What to check if you’re buying a house with oil central heating

Wrist and hand of person filling green oil tank located outside from hose and nozzle
(Image credit: Getty Images/Paul Maguire)

Around 5 per cent of homes in the UK are heated by oil, according to data from the most recent census. It’s mostly used where mains gas is less available so if you’re viewing homes in an area like this, it pays to know what to check if you’re buying a house with oil central heating.

Oil has to be delivered and stored in a tank, so a home heated this way has one of these along with an oil boiler and you’ll want to find out about both when buying a house along with considering costs and maintenance.

Headshot of a man with salt and pepper grey hair and dark collared top
Matthew Jenkins

Matthew has worked in the domestic heating industry for over 15 years. He also passes on his expert knowledge working closely with MyJobQuote.

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Nicholas Auckland

Nicholas Auckland is a heating and energy expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry, as well as the managing director of Trade Radiators. Nicholas is dedicated to finding the best heating solutions for every need, as well as optimising energy usage, reducing costs and helping others live with lower costing energy bills.

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor writing for websites, national newspapers, and magazines. She’s spent most of her journalistic career specialising in homes. 

She loves testing the latest home appliances and products, and investigating the benefits, costs and practicalities of home improvement. She is an experienced renovator and is currently remodelling the ground floor of her new home.

She was Executive Editor of Ideal Home and has worked for Your Home and Homes & Ideas. Her work has published by numerous titles, including The Guardian, channel4.com, Houzz, Grand Designs, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Homes & Antiques, Real Homes, The English Home, Period Living, Beautiful Kitchens, Good Homes and Country Homes & Interiors.

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