Commercial storage heater replacement for landlords and estates
Old night storage heaters are the most common heating liability in UK rented and managed property: heavy, uncontrollable, tied to a tariff that no longer suits how tenants live, and a drag on EPC ratings. Replacing them across a portfolio is a scheduling problem as much as a heating one.
How much does it cost to replace storage heaters in a commercial property?
Budget roughly £400–£900 per room to replace a night storage heater with a modern controllable electric or infrared panel, including removal and disposal, or £2,000–£5,000 for a typical one-bedroom flat. Across a portfolio, the cost driver is access and phasing rather than the units themselves.
Why old storage heaters cost more than they should
A night storage heater charges on a cheap overnight rate and releases heat on a fixed curve, meaning the flat is warmest in the morning and coldest in the evening when the tenant is home. Tenants compensate with plug-in heaters on the expensive day rate, which is where the real cost appears. The heaters themselves are also heavy, asbestos-era in some cases, and rarely have usable controls.
Modern controllable electric panels, including infrared, deliver heat when the room is occupied instead. The unit rate is the same, but the hours are fewer and the tenant complaint pattern changes.
The tariff trap to check first
Many storage-heated properties are on Economy 7 or a similar two-rate meter. If you remove storage heaters and leave the tenant on a time-of-use tariff, they pay the higher day rate for evening heating and can be worse off. The replacement plan should include the tariff and metering review, and tenants should be told plainly what to switch to.
EPC, MEES and phasing a portfolio
A rented property normally has to reach EPC E or better to be let under MEES, and the heating system and its controls influence the assessment. Replacing uncontrolled storage heaters with controllable panels, alongside insulation work, is a common route to lift a stubborn rating — but the assessment method rewards controls and fabric, so get the EPC modelled before committing.
Practically, portfolios are done in void periods, block by block, with one day per property and disposal arranged in batches. That avoids tenant access problems and keeps the electrical certification tidy.
A sensible shortlist
- Model the EPC effect before choosing the replacement system.
- Review the tariff and meter with every property, not just the heaters.
- Plan around void periods and batch the removals and disposal.
- Insist on room-by-room sizing rather than one panel size for every room.
- Get electrical certification per property for your compliance file.
Frequently asked questions
Reviewed by the Infrared Heat Solutions technical team · Last updated July 2026 · Data sources: Ofgem price cap, Energy Saving Trust, first-party running-cost model