Low-carbon heating for social housing
Heat pump solutions that improve comfort, help manage running costs and support compliance.
Getting low-carbon heating right in social housing starts with the people living in the home. Systems need to suit how residents use them, and residents need support to get the best from them.
Every property is different, so we offer both air-to-air (A2A) and air-to-water (A2W) heat pumps. That means you can specify the right technology for each home and work with one supplier across your whole programme.
We design around how residents actually use their heating. We keep controls simple, and we build in aftercare from the start, so systems keep performing long after handover.
Choosing the right technology
Most housing stock needs more than one answer. If you specify both technologies from one manufacturer, you get one design conversation, one commissioning standard and one point of contact for aftercare.
Two technologies, one partner
- Air-to-air heat pumps
- Air-to-water heat pumps
Room-by-room heating and cooling
Air-to-air heat pumps are a practical, low-disruption option for homes without a wet system.
Simple to use: familiar controls that suit a set-and-forget approach.
Lower running costs: significantly more efficient than direct electric heating, and residents can heat only the rooms they're using.
Works offline: systems run fully without broadband or an app.
Heating and cooling: one unit gives highly efficient heating and up to 900% cooling efficiency (SEER 9.0).
Easy to retrofit: minimal pipework and no radiator changes, so they suit flats and small terraced homes.
Whole-home heating and hot water
Daikin Altherma heat pumps heat the home through radiators or underfloor heating, and provide hot water when paired with a cylinder.
Suits houses and flats: works for both new build and refurbishment.
Builds on what's there: a natural fit where a wet system already exists, or where the building fabric can support one.
Boiler replacement in harder-to-treat homes: Altherma 3 High Temperature delivers water at up to 70°C.
Options for apartment blocks: Altherma 3 WS gives each flat its own heat pump, connected to a shared low temperature water loop.
MCS certified: all Daikin Altherma air-to-water heat pumps are certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
Healthier homes
Warm, dry and affordable to run
No heating system solves damp and mould on its own. Mould takes hold when moisture has nowhere to go and settles on cold surfaces, and rationing heating makes this worse. Warmth, ventilation and resident support need to be planned together.
Both technologies help by keeping homes at a steady temperature, so surfaces stay warm enough to stop condensation forming.
- Air-to-air: cooling and dry modes take moisture out of the air. Every indoor unit filters dust and airborne particles, and the same unit cools the home in hot weather, which helps older and less mobile residents most.
- Air-to-water: high seasonal efficiency and low running costs make it easier for residents to keep their heating on rather than rationing it. The system also provides their hot water.
As requirements change, we continue to support providers throughout delivery and beyond.
The right product for every property
Every property is different. Our range gives you the flexibility to specify the right solution for each one, from straightforward wall-mounted units to whole-home heating and hot water. Each product has been chosen with social housing in mind, balancing ease of use, installation practicality and long-term performance.
Air-to-air heat pumps
Wall-mounted splits, concealed units and multi systems
Controls
- Wired Controller
- Madoka
Wired controller
A straightforward wall-mounted controller with simple, button-based operation and no Wi-Fi or app required. The practical, cost-effective choice for volume programmes where reliability and ease of use come first.
Madoka
A thermostat-style wired controller with a clean, modern design and an intuitive interface that feels familiar from day one. A good fit where a neater finish matters, still with no Wi-Fi or app needed.
Air-to-water heat pumps
Low and high temperature heat pumps
Case studies: proven delivery at scale
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority
- West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Air-to-water)
Working alongside local authority housing teams, we installed 1,500 heat pumps across Greater Manchester in the first two years, with structured resident engagement at every stage.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Air-to-water)
We're working with the Mayor and regional partners under a Memorandum of Understanding to deliver warm homes and clean energy. At least three Sustainable Home Centres will give homeowners and installers hands-on access to heat pump technology.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council (Air-to-air)
At Armada Court, a sheltered housing scheme, Robert Heath Heating installed 129 indoor units to replace an ageing communal gas system. Residents stayed in their homes throughout, and the work took under four months.
Ready to find out more?
Speak to our team about your next programme.