Air conditioning for period and listed homes across Edinburgh and the Lothians
If your home in Edinburgh is Victorian, Edwardian or older, a console or concealed system often works better than a high wall unit. If your Edinburgh home is listed or in a conservation area, consent comes first and we provide what the council needs to see. Mild Scottish summers mean cooling matters most in conservatories, lofts and rooms with large windows.
Prices in Edinburgh and the Lothians
For Edinburgh and the Lothians, expect roughly £1,495 to £7,295 per home, one room upwards, VAT included, adjusted for typical Central and Southern Scotland rates. Labour rates in Central and Southern Scotland keep this slightly under the national middle. The biggest variables are the pipe route, access for the outdoor unit and the state of the consumer unit, all of which the survey settles. On our Central and Southern Scotland figures, the Concealed option (ducted unit from a loft or void serving one or two rooms) is about £3,145–£4,995.
Console
Low-level console in place of a radiator, rear outdoor unit.
Concealed
Ducted unit from a loft or void serving one or two rooms.
Mixed
Consoles downstairs and ducted upstairs on one system.
Guide prices show VAT at 20%. HMRC treats most fixed air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps installed in homes as energy-saving materials, zero-rated until 31 March 2027 when we supply and fit them. If your installation qualifies, your quote shows 0% VAT and a lower price. Servicing, repairs, cleaning and controls are charged at 20%.
Listed building consent
Listed homes in Edinburgh and the Lothians need listed building consent from the council before any work, and permitted development does not apply to them. We plan low-impact routes, keep outdoor units out of sight and provide the details a consent application needs. Scotland has its own permitted development rules for heat pumps and outdoor units, with stricter treatment of listed buildings and conservation areas. We check the current position for your property with you and, if needed, with the council.
The survey
A survey in Edinburgh and the Lothians usually takes one to two hours. We measure the rooms, check the walls and the consumer unit, agree the outdoor unit position with you and photograph the pipe routes. At the survey we look at how each room is used, where the sun hits it and how the pipes can reach the outside wall, then put it all in a written quote.
What is included
Included with air conditioning for period and listed homes across Edinburgh and the Lothians:
- Pressure test, vacuum and commissioning
- Free survey with features and fabric recorded
- Drawings and product data for consent applications
- Work started only once consent is in place
- Console or concealed ducted options
- Careful routes that avoid cornicing and panelling
Towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Pick your town for local details, or see every service in Edinburgh and the Lothians.