How much does MVHR cost in London?

There is no single price for MVHR: the cost depends on the size of the home, how the ducts can be routed and whether the system goes in during other building work. As a guide, MyJobQuote's UK cost guide (updated 8 October 2026) puts a typical installation at £3,500 to £12,000, with an average of about £6,900, and notes that labour in London and the South East is usually above the national average. Fitting MVHR while an extension, a loft conversion or a renovation has the ceilings and floors open is generally simpler than retrofitting it into a finished house.

By Przemyslaw Smolarczyk Published 10 November 2026 5 minutes read

Galvanised ventilation ducts running up a wall in a building under construction

Key facts

A published UK range for an MVHR installation is £3,500 to £12,000, average about £6,900 (MyJobQuote, updated 8 October 2026).

London labour rates are usually higher than the UK average.

The biggest variables are the size of the home, the duct routes and how much making good is needed.

MVHR is not on HMRC's list of energy-saving materials that get the zero rate of VAT.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers heat pumps and biomass boilers, not MVHR.

Running costs come mainly from two fans that run all the time and from replacement filters.

What do published cost guides say?

Cost guides give ranges, not quotes, and they rarely say exactly what is included. The figures below are from MyJobQuote's UK guide, updated on 8 October 2026. They are national figures, so expect London prices towards the upper end.

Published MVHR cost ranges, UK (MyJobQuote, updated 8 October 2026)
Item	Range
1–2 bed flat, installed	£3,500–£5,000
3–4 bed semi-detached house, installed	£5,000–£8,000
4–5+ bed detached house, installed	£8,000–£12,000
Heat recovery unit (counterflow)	£1,000–£4,200
System design	£450–£700
Installation labour	£1,000–£4,000
Commissioning	£400–£800
Annual service	£100–£300
Replacement filters	£15–£120

The same guide puts installation at 2 to 5 days and says new builds are usually more straightforward, with less labour, than retrofits in older homes.

What affects the price of MVHR?

The size of the home and the number of wet rooms. More rooms mean more valves, more duct and a larger unit.
The unit. Air flow capacity, heat recovery efficiency, controls, frost protection and the brand all change the price.
The duct routes. Long or awkward routes, and the choice between rigid and semi-rigid ducting, affect both materials and labour.
Retrofit or building work. In a finished house, ducts have to be hidden in boxing, lofts and floor voids, followed by making good and redecoration. During an extension or loft conversion much of that disappears.
Fire-stopping. Ducts through fire-resisting floors, as in a loft conversion, need fire-stopping.
Airtightness. MVHR only pays off in an airtight home, so a draughty house may need sealing work as well.
Access in London. Parking, deliveries and working in a terraced house can add time.

Is MVHR cheaper in a new extension or loft conversion?

Usually, because the ceilings and floors are open and the ducts can go in before they are closed. The unit can be planned into the eaves of a loft conversion or a cupboard in the extension, and the duct routes can be drawn on the plans rather than found later. The cost of MVHR on its own is then mostly the unit, the ducts, the valves, the design and the commissioning, without the making good of a retrofit.

What about VAT?

HMRC's VAT Notice 708/6 lists the energy-saving materials that get the zero rate of VAT in Great Britain until 31 March 2027, such as insulation, draught stripping and heat pumps. MVHR is not on that list, so ask your installer how VAT applies to your quote.

Is there a grant for MVHR?

Not through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which helps with heat pumps and biomass boilers that replace fossil fuel heating. If you are planning a heat pump at the same time, see The Boiler Upgrade Scheme explained.

How much does MVHR cost to run?

The running cost comes from two fans that run all the time and from replacement filters. How much electricity the fans use depends on the unit and on the duct design: short, smooth, correctly sized ducts let them run at low power. Compare units by the specific fan power the manufacturer publishes, and include filter changes in your sums.

How do you compare MVHR quotes?

A quote you can compare should state:

the design: air flow rates for each room and where the valves and unit will go;
the unit model, with its heat recovery efficiency and specific fan power;
the type and route of the ducting, and any boxing or making good;
fire-stopping, the condensate drain and the electrical connection;
commissioning with measured air flows, and the information you will receive to operate and maintain the system, as Approved Document F expects;
what is excluded, and how VAT applies.

Frequently asked questions

Why do MVHR prices vary so much?

Because the unit is only part of the job. The duct routes, the making good and whether the work happens during other building work can change the total more than the choice of unit.

Does MVHR cost less in a flat?

Usually, because a flat has fewer rooms and shorter duct runs. Check the lease first: new outside terminals may need the freeholder's consent.

Can I add MVHR later?

Yes, but it costs more once ceilings and floors are finished. If you are building an extension or a loft conversion now, plan the duct routes and the unit position even if you fit the system later.

How can GONT LTD help?

GONT LTD is a London building company that installs MVHR heat recovery ventilation in existing homes and as part of a house extension or loft conversion. We manage the whole process, from planning permission to building control sign-off. We do not publish a price list; we offer a free consultation and a free quote for your home: call +44 7783 930505 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), email info@gont.co.uk, visit our showroom at 9 Royal Parade, Dawes Road, Fulham, or tell us about your project on our contact page. To understand the system first, read How does MVHR work?

Sources

Cost figures are third-party estimates for the UK, quoted with their date; they are not GONT LTD prices. Checked on 10 November 2026.