BUS grant (subject to eligibility).
• Your property is relatively modern with good insulation and a straightforward heating layout.
• You only need the heat pump itself — no solar, no major electrical work, no complex plumbing.
• You are comfortable waiting four to eight weeks for installation.
• You are happy dealing with a national call centre for aftercare.

Choose Aira If…

• A 15-year warranty is important to you and worth paying extra for.
• You prefer a monthly subscription (£62.50/mo) rather than a large upfront payment.
• You want a premium, design-led product and do not mind paying for it.
• You may want solar panels later and like the idea of adding them through the same provider.
• You are comfortable with a slightly higher price point for a more comprehensive service package.

Choose a Local Installer Like Electromatic If…

• You need a combined heat pump and solar installation designed as one integrated system.
• Your property requires electrical upgrades (consumer unit, new circuits, meter relocation) alongside the heat pump.
• You want a single contractor responsible for heating, electrical and plumbing — no juggling multiple trades.
• You live in London, Surrey or the TW area and want a team that knows local housing stock and DNO requirements.
• A fast turnaround (two to four weeks) matters to you.
• You prefer to own the system outright with no ongoing subscription fees.
• You want someone local you can call directly if something needs adjusting.

The Bottom Line

There is no universally “best” way to get a heat pump installed in London. Octopus Energy is genuinely hard to beat on price — if your home is straightforward and all you need is a heat pump, their in-house manufacturing model delivers real savings. Aira offers the longest warranty on the market and a subscription model that removes the upfront cost barrier, which suits certain homeowners very well. And a local specialist like Electromatic fills the gap that neither national can easily cover: the property that needs solar panels, electrical work and a heat pump designed as a single, coordinated system — delivered by one team that knows your area.

Our honest advice: get quotes from at least two of the three categories above. Compare the total scope of work, not just the heat pump price. The cheapest heat pump quote is not always the cheapest project once you add up all the trades you will need. And the most expensive quote might include everything in one package, saving you time, stress and the hidden costs of coordinating multiple contractors.

How Electromatic Can Help

Electromatic M&E Ltd offers free home surveys across London and Surrey. We install ASHP and solar PV within 2–4 weeks, handle all BUS Grant paperwork (subject to eligibility), and carry out all work under MCS certification via our accredited umbrella partner.

Book your free home survey →

Call us: 07718 059 284 | Email: admin@electromatic.uk

FAQ

How much does a heat pump cost in London in 2026?

After the £7,500 BUS grant (subject to eligibility), prices range from around £2,500 with a budget national provider like Octopus Energy to £9,000 or more with a local specialist who includes additional work. If you combine a heat pump with solar panels, expect a total project cost of £8,000 to £16,000 after the grant. The exact price depends on the size of your property, the complexity of the installation, and how much ancillary work (electrical upgrades, plumbing modifications) is needed.

Is the BUS grant (subject to eligibility) still available in 2026?

Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) continues to offer £7,500 towards the cost of an air source heat pump for eligible properties in England and Wales. All three providers listed on this page — Octopus Energy, Aira and Electromatic — handle the BUS grant (subject to eligibility) application on your behalf. You must have a valid EPC and be replacing a fossil fuel heating system to qualify.

Can I get solar panels and a heat pump installed together?

Octopus Energy does not currently offer solar panel installation alongside their heat pump service. Aira offers solar as an optional add-on, though it is treated as a separate product. Electromatic installs both as part of a combined M&E package, designing the solar array and heat pump to work together as an integrated energy system. If combining the two is important to you, a local multi-trade installer is usually the most efficient route.

What warranty should I expect on a heat pump?

Warranties vary significantly. Octopus Energy offers 7 years, which is above the industry average. Aira leads with 15 years, the longest standard warranty in the UK market. Local installers like Electromatic typically pass through the manufacturer’s warranty (5 to 12 years depending on the brand) and add their own workmanship guarantee on top. A longer warranty is valuable, but check what it covers — some warranties exclude ancillary components like controls, valves and circulating pumps.

Do I need to upgrade my electrics for a heat pump?

Many properties do. A heat pump draws significantly more electrical current than a gas boiler, and older consumer units may not have the capacity or the correct protection devices. In some cases, you may also need a new supply from your distribution network operator (DNO). National providers will flag this during their survey but will not carry out the electrical work themselves — you will need a separate electrician. A local M&E firm like Electromatic can handle both the heat pump and the electrical upgrades in one visit, which avoids scheduling delays and ensures the systems are designed together.

How long does a heat pump installation take?

The installation itself typically takes one to three days on site. However, the total timeline from initial survey to commissioning varies: national providers like Octopus and Aira usually quote four to eight weeks, reflecting their scheduling queues. A local installer can often complete the process in two to four weeks, especially for straightforward installations. If your project involves solar panels or electrical upgrades, allow extra time for DNO applications and any necessary planning permissions.

The information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute financial, legal, or technical advice. Energy savings estimates are based on typical UK household data from the Energy Saving Trust and Ofgem (April 2026 price cap). Actual savings depend on your property type, insulation levels, energy usage patterns, and electricity tariff. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant of £7,500 is subject to eligibility criteria set by Ofgem — not all properties qualify. Electromatic M&E Ltd operates under MCS certification via an accredited umbrella partner. All installations comply with Building Regulations Part L and MCS standards. E&OE.

Written by Electromatic M&E Ltd — ASHP & Solar installer, London & Surrey (electromatic.uk)

Last updated: April 2026 | Electromatic M&E Ltd, Company No. 13837345