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Electricity & gas · the UK
Checked 2026-09-30

🌡️ District heating, heating oil or bottled gas in the UK: what are my rights?

The short answer

Not every home is on the gas grid. District heating, heating oil and LPG have their own rules, and often a different body handles complaints.

📜 The rules in the UK

Heating without the gas grid

Since 27 January 2026 Ofgem regulates heat networks (district heating) in Great Britain: rules on billing, customer service, complaints handling and vulnerable customers. Heat network suppliers are part of the Energy Ombudsman scheme for unresolved disputes. Not in Northern Ireland.

  • From 27 January 2026 all heat networks are regulated by Ofgem and must register with the Energy Ombudsman. (energyombudsman.org)
  • Ofgem can act on unfair price rises and poor service; customers hit by a service outage can get compensation through the Energy Ombudsman. (gov.uk)
  • Heating oil and LPG prices are not covered by the price cap and can change quickly. In Great Britain Ofgem does not regulate heating oil; the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) handles consumer protection. (ofgem.gov.uk)
  • In March 2026 the government announced support for low-income heating oil households across the UK and a planned code of practice. Ask your local council what help is available. (gov.uk)
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)Consumer protection for heating oil in Great Britain🔗 gov.uk
Official source: ofgem.gov.uk · Checked 2026-09-30

🪜 Step by step

  1. Know what heats your homeDistrict heating from a network, oil or LPG from a tank, or bottled gas. The rules differ for each.
  2. Check the rules for the UKSee below who supervises heat and fuel suppliers and what they must tell you about prices.
  3. Complain in writing firstWrite to the heat or fuel supplier with your bill and what you want changed. Keep a copy.
  4. Escalate to the right bodyIf that does not help, go to the body named below.

📇 Who to contact

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)Consumer protection for heating oil in Great Britain🔗 www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority
Citizens Advice (Great Britain) / Consumer Council for Northern IrelandIndependent advice for consumersFor advice, template letters and a second opinion🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk

❓ Questions

Can I leave district heating?

That depends on the network and the rules in the UK. Contracts are often long; check the notice terms.

Are heating oil prices regulated?

Usually not; you compare offers. Where there is an official price or cap, it is shown on this page.

Who checks the safety of LPG tanks and bottles?

The supplier and the installer have safety duties. If you smell gas, leave at once and call the emergency number from outside.

📎 Sources

Checked: 2026-09-30

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Also useful

🔑Energy costs for tenants→🏠Heat pump and insulation grants→🤝Help with energy costs→🔄Switching supplier→📈Price increase→

More help in the UK

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