In today’s rental market, tenant expectations are rising, and energy efficiency has become a key concern for both landlords and residents. This case study from John Winter Houses explores how one residential property manager addressed these challenges by implementing smart heating controls across a portfolio of “bills included” rental properties. Motivated by the need to control energy usage, improve tenant comfort, and streamline property management, the team partnered with Control HQ to deliver a standardised, intuitive heating solution. The results have been promising—lower complaints, fewer maintenance issues, and a more seamless rental experience for all parties involved.
A: The main reason was to manage energy usage more effectively in our “bills included” properties. On half of our estate, we now pay the energy bills, and tenants no longer have a financial incentive to reduce usage. Smart heating controls act like an insurance policy, helping us ensure that heating isn’t left on unnecessarily throughout the winter.
Additionally, managing energy bills is a headache for tenants. By including bills and managing the system ourselves, we remove that burden. It also prevents disagreements between housemates—some rooms need more heat than others, and preferences vary. Central control helps maintain balance and consistency.
We also found that tenants often struggled with bill payments and installations like smart meters. By handling this ourselves, we simplify their experience and improve overall satisfaction. Parents, who often cover the rent, also appreciate the convenience of one all-inclusive payment.
Lastly, tenants today have higher expectations. They want convenience, and smart systems meet those expectations far better than traditional setups.
A: We worked with Control HQ to design the system. They visited each property, created clear drawings for where each component should be placed, and trained our local electrician and heating engineer. Our existing maintenance team then handled the installations based on those designs.
A: Very straightforward. Since we already had a trusted contractor for boiler and electrical maintenance, they could carry out the installation without any complications.
A: We use an app on our phones and on PCs in the office. It’s very intuitive and makes monitoring and adjusting the heating much easier.
A: Heating complaints have dropped significantly. In the 11 properties where we first installed the system, tenants didn’t necessarily say anything at first, but the lack of complaints told us everything. Just like with our upgraded enterprise-level internet, the absence of negative feedback means the system is working.
Temperature regulation is better, and tenants enjoy a more comfortable living environment without even realising the technology behind it. That’s a win in our book.
A: We still rent out properties as whole houses rather than by individual room. But having a standard, easy-to-use heating system benefits all tenants equally. It contributes to a smoother renting experience, fewer disputes, and overall better tenant relationships.
A: Yes, fewer issues with mould. When tenants were in charge of bills, many underheated their homes to save money. That led to mould, damp, and damage, which created disputes over deposits. Now, with consistent heating, those issues have largely disappeared, reducing the risk of property damage and tenant complaints.
Standardising the setup across our properties has also been a big help. Previously, we had a mix of thermostats, programmer types, and boiler models, making it hard to support tenants or provide accurate instructions. With Control HQ, all properties are now consistent, and the user experience is unified and simpler.
