E12000009 · England

Heat pumps in North Devon: cost + BUS grant

By Jim FellLast updated:

TL;DR

  • BUS grant of £7,500 toward an air-source heat pump applies in North Devon (England).
  • Median EPC band across 32,536 local properties: D.
  • 54% of homes sit at band D or below — typical retrofit candidates.
  • Top property band in North Devon: D (33%).
  • MCS-certified installer required for a binding heat-loss quote.

What the EPC data shows for North Devon

We’ve aggregated the current Energy Performance Certificate band for 32,536 properties in North Devon, drawn live from the GOV.UK EPC Register. The median home in our sample sits at band D, with 33% falling into band D and 29% in band C. Around 54% of homes are at band D or below — the cohort with the most realistic retrofit upside.

EPC band distribution across 32,536 properties in North Devon
BandPropertiesShareRetrofit context
Band A5701.8%Already exceptional; heat pump replaces fossil heat directly
Band B4,93615.2%Strong fabric; heat-pump-ready after minor checks
Band C9,39228.9%Typical retrofit candidate; small upgrades likely
Band D10,70432.9%Insulation prerequisites likely; well-suited post-upgrade
Band E4,94915.2%Insulation recommendations typically required for BUS
Band F1,4234.4%Significant fabric improvements before heat pump fit
Band G5621.7%Fabric-first retrofit before any heat-pump consideration
EPC band distribution across 32,536 properties in North DevonSource: GOV.UK EPC Register. Sample collected 2026-05-14.

The typical North Devon home

What the EPC data shows beyond the headline rating — useful context for sizing a heat-pump install.

  • Floor area: median 85 (25th–75th percentile: 65118 m²). Heat-pump sizing scales roughly with floor area — expect a 5–8 kW unit at the median.
  • Current heating cost: median £643/yr 389– £1,074 typical range). The number an installer’s running-cost saving projection sits against.
  • Mains gas connection: 66% of properties. Mixed grid: heat-pump payback runs much shorter for the off-grid minority (oil / LPG).
  • Property type mix: Detached 40%, End-Terrace 12%, Mid-Terrace 21%, Semi-Detached 23%.
  • Dominant age band: England and Wales: before 1900 (20% of homes). Sets the fabric-first work expected before commissioning.

Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme apply in North Devon?

Yes. North Devon is in England, where the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) pays £7,500 toward an air-source heat pump install. The grant is administered by Ofgem and deducted by the installer at the point of invoice — you never see the cash. To qualify, the property must be owner-occupied or privately rented, have a valid EPC issued in the last 10 years, and have no outstanding loft-or-cavity insulation recommendation on the EPC (unless an exemption is documented). In our sample of North Devon EPCs the median rating is band D, which means most homes need to clear at least one insulation recommendation before the installer can claim the grant.

Typical install cost in North Devon

Pre-grant install costs in North Devon typically run £8,000 to £14,000 for a 5–10 kW air-source unit, in line with UK averages — labour rates in E12000009 sit close to the national mean. After the £7,500 BUS deduction most North Devonhomeowners pay £1,500 to £6,500 out of pocket. The figure within that range that applies to your property depends on three things: heat-loss sizing (set by floor area, fabric and air-tightness), radiator upgrades (most pre-2000s homes need at least one or two changed), and hot-water cylinder provision. An MCS-certified engineer issues the binding quote after a heat-loss calculation per BS EN 12831.

What this means for your home

Whether a heat pump is a good fit for your specific home in North Devondepends on three factors the EPC alone can’t answer: roof + outdoor space for the external unit, radiator sizing throughout the heating circuit, and your current heating fuel + tariff. Propertoasty’s free pre-survey check combines your address, an EPC pull, the Google Solar API’s roof data, and a floorplan vision analysis to produce an installer-ready report — typically takes about five minutes.

Run a free pre-survey check on your home — installer-ready report, BUS-eligibility verdict, sizing range, and a list of MCS-certified installers covering North Devon.

Typical monthly heating cost in North Devon

Based on the median North Devon home in our EPC sample — a detached house around 85 m² — here’s what the two options look like on a like-for-like monthly total. Boiler numbers assume a £4,150 installed cost on 9.9% APR / 5-year finance plus a typical £20/mo service plan. Heat-pump numbers apply the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant and 0% APR / 10-year finance on the net cost of £6,500.

Monthly heating cost for a typical 85m² detached house in North Devon
LineNew gas boilerAir-source heat pump
Finance£88/mo£54/mo
Energy£102/mo£115/mo
Service / cover£20/moNot required
Total per month£210/mo£169/mo
Monthly heating cost for a typical 85m² detached house in North DevonIllustrative — engine defaults for UK gas (7p/kWh + standing charge) and standard-tariff electricity (27p/kWh). Cheaper heat-pump tariffs push the saving further.

At today’s standard tariffs, that’s about £41/mo cheaper with the heat pump — roughly £492 a year. The gap grows on a dedicated heat-pump tariff (e.g. Octopus Cosy at 15p/kWh) and as gas prices rise relative to electricity across the 10-year finance term.

How North Devon compares

Compared with the England + Wales average band-D share of roughly 45%, North Devon’s 33% sits below the national midpoint. Bands E and worse — typical pre-1930s homes without significant retrofit — make up 21% of the local sample, which compares to the E&W average of around 22%.

Heat pump cost by property size

Typical heat pump sizes for a home in North Devon, with UK average install costs from government figures. The right-hand column shows what you actually pay after the £7,500 grant is deducted.

Home sizeYearly usageSystem sizeFull priceWhat you pay after grant
1-bed / flat≈8,000 kWh heat / yr5 kW ASHP£9,500£2,000
2-3 bed≈12,000 kWh heat / yr7 kW ASHP£12,500£5,000
4-5 bed≈18,000 kWh heat / yr11 kW ASHP£15,500£8,000

These are UK-wide averages — your actual quote will vary with your roof, insulation, and installer. A guide only; your installer’s final quote will differ.

Also in North Devon

Every service page below is generated from the same local EPC + MCS-installer data as this one — pick whichever matches what you’re researching:

Sources

  1. GOV.UK — Boiler Upgrade Scheme — accessed May 2026
  2. Ofgem — Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance — accessed May 2026
  3. MCS — Find an installer — accessed May 2026
  4. GOV.UK — Find an energy certificate (EPC Register) — accessed May 2026
  5. Ofgem — Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) — accessed May 2026

EPC aggregate data contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (© Crown copyright and database right).