Selling a house with a heat pump: what do you arrange as a seller?

If you plan to sell a house with a heat pump, you hold a strong card, but you also have a few extra tasks. A buyer wants to know what type of unit is installed, how old it is, whether it has been serviced and what it uses. The better you answer those questions in advance, the less doubt there will be during viewings. In this article we go through what you arrange as a seller. You can read about the effect on your energy score in our article on heat pumps and the EPC score.

Is the heat pump included in the sale?

A heat pump that is permanently connected to the home, with pipes to the underfloor heating or radiators and its own electrical connection, as a rule belongs to the property. It is then part of the sale price and you cannot simply take it with you. That applies to an air-to-water heat pump with an outdoor unit just as much as to a ground-source heat pump with boreholes in the garden.

For a standalone air conditioning unit or a mobile air-to-air heat pump, it is less clear-cut. If in doubt, put it in black and white in the sale agreement. State which appliances stay in the home and in what condition they are handed over. That way you avoid discussion at the provisional handover, and the notary knows exactly what is being sold.

If you rent or lease the heat pump through an energy supplier or a specialist company, the unit is not your property. In that case, read the contract. Some contracts allow a transfer to the buyer, others have to be ended or bought out. Discuss this early with the buyer and mention it in the sale agreement.

Which documents should you gather for the buyer?

A heat pump is a technical installation, and buyers want to see proof. A complete file builds trust and saves you a lot of phone calls. Ideally gather the following:

• the installation invoice, with the date, brand, type and capacity;
• the manual and the installer's details;
• the warranty terms and the remaining warranty period;
• the service log or the service reports;
• where applicable, the reports of the refrigerant leak tightness checks;
• for a ground-source heat pump, the borehole details;
• your consumption data for the past few years.

Also check whether the warranty is transferable. With many manufacturers the warranty stays with the unit, sometimes on condition that servicing was carried out correctly. This is stated in the warranty terms, or you can ask the installer.

Servicing, refrigerant and inspections

A heat pump works with a refrigerant. Depending on the type and the amount of refrigerant, a periodic leak check by a certified refrigeration technician applies. The exact rules depend on the region and on the installation. Check the official information from your region for this, in Flanders the Departement Omgeving. If you have the reports of those checks, add them to the file.

Separately from the heat pump, an inspection of the electrical installation is mandatory when you sell a home. A heat pump often has its own circuit and sometimes a separate connection. Let the inspector know there is a heat pump, so that part of the installation is checked too. An inspection with remarks is not a disaster, but a buyer would rather see a compliant report.

If the last service was a long time ago, book a service before the sale. A recent service report is simple proof that the unit works well and costs you little compared with the value of the home.

What is a heat pump worth when you sell?

A heat pump does not automatically raise the sale price by the amount you paid for it. A buyer pays for what the installation gives them: a better EPC score, lower energy costs and no need for a new boiler. How much that weighs depends on the home itself. In a well-insulated home with underfloor heating, a heat pump performs far better than in an older home with small radiators.

Age also plays a role. A two-year-old unit with remaining warranty weighs differently from a fifteen-year-old installation that will soon need replacing. An agent who knows the local market can estimate how much buyers in your region are willing to pay for a home with a low energy bill. A free valuation gives you a first idea of the value of your home, including the installation.

If you received a grant for the heat pump, check the conditions. Grants are usually personal and tied to the applicant. Whether a sale affects a grant you already received is set out in the conditions of that grant. In Flanders you will find this information at Mijn VerbouwPremie.

How do you present the heat pump in the listing?

Mention the heat pump clearly, but stick to the facts. State what type it is, the year the installation was put in, how the home is heated and whether it also produces hot water. If you combine the heat pump with solar panels or a home battery, mention that as well. For those installations, read our article on selling a home with solar panels.

Avoid promises about savings you cannot prove. Actual consumption figures from the past few years tell a buyer more than a general claim. Also be honest about where the unit is and whether the outdoor unit can be heard. Buyers notice this during a viewing anyway, and openness prevents discussions afterwards.

An experienced agent knows how to market an energy-efficient home and which buyers respond to it. Through ImmoMakelaarVergelijker.be you can compare agents who are active in your area.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my heat pump with me when I sell my house?

A heat pump that is permanently connected to the home as a rule belongs to the house and is included in the sale price. If you want to take or exclude a unit, this must be stated explicitly in the sale agreement.

Does the heat pump warranty pass to the buyer?

With many manufacturers the warranty stays with the unit, often on condition that it was serviced. The warranty terms or the installer can confirm this.

Do I need to have my heat pump inspected before selling?

A separate inspection of the heat pump is not a general requirement when selling, but an inspection of the electrical installation is. Depending on the refrigerant, a periodic leak check may apply. A recent service report reassures a buyer.

Does a heat pump increase the sale price?

A heat pump can raise the value through a better EPC score and lower energy costs, but not automatically by its purchase price. Age, condition and the insulation of the home determine how much a buyer will pay for it.

Selling well prepared

A heat pump makes your home more attractive to buyers who watch their energy bill. With clear agreements in the sale agreement, a complete technical file and an honest presentation in the listing, you get the most out of it. ImmoMakelaarVergelijker.be puts you in touch with up to three BIV-recognised agents from your region, free and without obligation. Compare agents in your area and choose who will sell your home best.