Landlords and housing providers are facing two huge pressure points: cutting energy waste and keeping tenants comfortable — yet most traditional heating controls make one or the other impossible.

In this guide, we explain how smart landlord heating controls — including temperature limits, tenant boost limits, and occupancy-based automation — can reduce energy costs without sacrificing comfort. We also look at how data analytics helps housing managers improve efficiency across whole property portfolios.

How iHelios balances landlord control, tenant comfort, and energy efficiency

iHelios heating controls allow landlords to set maximum temperatures, lock schedules, enable tenant boost within limits, and reduce heating when rooms are unoccupied. Advanced systems also store energy usage, temperature, boost, and humidity data for analysis and compliance.

Why smart heating controls matter in rental and social housing

Landlords, councils, and housing providers face growing pressure to reduce energy use, prevent fuel poverty, and maintain healthy indoor environments — without removing tenant comfort or autonomy.

Modern heating controls must:

• Prevent overheating and energy misuse
• Allow limited tenant flexibility
• Support occupancy-based energy savings
• Provide data for compliance, optimisation, and reporting

This is exactly what iHelios heating controls are designed to do.

How the iHelios standard heating control system works

1. Landlord-controlled temperature limits

Landlords can define:

• Maximum allowable room temperature
• Control locking to prevent permanent tenant changes
• Fixed heating schedules that cannot be overridden

This ensures consistent comfort while protecting energy budgets.

2. Tenant boost within defined limits

Tenants retain local comfort control:

• Temporary boost heating is allowed
• Boost duration and temperature are restricted by landlord settings

This avoids excessive energy use while maintaining dignity and comfort.

3. Protected heating schedules

Heating schedules are:

• Set centrally by the landlord or housing provider
• Protected from permanent alteration
• Designed to align with occupancy patterns and efficiency targets

Ideal for social housing, HMOs, and managed rental properties.

4. Occupancy-based temperature reduction

When connected to external occupancy sensors, iHelios controls can:

• Automatically lower heating temperature when no movement is detected
• Restore comfort when occupancy resumes

This delivers real, measurable energy savings without relying on tenant behaviour.

Advanced iHelios heating control system (data & analytics)

For larger housing portfolios or compliance-driven projects, iHelios offers an advanced control platform that includes all standard features, plus:

Energy usage monitoring & storage

• Energy consumption data stored over time
• Room, zone, or property-level insights
• Supports long-term efficiency optimisation

Temperature & boost history

• Logged temperature data
• Boost frequency and duration tracking
• Helps identify trends without intrusive monitoring

Humidity monitoring

• Continuous humidity measurement
• Supports mould prevention strategies
• Improves indoor air quality management

Who is iHelios heating control designed for?

• Social housing providers
• Local authorities
• Build-to-rent developers
• Private landlords with multiple properties
• Retrofit and low-carbon housing projects

Comparison with traditional landlord heating systems

Unlike older systems that either fully lock tenants out or provide no landlord control, iHelios offers a balanced approach:

• Landlord authority ✔
• Tenant comfort ✔
• Occupancy-based energy savings ✔
• Optional data & analytics ✔