Ofgem heat network regulation · in force since 27 January 2026
If one boiler or heat pump heats the flats in your building, the organisation that runs it must register with Ofgem by 26 January 2027 and follow Ofgem's consumer protection rules. Communal Heating Compliance produces the documents and keeps the records, ready for your board to adopt.
From £199 per heat network per year · set up and preview free
Registration deadline · 26 January 2027
The rules already apply. Registration is the deadline.
Diagram of a communal heating system in a block of flats
Built around Ofgem's published rules
27 Jan 2026
Ofgem became the regulator for heat networks in Great Britain. The authorisation conditions apply now.
26 Jan 2027
The deadline for existing operators and suppliers to register on Ofgem's digital service.
0 weeks
After eight weeks, or sooner with a deadlock letter, residents can take a heat complaint to the Energy Ombudsman.
0+
The government's estimate of heat networks in Great Britain, from small blocks of flats to large district schemes.
Ofgem says the operator role may shift to your company. Get documents written for a volunteer board, and records that survive a change of director.
In leasehold blocks, Ofgem expects the operator to be typically the freeholder. Produce the paperwork once and keep it current.
Run every block from one dashboard: what's done, what's due and what's overdue, network by network.
Six things every operator and supplier of a communal heat network needs to have in hand.
Diagram of a communal heating system in a block of flats
Step 1 of 6
Give Ofgem details of your organisation, the network, its customers and your consumer protection arrangements on its digital service.
You get: The details Ofgem asks for at registration, gathered in one place.
Written down, followed for every complaint, displayed in the building and brought to residents' attention at least once a year, including the route to the Energy Ombudsman.
You get: A complaints procedure, a complaints log with an eight-week clock, and response letters.
Identify residents in vulnerable situations and offer free priority services, such as a nominated contact and priority help in an emergency.
You get: A policy, a resident form and a blank register you keep securely yourself.
How the heating, billing and records would be handed to a successor if you stopped running the network, with a register of the key assets and contracts.
You get: A continuity plan and a material asset register.
Who supplies the heat, how charges are worked out, who to call in an emergency, and where to get free, independent advice.
You get: A resident information pack, a heat charges information sheet and a notice for the common parts.
People with significant managerial responsibility or influence must be fit and proper. You confirm this at registration.
You get: A fit and proper policy and a declaration for each director.
Is your block a heat network, and who is the operator and the supplier?
Twelve questions based on Ofgem's rules. See your score and the gaps to close.
All 29 authorisation conditions in plain English, with what they mean for a block of flats.
Gather everything you need before you start on Ofgem's digital service.
Tailored to your building and issued in your organisation's name. Review, adopt and keep them up to date.
About your block, the heating system, who runs it and how residents pay for heat. Allow about 20 minutes.
Tailored PDFs in your organisation's name, ready for your board to review and adopt.
Use the answer sheet to complete Ofgem's form, then log complaints and track the yearly tasks from your dashboard.
1 April 2025
The Energy Ombudsman starts taking heat network disputes.
27 January 2026
Ofgem regulation begins. The authorisation conditions apply.
April 2026
Ofgem's registration service opens.
26 January 2027
Registration deadline for existing heat networks.
2027 (planned)
HNTAS technical standards. The government consulted on proposals in 2026, including staged milestones for existing networks.
1 April 2025
The Energy Ombudsman starts taking heat network disputes.
27 January 2026
Ofgem regulation begins. The authorisation conditions apply.
April 2026
Ofgem's registration service opens.
26 January 2027
Registration deadline for existing heat networks.
2027 (planned)
HNTAS technical standards. The government consulted on proposals in 2026, including staged milestones for existing networks.
HNTAS is not live yet. Nobody can certify a network against it today.
No setup fees and no per-user charges. Set up and preview free.
£199
per heat network, per year
Included:
£349
per heat network, per year
Included:
£499
per heat network, per year
Included:
Managing 5 or more heat networks? Contact us for portfolio pricing.
£8.29
per flat per year
16p
per flat per week
Yes, if one heating system supplies heating, cooling or hot water to separate flats in the building. Ofgem regulates communal heat networks (one building divided into separate premises) and district heat networks (two or more buildings). There are two exemptions: a network that only serves a single house in multiple occupation, and a network that only serves a single converted building with no more than one source appliance of 45 kW or less.
Whoever operates and supplies the network. Ofgem says that in leasehold blocks the operator is typically the freeholder, but where there is a right to manage or residents' management company the role may shift to that company. Check your lease and management arrangements.
Existing operators and suppliers must register on Ofgem's digital service by 26 January 2027. The authorisation conditions already apply, whether or not you have registered.
No. You register on Ofgem's digital service yourself. We give you an answer sheet so the information is ready, and the documents you need to have in place.
No tool can do that on its own. Compliance depends on what your organisation does. We give you templates to review and adopt, and records that show what you've done.
Yes. Ofgem's rules recognise service charge arrangements, and some housing law takes precedence, such as the 18-month rule in section 20B of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 for service charge demands. Ofgem says the First-tier Tribunal remains the main route for leaseholders' service charge disputes.
No. You keep your Priority Services Register securely yourself. We give you the policy, the resident form and a blank register, and track only the number of households and the review dates.
From £199 per heat network per year, depending on how many homes the network supplies: up to 30 homes £199, 31 to 100 homes £349, 101 or more homes £499. Set up and preview free, and pay when you're ready to download. Cancel any time.
Get your documents in place before the rush.