Which? responded on 12 February 2026 to what it describes as record-breaking numbers of new heat pump installations, saying the increase is encouraging while setting out the barriers it says remain for households. The consumer body's statement was issued by Sue Davies, its Head of Consumer Rights Policy1.
Davies said the rise in installations so far this year was welcome, but pointed to the organisation's own research on what stops households from making the change. The statement cites high upfront costs and a lack of consumer confidence in the technologies as among the biggest barriers1.
"In order to continue to support the transition to heat pumps and solar panels, the government needs to make sure the upfront costs of these technologies are more affordable and that people have access to good quality independent advice and reliable installers."
Which? also called for a plan on consumer protection, describing its absence from the Warm Homes Plan as a concerning omission and referring to the track record of government-backed heating schemes such as ECO41.
The statement does not give the installation figures behind the "record-breaking" description, and no breakdown by nation, technology or scheme is included. The specific upfront cost figures, the number of installations recorded and the period covered have not been reported in the statement1. Which? also does not set out what a strengthened consumer protection regime would contain, beyond calling for a concrete plan1.
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up a heat pump, the statement points to two practical questions: what the installation costs before any support is applied, and who carries out the work. Which? identifies upfront cost as a barrier and calls for independent advice and reliable installers, which speaks to the point at which a household decides whether to proceed and who it trusts to do the job1.
Consumer protection is the other strand. Which? links its concern to the Warm Homes Plan and to ECO4, a government-backed scheme it describes as having a dismal track record. For households, the strength of the complaint and redress route matters if work is poor, delayed or mis-sold, and that is the gap Which? says has not been addressed1.
Energy independence at home rests on the fabric and the heating system of the property, and on whether a household can fund and trust the work. The statement does not assess how much a heat pump reduces a given home's reliance on imported gas, and no such figures are given1.
What happens next
Which? has called on the government to make upfront costs more affordable, to ensure access to good quality independent advice and reliable installers, and to prioritise a concrete plan for strengthening consumer protection1. No timetable, consultation or legislative step is set out in the statement, and no government response to it has been reported1.