The UK’s Shift to Electric Heating: Why More Homes Are Moving Beyond Gas

Published: July 2026
Reading time: 12 minutes

The UK is gradually moving towards electric heating as homes, landlords and developers look for practical alternatives to gas boilers.

Better insulation, renewable electricity, solar panels, battery storage and smarter heating controls are changing the way properties can be heated. Instead of relying on one central boiler to warm an entire building, modern electric heating systems can provide room-by-room control and work directly with electricity generated on site.

This does not mean that one technology is right for every building. Heat pumps, infrared heating, electric radiators and storage heating all work differently. The best solution depends on the property’s heat loss, construction, available space, budget and pattern of use.

Why Is the UK Moving Away from Gas Heating?

Gas central heating has been the standard choice for millions of UK homes for decades. It remains widely used, but the way homes are designed and powered is changing.

There are several reasons for the growing interest in electric heating:

• Increasing renewable electricity generation
• Greater use of solar panels and home battery systems
• Stronger building efficiency standards
• Demand for lower-maintenance heating systems
• Interest in reducing dependence on fossil fuels
• Growth in smart home controls and time-of-use tariffs

Electric heating also avoids the need for gas connections, flues, combustion and water circulation. This can simplify projects, especially in new builds, renovations, flats, extensions and commercial spaces.

Why Electricity Is Becoming More Important

Electricity can be generated from many sources, including wind, solar, hydroelectric power and other low-carbon technologies.

It can also be generated directly at the property using solar photovoltaic panels.

This gives electric heating an important advantage: the heating system can use electricity produced on the building itself.

When combined with smart controls, electricity can be used when it is cheapest, cleanest or generated locally.

What Are the Main Electric Heating Options?

There is no single type of electric heating. Different systems suit different buildings and heating requirements.

Why Infrared Heating Is Becoming More Popular

Infrared heating is attracting attention because it offers a simpler alternative to traditional wet central heating.

Instead of heating water and circulating it through pipes and radiators, infrared heating uses electricity to create long-wave radiant heat.

This heat warms:

• People
• Floors
• Walls
• Furniture
• Other surfaces in the room

These surfaces then gently release heat back into the space.

Main Benefits of Infrared Heating

• No boiler
• No radiators
• No water-filled pipework
• Independent room control
• Low maintenance
• Fast response
• Compatibility with solar panels
• Invisible underfloor or ceiling installation

Can Infrared Heating Heat an Entire House?

Yes, provided it is professionally designed.

A whole-house infrared heating system must be sized room by room. The designer needs to understand how much heat each room loses before selecting the amount and output of the heating system.

Factors include:

• Room size
• Ceiling height
• Wall construction
• Insulation levels
• Window area
• Glazing performance
• Ventilation
• Desired room temperature

A correctly designed system can heat detached homes, terraced houses, apartments, holiday properties, offices and commercial spaces.

Read: Can Infrared Heating Heat an Entire House?

Infrared Heating vs Heat Pumps

Infrared heating and heat pumps are both powered by electricity, but they operate differently.

A heat pump transfers heat from the air or ground into the property. It can provide several units of heat for each unit of electricity used when the system is properly designed and operating under suitable conditions.

Infrared heating converts electricity directly into radiant heat. Its strengths include simplicity, zoning, responsiveness and low maintenance.

Read: Infrared Heating vs Heat Pumps

What About Running Costs?

Running costs depend on far more than the type of heating system.

The most important factors include:

• Property heat loss
• Insulation
• Energy tariffs
• Occupancy patterns
• Thermostat settings
• System design
• Solar generation
• Battery storage

Gas is usually cheaper per unit of energy than electricity. However, electric heating can offer better zoning and control, particularly where only selected rooms need heating.

Infrared heating can also avoid losses associated with boilers, pumps, radiators and long runs of water-filled pipework.

The most reliable way to estimate running costs is to begin with a professional heat loss calculation.

Read: Is Infrared Heating Cheaper to Run Than Gas?

The Importance of Heat Loss Calculations

A heating system should never be selected using floor area alone.

A heat loss calculation measures how much heat escapes through:

• External walls
• Windows
• Doors
• Floors
• Roofs and ceilings
• Ventilation and draughts

The calculation determines the heating output needed in watts for each room.

If the system is undersized, rooms may struggle to reach the required temperature. If it is oversized, installation costs may be unnecessarily high.

Read: Heat Loss Calculations Explained

Solar Panels, Batteries and Electric Heating

One of the biggest advantages of electric heating is its compatibility with renewable electricity.

Solar panels can generate electricity during daylight hours. This electricity can be used directly by the heating system, stored in a battery or exported to the grid.

Battery storage can help shift solar electricity into the evening, when heating demand may be higher.

A Smart Solar Heating Strategy

• Generate electricity using solar panels.
• Use available solar electricity in the home first.
• Store excess electricity in a battery.
• Schedule heating around solar generation and battery charge.
• Use off-peak electricity when appropriate.

Read: Does Infrared Heating Work with Solar Panels?

Why Smart Heating Controls Matter

Replacing a gas boiler with electric heating does not automatically guarantee lower energy use. The way the heating is controlled matters enormously.

Smart controls can provide:

• Individual room schedules
• Different temperatures in different rooms
• Mobile app control
• Open-window detection
• Holiday modes
• Maximum temperature settings
• Occupancy-based control
• Energy-use monitoring

For example, bedrooms may only need heating in the morning and evening, while a home office may only need heating during working hours.

This room-by-room approach can reduce unnecessary energy use compared with heating the whole property at the same temperature.

Underfloor vs Ceiling Infrared Heating

Infrared heating film can be installed under suitable flooring or within ceiling constructions.

Underfloor Infrared Heating

Underfloor systems are often chosen when:

• New flooring is being installed.
• The property is undergoing renovation.
• Warm floors are preferred.
• The floor construction is easily accessible.

Ceiling Infrared Heating

Ceiling systems are often chosen when:

• Existing floors need to remain untouched.
• Ceilings are being replaced or upgraded.
• Wall and floor space must remain completely free.
• The property is an office, rental or commercial building.

Some properties use a combination of both.

Read: Underfloor vs Ceiling Infrared Heating

Which Properties Are Best Suited to Electric Heating?

Electric heating can be particularly attractive for:

• New-build homes
• Well-insulated renovations
• Flats and apartments
• Extensions
• Loft conversions
• Garden rooms
• Holiday lets
• Offices
• Retail spaces
• Commercial refurbishments

It can also work in older properties, but heat loss and insulation should be assessed carefully.

When Might Electric Heating Be Less Suitable?

Electric heating may require more careful consideration in:

• Very poorly insulated buildings
• Large homes with consistently high heat demand
• Properties with limited electrical capacity
• Buildings where no fabric improvements are planned
• Homes requiring a single appliance for large domestic hot water demand

This does not automatically rule electric heating out, but it makes professional assessment even more important.

Is Gas Being Banned?

Homeowners should be cautious about simple claims that gas boilers are being banned everywhere on one specific date.

Heating policy, building regulations and low-carbon incentives continue to evolve. New-build requirements may differ from rules affecting existing properties.

For most homeowners, the practical question is not whether an immediate ban is coming. It is whether investing in a new gas system today provides the best long-term solution for the property.

What Is the Best Electric Heating System?

There is no universal answer.

A heat pump may be the best choice for a well-insulated home designed around low-temperature whole-house heating.

Infrared heating may be the better option where the priorities are:

• Simple installation
• Low maintenance
• No radiators
• No outdoor unit
• Room-by-room zoning
• Compatibility with solar and battery storage
• Invisible floor or ceiling installation

The decision should be based on the property rather than on general assumptions about the technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the UK moving towards electric heating?

Electric heating can use increasingly renewable grid electricity and work directly with solar panels, batteries and smart tariffs. It also removes combustion from the property.

Is electric heating cheaper than gas?

Not automatically. Gas usually has a lower unit price, but actual running costs depend on heat loss, insulation, zoning, controls, tariffs and how many rooms are heated.

Can infrared heating replace central heating?

Yes. A professionally designed infrared heating system can provide whole-house heating in many types of properties.

Do infrared systems need radiators?

No. Infrared heating can be installed under floors or within ceilings, eliminating conventional radiators.

Is infrared heating compatible with solar panels?

Yes. Solar-generated electricity can directly power infrared heating, while batteries can store excess energy for later use.

Are heat pumps more efficient than infrared heating?

Heat pumps can deliver multiple units of heat for each unit of electricity under suitable conditions. Infrared heating offers different benefits, including simpler installation, direct radiant comfort and precise zoning.

Does electric heating need maintenance?

Maintenance depends on the system. Infrared heating has very few moving parts, while heat pumps generally require regular servicing.

Is electric heating suitable for older homes?

It can be, but insulation and heat loss should be assessed first. Improving the building fabric can significantly reduce heating demand.

What is the best heating system for a new build?

Both heat pumps and infrared heating can work well in new builds. The best option depends on the design, hot water requirements, available space, budget and control strategy.

Do I need a heat loss calculation?

Yes. A room-by-room heat loss calculation is essential for accurately sizing any whole-house heating system.

Final Thoughts

The move towards electric heating is not about replacing every gas boiler with the same alternative.

It is about designing homes that need less heat, use energy more intelligently and can benefit from renewable electricity.

Heat pumps, infrared heating and other electric systems each have advantages. Infrared heating is particularly attractive where homeowners and developers want a simple, responsive and low-maintenance system with no boiler, radiators or water-filled pipework.

The best results come from combining good insulation, accurate heat loss calculations, smart room controls, solar generation and a heating system designed around the way the building is actually used.

Continue Reading

• Can Infrared Heating Heat an Entire House?
• Is Infrared Heating Cheaper to Run Than Gas?
• Infrared Heating vs Heat Pumps
• Does Infrared Heating Work with Solar Panels?
• Underfloor vs Ceiling Infrared Heating
• Heat Loss Calculations Explained

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