UK Heat Network

Independent service, not affiliated with Ofgem or DESNZ.

Shared boiler in your block of flats? Get ready for Ofgem heat network registration, without the £500 bill.

A plain-English readiness kit for simple blocks run by residents. Tailored to your building, checked by a person, delivered in 5 working days. £149, no VAT.

Free 2-minute scope check See what's in the £149 kit

Why this has landed on your desk

Since 27 January 2026, Ofgem, the energy regulator, has regulated blocks of flats where one boiler or plant room heats several flats as “heat networks”. Whoever runs the heating, often the residents' management company or the freeholder, must register with Ofgem by 26 January 2027.

Registration itself is currently free and online. But before you tick the boxes, Ofgem asks whether you already have a complaints procedure, a register of residents who need extra help, a plan for if your company couldn't keep the heating going, and checks on the people in charge. Many small blocks won't have these in place yet.

The existing compliance packs are aimed mainly at professional heat suppliers and start at £495 plus VAT. If you're a volunteer director of a 12-flat block, that's a lot of money and a lot of paperwork you don't need.

Free: is your block likely in scope, and is this kit right for it?

Twelve quick questions, based on the regulations and Ofgem's own guidance. It's a guide, not a calculator or legal advice: it tells you what your answers usually mean. Ofgem's guidance is the final word.

Please do this before you buy. The £149 kit covers one existing, single-building heat network in England or Wales with a clear operator and supplier. There's no limit on the number of flats.

Part 1: Is it likely to be a regulated heat network?

  1. 1. Does shared plant (one or more boilers or heat pumps, or a plant room) send heat or hot water through pipes to two or more separate flats or units in your building?

    No usually means it isn't a heat network. Two boilers or several heat pumps feeding the flats still count as shared plant.

  2. 2. Is the building a single house let as an HMO, with heating from a shared system?

    Yes usually means it's exempt.

  3. 3. Is it a converted building (for example a house split into flats) where all the heat comes from just one appliance (one boiler or one heat pump) of 45 kW or less? Check the data plate. If there are two or more appliances, answer No.

    Yes usually means it's exempt.

  4. 4. Does the system only provide heating or cooling through air conditioning, with no hot water?

    Yes usually means it's out of scope.

Part 2: Is it a fit for the £149 kit?

  1. 5. Is the building in England or Wales?

    No (Scotland or Northern Ireland) means it's outside the £149 kit.

  2. 6. Does the same heating system serve any other building (another block, houses, offices, a leisure centre)?

    Yes means it's outside the £149 kit.

  3. 7. Does the building get its heat from outside the building, for example a district heating scheme run by a council or energy company, with a meter where it enters the building?

    Yes means it's outside the £149 kit.

  4. 8. Is the system supplying heat or hot water to residents in flats today?

    Yes usually means it registers with Ofgem (by 26 January 2027) rather than applying for a new authorisation. “No, not yet” means it would have to apply for authorisation instead, which is outside the £149 kit.

  5. 9. Does each flat have its own heat pump connected to a shared pipe loop (ground, water or ambient loop)?

    Yes or not sure: our £149 kit doesn't cover this type of network yet.

  6. 10. Are there flats on the system, or does it supply commercial customers only?

    Commercial customers only (no flats) means it's outside the £149 kit.

Part 3: Who is likely to be the operator and the supplier?

  1. 11. Who decides on repairing, replacing or upgrading the shared plant?

    That company is probably the operator. If it's someone else (for example a separate heat or energy services company), depends on the lease, or isn't clear, the block is outside the £149 kit.

  2. 12. Who sets the heating charges, bills residents or puts heat in service-charge demands, and handles heating complaints?

    That company is probably the supplier. If it's someone else (for example a separate heat or energy services company), depends on the lease, or isn't clear, the block is outside the £149 kit.

This check is a guide, not legal advice. If you're unsure, Ofgem's guidance is the final word (see “Isn't there free guidance?” below).

What's in the £149 kit

Everything is tailored to your block from a short questionnaire you fill in after ordering:

  • Your scope and role check: in or out, which exemptions we considered, and who's likely the operator and supplier, with the rules quoted.
  • Complaints procedure: written in plain English to Ofgem's requirements, with the right ombudsman route for your block.
  • Vulnerable residents register: a blank template, a letter to residents and a short data-protection note. You keep the data; we never see it.
  • Payment-difficulty note: what you'll do if a resident struggles to pay for heat.
  • Continuity plan: following the structure Ofgem sets out, ready for the January deadline.
  • Fit-and-proper checklist: so the person registering can make the declaration honestly.
  • Step-by-step registration guide: every section Ofgem asks about, explained for a small block, including what to have to hand.
  • 12-month calendar: the yearly complaints mail-out, Ofgem's data-reporting windows and other dates to remember.
  • Letter to residents: explaining what's changed and how to raise a problem.

Delivered as editable documents and PDFs within 5 working days of your questionnaire.

What it doesn't include

We don't submit your registration or log in for you, because Ofgem makes the person registering responsible for what's declared. We don't give legal advice, draft heat supply agreements, interpret your lease, prepare your accounts or billing figures, or give technical or engineering advice.

The £149 kit covers one existing, single-building heat network in England or Wales with a clear operator and supplier. There's no limit on the number of flats. It doesn't cover:

  • networks that serve more than one building, or that take heat from a district scheme or other network outside the building;
  • networks not yet supplying residents, or any network that must apply to Ofgem for a new authorisation rather than register (for example one that starts supplying on or after 27 January 2027);
  • networks with no flats on them (commercial customers only);
  • Shared Ground Loop networks, where each flat has its own heat pump connected to a shared ground, water or ambient loop;
  • blocks where it's unclear who is the operator or supplier, or where a separate heat company or energy services company supplies residents;
  • blocks in Scotland or Northern Ireland;
  • buildings that don't need to register (for example a converted building heated by a single appliance of 45 kW or less, a single house in multiple occupation, or air conditioning only).

Price

£149. No VAT is charged: UK Heat Network is not registered for VAT.

Before you buy

  • Do the scope check first. Please only buy if the free scope check says your block is likely in scope and a fit for the kit.
  • What you get: 9 documents tailored to your block, as editable Word files and PDFs, checked by a person.
  • Delivery: within 5 working days of receiving your completed questionnaire. We email the questionnaire after you pay.
  • Payment: by card through Stripe. A receipt is emailed straight away, and we can send an invoice in your company's name.

Our promise

  • If your questionnaire answers show your block is outside what the kit covers (section 3), including a block that doesn't need to register, we'll refund the full £149 to your original payment method before we start any tailoring. If it only becomes clear after we've started, but before delivery, we'll still refund in full. (Terms, section 5)
  • If we don't deliver within 5 working days of receiving your questionnaire, we'll refund you in full.
  • If something in the kit is wrong for your block, tell us within 14 days and we'll correct it.

I agree to the Terms of sale. If I'm buying as an individual, I ask you to start work straight away. I understand that if I cancel within 14 days I'll pay for work already done, and that I lose my right to cancel once the kit is delivered.

Get the kit for £149

Questions

Do we really have to register? We're just a block of flats.

If one boiler or plant room heats or supplies hot water to two or more flats in a purpose-built block, then almost certainly yes, whatever the size. There are narrow exemptions, for example a converted house on a single small boiler. The free check covers them.

What happens if we miss the deadline?

Ofgem can take enforcement action, including financial penalties. Registering on time is simpler. We'd rather you registered correctly than in a panic, so we won't pretend it's worse than it is.

Is this from Ofgem?

No. We're an independent small business with no link to Ofgem. Registration with Ofgem is currently free; you're paying us for the paperwork and guidance to do it confidently.

Isn't there free guidance?

Yes, and we link to it. Ofgem's guidance is long and written for the whole industry. Our kit turns it into documents for your building that you can adopt at your next directors' meeting.

We have a managing agent. Should they buy this?

Either of you can. If your agent orders, they'll receive the kit to share with the board.

Who's the customer, us or me?

We recommend ordering in your company's name (RMC, RTM company or landlord company). If you're buying as an individual, you'll be asked to agree that work can start straight away. You'll still be covered by your consumer rights.

Is this legal advice?

No. It's information and templates based on the published regulations and Ofgem guidance as at 3 October 2026. The rules are new and still developing, and we'll tell you if anything material changes before your deadline.