The useful commercial point is simple: air-to-air is no longer just a future standards conversation. It is now a live grant route for eligible residential jobs.
That does not make air-to-air the same as a wet air source heat pump. It changes the net price discussion, but the survey still has to answer a different set of site questions.
What is confirmed
| Point | Current position | Why installers should care |
|---|---|---|
| Grant value | GOV.UK lists £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump. | Customers will ask whether the grant applies. The quote needs to separate the grant from the actual install scope. |
| Effective date | The approved grant categories and values are effective from 28 April 2026. | Use the date when checking whether the job belongs under the v5 route. |
| Scheme route | BUS remains installer-led. The installer applies and the grant is shown as an upfront discount. | The homeowner does not simply claim cash. The installer needs a compliant application and job record. |
| Hybrid systems | GOV.UK says hybrid heat pump systems are not eligible for a grant. | Do not let a mixed heating conversation turn into an eligibility promise until the system route is clear. |
What this changes for quotes
The £2,500 grant makes air-to-air easier to talk about because there is now a clear public number. It also means more customers will compare air-to-air against wet ASHP systems, electric heating, and partial-room upgrades.
That comparison can be useful, but only if the survey keeps the job honest. Air-to-air costs move with the number of indoor units, refrigerant routes, outdoor-unit siting, condensate route, electrical work, access and making-good.
If those details are missing, the grant can make the first quote look attractive while hiding the real installation work.
What still needs a survey
- Room use, room size, glazing and obvious heat-loss context.
- Indoor unit positions, airflow concerns and customer expectations by room.
- Outdoor-unit location, access, clearances and likely noise-sensitive boundaries.
- Refrigerant line routes, wall penetrations and condensate routes.
- Consumer unit, isolator position, cable route and any obvious electrical constraints.
- Current heating setup, any retained heat source, and whether the proposed route is replacing the existing system.
For the practical quoting route, use the air-to-air grant checklist for installers. If the customer asks for an "air conditioning grant", use the air conditioning grant UK explainer.
Installer checklist
| Before saying yes | What to check |
|---|---|
| Grant route | Confirm the proposed system is actually an eligible air-to-air route, not a hybrid or a partial heating arrangement being described loosely. |
| Customer promise | Make the quote clear that the grant is an upfront discount on eligible work, not a payment to the customer. |
| Site record | Capture enough room, electrical, siting and route evidence for the office to price the job without guessing. |
| Design responsibility | Keep the survey record separate from final design sign-off. The survey should give the designer the facts, not replace their judgement. |
This is the kind of policy change that creates enquiries quickly. The teams that benefit will be the ones who can answer the grant question, then move straight into a proper site check.