Hive · London
Hive Installation in London
Updated
A Hive heating system usually has three parts: a battery thermostat, a mains receiver that replaces your old programmer near the boiler, and a Hive Hub at your router for the app, which is often bought separately. A vetted local pro on Jack All Trades (JACK) fits and pairs all three on a day you choose, for a fixed price you see before you book.
In short
Yes. Jack All Trades (JACK) books vetted local pros in London to install Hive heating controls: the Hive Thermostat and Thermostat Mini, the receiver that takes the place of your old programmer, the Hive Hub and Hive Radiator Valves. JACK pros work at the wall, on the controls wiring you already have. Connecting anything inside the boiler itself needs a Gas Safe engineer. You see a fixed price in the JACK app before you book.
Send a photo of your boiler, your current programmer or thermostat and the Hive kit you bought. A pro prices the job from those photos, swaps the receiver in where your old controls are, tests that the boiler fires and switches off again, and sets up the thermostat and the app with you before leaving.
The guides below cover each Hive device, the boilers it works with and the one question that comes up on every Hive job: who is allowed to fit it.
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Start a JACK request
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Start the request here, then add extra photos or videos from the JACK app if the pro needs more detail.
Vetted local pros
Fixed price before you book
Insured pros are shown first
You pick the time
Hive devices by type
Pick the kind of Hive device for what the installation involves, what it connects to and what to send before booking.
Hive thermostat installation
The Hive Thermostat, the Thermostat Mini and older Hive thermostats: fitted, placed well and paired.
Hive receiver and hub installation
Single channel, dual channel and OpenTherm receivers, and the Hive Hub that runs the app.
Hive radiator valve fitting
Smart radiator heads for room-by-room control: adaptors matched, paired and scheduled.
Hive multizone installation
A Hive thermostat and receiver for each existing heating zone, wired, paired and labelled.
What a Hive installation involves
Hive's own installation guide runs in six steps: connect the hub, mount the receiver, wire the receiver, test the boiler, set up the thermostat and hand over to the customer. On a JACK booking that looks like this:
- Receiver: Hive's guide says an existing single-zone timer or wireless receiver is removed completely and the Hive receiver wired in its place. It runs on mains power and Hive says it must be supplied from a switched fused spur fitted with a 3 A fuse
- Old wired thermostat: taken out of the circuit at the wall or wiring centre and its cables made safe, because Hive's thermostat replaces it. If it can only be disconnected inside the boiler, that part is Gas Safe work
- Boiler test: heating (and hot water, on a cylinder system) switched on from the receiver to check the boiler fires, then off again to check it stops
- Thermostat: battery powered, fixed to an inside wall about 1.5 m from the floor or set on Hive's stand, away from radiators and direct sun
- Hive Hub: plugged into your broadband router so the app works. Without a hub, Hive says the kit runs in stand-alone mode as an ordinary wireless thermostat
- Handover: you sign in to the Hive app, and the pro walks you through the schedule, boost and holiday settings
Do you need a Gas Safe engineer to install Hive?
Not for the work at the wall. The Health and Safety Executive's code of practice on gas safety (L56) says the removal or replacement of electric thermostats and on/off timer switches is not covered by the gas safety rules where no gasway (the gas-carrying parts) is broken into. The line is the boiler itself:
- JACK pros do: the thermostat, the hub, radiator valves, and a receiver that replaces an existing programmer, timer or receiver on the wiring already there, including at an external wiring centre, where no connection inside the boiler is needed
- Needs a Gas Safe engineer: anything that means opening the boiler or connecting at its own terminals, including OpenTherm. If your boiler has no external controls wired to it yet, that first connection is boiler work. JACK treats all of this as Gas Safe work, because boiler makers such as Worcester Bosch restrict fitting controls to the boiler to gas engineers
- Needs an electrician: a new circuit from the fuse board, or electrical work around a bath or shower. Replacing controls on an existing circuit is not notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations in England, but it must still be done safely under Part P and should follow the wiring regulations (BS 7671)
- Needs a G3-qualified installer: any change to the thermostat, cut-out or valve on an unvented (pressurised) hot water cylinder
Your photos show which case you are in. If part of the job needs a Gas Safe engineer, the pro will say so rather than price it.
Who can install Hive: the full guideBought Hive with installation, or without?
Hive sells its own professional installation as an option at checkout, and its booking page also takes thermostats bought from other shops. Hive says it does not offer that installation on oil boilers. JACK is another way to get the Hive jobs around it done:
- A Hive Thermostat or Thermostat Mini bought without installation, from Hive or another shop
- Hive Radiator Valves added room by room, and the hub they need
- Moving a thermostat to a better room, or a receiver to a better spot on the existing wiring
- An old Hive thermostat swapped for a new one, or a replacement Hive Hub set up and paired
- Hive controls on a vented hot water cylinder, swapped at the programmer or wiring centre
- A thermostat for each extra zone, where the zone valves are already plumbed in
Before you book: what to send
Five photos and two answers let a pro price the job properly first time:
- The boiler, plus the label showing its make and model (usually under the front or inside a flap)
- Your current programmer, timer or receiver, and your current room thermostat
- The hot water cylinder and any label on it, if you have one: vented or unvented matters
- The fused spur or switch next to the boiler or programmer
- The Hive kit you have, or your order: which thermostat, whether it came with a hub, and whether the receiver is single or dual channel
- Where your broadband router is, and whether the boiler is in a cupboard, loft or garage
Which Hive jobs a JACK pro does, and which need someone else
Every Hive job falls into one of these rows. The first column is the job, the second says whether a JACK pro does it, and the third says what to know.
| Job | JACK pro? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Hive Thermostat or Thermostat Mini on a wall or stand | Yes | Battery powered; paired to the receiver and set up in the app |
| Receiver in place of an existing programmer, timer or receiver | Yes, on the existing wiring | Hive specifies a switched fused spur with a 3 A fuse; the boiler is tested before the pro leaves |
| Old wired room thermostat taken out of the circuit | Yes, at the wall or wiring centre | Hive says it is disconnected in the wiring centre or boiler; inside the boiler is Gas Safe work |
| Hot water on a vented cylinder (dual channel receiver) | Yes, at the programmer or wiring centre | S-plan and Y-plan systems are wired through a wiring centre |
| Hive Hub at your router | Yes | Plugs into the router; needed for the app and for radiator valves |
| Hive Radiator Valves on existing radiator valves | Yes | Screw-on heads; older on/off valves have to be replaced first |
| New fused spur from an existing circuit, outside a bathroom | Yes, by a pro who does electrical work | A new circuit from the fuse board is a job for a registered electrician |
| Wiring at the boiler's own terminals, including OpenTherm | No: needs a Gas Safe engineer | JACK policy, in line with boiler makers' instructions; includes a first connection on a boiler with no external controls and any change between OpenTherm and relay |
| Any controls on an unvented (pressurised) cylinder | No: needs a G3-qualified installer | The thermostat, cut-out and valve on these cylinders are safety devices |
| Replacing radiator valve bodies | Booked separately as plumbing | The system has to be drained and refilled |
| Oil boilers | Not on this booking | Hive recommends an OFTEC-qualified engineer for oil boilers |
Based on the HSE gas safety code of practice (L56), Part P of the Building Regulations in England, and Hive's installation guides, as checked on 31 October 2026.
Every Hive product guide
One guide per model: what it connects to, what the pro does at the wall, what needs a Gas Safe engineer and what to send before you book.
| Product | Type | What the guide covers |
|---|---|---|
| Thermostat | Thermostats | The current Hive Thermostat with the dial: receiver wired in, boiler tested, thermostat placed and paired. |
| Thermostat Mini | Thermostats | Hive's dial-free thermostat: receiver fitted, Mini placed and paired, schedules set up in the app. |
| Active Heating 2 | Thermostats | Older Hive thermostats (SLT3, SLT3b, wired SLT5): moved, refitted, re-paired or upgraded. |
| Single Channel Receiver | Receivers and hubs | The combi-boiler receiver (SLR1): fitted, replaced or moved on the existing wiring. |
| Dual Channel Receiver | Receivers and hubs | Heating and hot water on cylinder systems (SLR2): wired at the programmer or wiring centre. |
| OpenTherm Receiver | Receivers and hubs | The OTR1 receiver: relay mode on existing wiring, and when OpenTherm needs a Gas Safe engineer. |
| Hub | Receivers and hubs | The Hive Hub (Nano 3): placed for range, connected, and paired with every Hive device. |
| Radiator Valve | Radiator valves | Hive's smart radiator head: adaptor matched, fitted on the existing valve and paired. |
| Multizone Kit | Multizone | An extra Hive thermostat and receiver for an existing zone: wired, paired and labelled. |
How Hive installation is priced
A vetted pro prices your job from photos of the boiler, your existing controls and the Hive kit, and the JACK app shows you that fixed price before you book.
Where the wiring already is matters more than the device. A receiver that goes where an old programmer was, on the same wiring, is the simplest job. Hot water on a cylinder, an old wired thermostat to take out of the circuit, a receiver that has to move, or several zones each add time. A photo of the boiler, the old controls and anything labelled near the hot water cylinder lets the pro price what is really there.
Several devices go on one booking for one price: the thermostat, the hub, and Hive Radiator Valves for each room. Other jobs, such as a smart doorbell, can go on the same visit. Where parking has to be paid for, it is added at cost and agreed before you book.
Prefer to pay for the pro's time? Hourly hire works too: as a guide, smart home installation is typically £45–£95 per hour.
How it works
Step 1
Share your boiler and controls
Add photos of the boiler (including the label with its make and model), your current programmer or thermostat, and the Hive kit you have. Say whether you have a hot water cylinder and where your broadband router is.
Step 2
See the price, pick a slot
A vetted pro prices the job from what you sent and says if any part needs a Gas Safe engineer instead. Book once you are happy with the price; evenings and weekends are available when pros have them.
Step 3
Fitted, tested, handed over
Power isolated, old controls removed and made safe, receiver wired and tested, thermostat and hub paired, and the schedule set up in the Hive app with you. You follow it all in the JACK app.
Hive guides: who can fit it, boilers, placement and more
Who can install Hive?
Gas Safe engineer, electrician or DIY: what the rules in England say for each Hive job.
Does Hive work with my boiler?
Which boilers and heating systems Hive works with, and what each installation involves.
Where to put Hive
Hive's placement rules for the thermostat, receiver and hub, and moving them when the spot is wrong.
Hive receiver lights explained
What each light on a Hive receiver and hub means, and when to book a visit.
Switching to Hive
Replacing Nest, Honeywell, Drayton or an old programmer with Hive: what comes out and what goes in.
Hive vs tado°
How Hive and tado° compare to install: receivers, hubs, hot water, OpenTherm and radiator heads.
Hive installation cost
What moves the price of a Hive installation, and how the fixed price is worked out.
Hive in flats and rentals
Landlord permission, boiler cupboards, communal heating and range: Hive in flats and rentals.
Other smart-home brands JACK pros install
tado° installation in London
tado° Smart Thermostat X, Wireless Receiver X and radiator thermostats fitted in London by vetted pros who work at the wall, not the boiler. Fixed price first.
Ring installation in London
Ring installation in London: doorbells, cameras, floodlight cams, Ring Alarm and Ring Intercom fitted and set up by vetted pros. Fixed price in the app first.
eufy installation in London
eufy installation in London: doorbells, eufyCams, floodlight cameras, HomeBase and PoE NVR kits you bought, fitted by vetted pros. Fixed price before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Gas Safe engineer to install a Hive thermostat?
Not for work at the wall. Replacing a programmer, timer or wired thermostat with Hive's receiver on the existing wiring is electrical work, and the HSE's gas safety code of practice says replacing electric thermostats and timer switches is not gas work where no gasway is broken into. Anything that means opening the boiler or wiring to its own terminals, including OpenTherm, needs a Gas Safe engineer, and JACK pros do not do it.
Can an electrician install Hive?
Yes, for the receiver and thermostat on existing controls wiring: Hive's installation guide says the receiver should be fitted by an electrically skilled person competent in installing electrical accessories. In England, replacing controls on an existing circuit is not notifiable under Part P, but it must still be installed, tested and certificated to the wiring regulations. A new circuit, or work around a bath or shower, needs a registered electrician.
Can I install Hive myself?
Hive's product page says you need to be competent in electrical wiring and DIY, and recommends an experienced local tradesperson; its installation guide goes further and says Hive should always be installed by a qualified professional. The thermostat and radiator valves are battery devices, but the receiver is mains wired. If you would rather not do the wiring, a JACK pro fits the receiver and pairs everything for a fixed price.
Does Hive work with my boiler?
Hive says it works with most gas and LPG boilers, combi or with a hot water cylinder, oil boilers that already have a thermostat or programmer, and electric boilers with standard controls. It does not work with storage heaters, plug-in heaters or electric underfloor heating, and Hive says its engineers cannot yet install on solid fuel boilers or heat pumps because testing is not finished. It also lists ten Worcester Bosch models that only take Worcester's own thermostat. Send a photo of the boiler label and the pro checks before pricing.
Do I need a Hive Hub?
For the app, yes. Hive's current thermostat kits list the thermostat, receiver and batteries in the box, with the hub sold separately. Without a hub the kit works in stand-alone mode as an ordinary wireless thermostat, and on the Thermostat Mini you cannot set schedules. Hive Radiator Valves also need a hub.
How much does Hive installation cost in London?
It is a fixed price for your job, worked out by a vetted pro from photos of the boiler, your existing controls and the Hive kit, and shown in the JACK app before you book. Hot water, an old wired thermostat to take out, extra zones and radiator valves all change the price. If you would rather pay for time, hourly hire for smart home installation is typically £45–£95 per hour as a guide.
Can you move my Hive thermostat to another room?
Yes. The Hive Thermostat and Mini run on batteries, so moving one is a new wall fixing and a check that it still talks to the receiver and hub, which Hive says should be within about 10 metres. Hive's guide also says not to put the thermostat in a room whose radiator has a thermostatic valve.
Can you replace my old programmer with Hive?
Yes. That is the standard Hive job: Hive's guide says an existing single-zone timer or wireless receiver is removed completely and the Hive receiver wired in its place. A two-channel programmer for heating and hot water is replaced by Hive's dual channel receiver.
Do you fit Hive Radiator Valves?
Yes. Where your radiators already have thermostatic valves, the old head unscrews and the Hive Radiator Valve goes on, using one of the adaptors in the box if needed. Radiators with plain on/off valves need new valves first, which means draining the system, so that part is booked as plumbing.
I rent my flat. Can I have Hive fitted?
Ask your landlord first: the receiver replaces fixed controls, and some tenancies need written permission for that. Keep the old programmer and thermostat so they can go back when you move out; a JACK pro can refit them.
Which areas do you cover?
London only. Jack All Trades books vetted pros in London today. Outside London, the Hive guides here still explain what each installation involves, but we cannot send a pro to you yet.
Is Jack All Trades part of Hive?
No. Jack All Trades (JACK) is an independent London service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hive, Centrica or British Gas. Hive product names are used only to describe the devices JACK pros install.
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Sources
The device facts and rules on this page come from these pages, checked on 31 October 2026.
- Hive Thermostat product page and FAQ (hivehome.com)
- Hive Thermostat Mini product page (hivehome.com)
- Hive Thermostat Professional Installation Guide, 2025 (PDF)
- Hive: Are Hive Thermostats compatible with all boiler types?
- HSE L56: Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances (code of practice)
- Gas Safe Register: who can legally work on a gas appliance (factsheet)
- The Building Regulations 2010, regulation 12 (notifiable electrical work)
Jack All Trades (JACK) is an independent London service. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by Hive, Centrica or British Gas. Hive product names are used only to describe the devices JACK pros install, and prices are set by JACK pros, not by Hive. JACK pros do not work inside boilers or claim Gas Safe registration.
Get your Hive heating fitted
Send photos of your boiler, your current controls and your Hive kit in the JACK app, see a fixed price from a vetted local pro, and pick a time that suits you.
Get a fixed price in the app