More than half of UK consumers (53%) say they find the Government’s plan to phase out gas boilers confusing, with almost one in five (18%) unaware of the policy altogether, according to new research from Luthmore.
The findings highlight both an awareness challenge and the need for practical, affordable technologies to support housing associations, developers and local authorities in decarbonising homes at scale to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets.
The survey of over 1,000 households showed that most consumers still rely on gas (44% with a traditional boiler and 29% with a comb) – while knowledge of alternatives is limited. Over half (51%) rated their understanding of sustainable heating options as ‘minimal’ or ‘non-existent’, with only 4% describing it as ‘excellent’. Misconceptions over cost are common, with nearly a third believing a heat pump costs £5,000–£9,000, when the real average sits closer to £11,000.
For housing providers, this represents a significant challenge. Residents are keen for affordable, reliable solutions, with Luthmore’s research finding that reliability (54%) and instant access to hot water (43%) were the top priorities when it comes to heating systems. Yet the high upfront cost of heat pumps, coupled with the space required for cylinders, makes them difficult to deploy widely in social housing or smaller homes.
Luthmore, founded by former Dyson engineers Craig Wilkinson and Martin Gutkowski, is responding with a zero-emissions boiler designed to deliver the same performance as a combi but at a lower set-up cost than a heat pump, with minimal disruption.
The compact, tankless unit uses existing pipework and radiators, reducing installation costs and making it particularly suitable for dense housing and retrofit programmes. Powered by six sustainably sourced Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, it provides 30kW of instant hot water and 10kW of central heating, while allowing households to store grid or solar energy at off-peak times.
The system is fully electric and app-enabled, putting control of energy use directly in the hands of residents. This helps play a part in reducing bills, improve grid flexibility, and provide reassurance on day-to-day running costs – a key concern for social landlords managing tight budgets and fuel poverty risk.
Will Jameson, Commercial and Corporate Director at Luthmore, said: “Social housing providers face the dual challenge of cutting carbon while keeping costs under control. Heat pumps will play a key role, but they are not always affordable or practical for every property type.
“The Luthmore boiler offers a simpler alternative: it installs like a combi, meets resident expectations for reliability and hot water, and does so at a lower price point. It’s a technology designed for roll-out at scale, across both new developments and retrofit programmes.”
With the UK’s low-carbon heating market projected to expand rapidly ahead of the 2035 phase-out of new gas boilers, Luthmore offers a scalable, commercially viable pathway for social housing and new-build providers to deliver cost-effective, zero-emission homes.
Website: https://www.luthmore.com/
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