How homes in England are heated
| Central heating | England |
|---|---|
| Mains gas only | 74% |
| Oil only | 3.2% |
| Tank or bottled gas (LPG) only | 1% |
| Electric only | 8.7% |
| Wood only | 0.1% |
| Solid fuel only | 0.2% |
| Renewable energy only | 0.4% |
| Two or more types (not renewable) | 8.5% |
| Two or more types (including renewable) | 0.5% |
| No central heating | 1.5% |
Source: ONS Census 2021, table TS046.
Key rules for rural homes in England
- Septic tanks and treatment plants: small discharges that meet the Environment Agency's general binding rules don't need a permit (GOV.UK: discharges to ground; discharges to surface water). See our septic tank page.
- Oil tanks: the oil storage rules on GOV.UK cover home tanks, including when a bund is needed and the label a tank must carry (GOV.UK).
- Private water supplies: regulated by your local authority, with the Drinking Water Inspectorate overseeing them (DWI). In 2024 there were 34,859 private supplies in England, serving around 849,800 people (DWI).
- Heat pump and biomass grants: the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is open in England and Wales (GOV.UK).
- Planning: many small jobs, from fences to solar panels, are permitted development under the General Permitted Development Order, within limits (GPDO Part 2; Part 14).
Local guides in England
Services
- Septic tanks and treatment plants
- Drainage, ditches and soakaways
- Private water supplies and boreholes
- Water treatment and filtration
- Heating oil boilers and tanks
- LPG tanks and boilers
- Biomass boilers and wood burners
- Chimney sweeping
- Heat pumps
- Solar panels and batteries
- Off-grid power and generators
- Rural and satellite broadband
- Fencing and gates
- Tree surgery and hedge cutting
- Driveways and farm tracks
- Garden and grounds maintenance
- Gritting and snow clearing
- Roofing, gutters and repairs
- Damp and old stone buildings
- Pest control