More than one million homes across the UK rely on oil central heating, particularly in those picturesque rural areas that aren’t connected to the main gas grid. For those who are used to oil heating, selling a home with an oil tank might not seem like a big issue.
However, according to government census data, 95% of housing in the UK doesn’t have an oil tank. This means that when selling a house with an oil tank in the UK, you will most likely have potential buyers who have never encountered one before.
Being faced with an unfamiliar situation can put some buyers off. So, to give yourself the best chance at selling, you need to be prepared with all the paperwork. You’ll also need all the info to help you address any concerns and highlight the benefits of your property.
Be transparent and open at all times
When selling a house, it can be tempting to skip over the parts that you think might drive buyers away. If having an oil tank is a concern, you’d probably want to focus instead on the other defining features of your home.
However, this can have the opposite effect. Your buyers might feel more nervous by not knowing anything about the tank and assume the worst.
The best way to address these issues is head-on. Be transparent and honest from the start, and give potential buyers all the information they need. The more informed they are, the better they feel, and the more comfortable they’ll be in giving you an offer.
When we bought our current home, it was heated with oil due to its rural location. This was a first for us, so we were nervous. But because the sellers were so open about it and told us to ask any questions we might have, we felt reassured.
They could give us all the information we needed. Thankfully, we got a clear picture of what it’s like living in a house with oil central heating.
Gather all your certificates and service reports
Having a registered OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association) certificate for the tank’s installation is a significant selling point. It proves that your oil tank was installed following all building regulations.
If you have this certificate, make sure you have it prepared and let your potential buyers know.
You’ll also want to have your service reports ready. Oil boilers should be serviced annually by OFTEC-registered engineers to ensure they function efficiently and safely.
Regular servicing will prove to your buyers that the system is being taken care of and is in good condition, putting them at ease. If you haven’t had a service recently, it might be worth getting one done before you go on the market so you can highlight this to your buyers.
And speaking of paperwork, you’ll also want to check out our guide on the paperwork must-haves you need to get ready when selling your property.
Perform a tank inspection
Your oil tank will be scrutinised closely. So, before you show buyers around, it’s worth assessing its condition from their point of view.
New buyers will be checking that your oil tank is:
- Placed on a flat, sturdy base (ideally concrete or stone)
- Meets the required distances from any buildings, boundaries, trees, and shrubs
- If the tank is bunded, as all new domestic oil tanks are now required to be bunded
- Free from any rust, cracks, or bulges, which could indicate potential leaks or poor maintenance
Also, if you have an outdoor oil tank, it may be more prone to corrosion and leakage. The culprit, moisture condensation, happens due to varying temperatures, weather conditions, and your tank’s location (Banuta & Tarquini, 2010).
If you check all these requirements, make sure you point them out to your buyers.
If you have an older model that hasn’t been bunded or doesn’t hit the required distances from other buildings, you will need to be prepared to answer questions on how old the tank is.
Oil tanks have an average service lifetime of 10-15 years. If your oil tank is getting up there in age, you might expect a lower offer for your property as potential buyers factor in the cost of replacing your tank.
That’s the situation our sellers were in when we bought our current home. What they did was get quotes to replace the oil tank, which they shared with us. This way, we knew what to expect, and the sellers could show that they had considered it ahead of time.
In the end, we decided to replace the oil tank with a heat pump, but it was good to know what it would have cost to keep the oil central heating.
Highlight delivery accessibility
Selling a house with an oil tank in the UK differs wildly from one with gas central heating. For one, the oil doesn’t come into the house automatically. You have to get your oil tank filled up, like that of your car. This can be a daunting prospect for buyers new to this type of central heating.
When showing potential buyers around your home, make sure that you clearly point out the location and accessibility of your oil tank.
One of the key questions your buyers will have is how delivery drivers will be able to access the tank without going through the home.
Make sure you clearly outline the access points and how your own deliveries are currently being carried out.
Share information on your oil deliveries and suppliers
It can be really helpful for potential buyers to know more about your oil deliveries. Info on the local suppliers in your area can be a welcome addition.
Some of the key questions they might have are:
- How often do you have to fill up the tank?
- What supplier do you use?
- How does your supplier access the tank?
- How much does it cost on average to fill up the tank?
- How many local oil suppliers are in the area?
- What is the current oil level in your tank?
- Will you fill up the tank before moving?
These are the exact questions we had when we bought the house we currently live in. The previous owners were quite prepared because they could answer them all. This was great for us because it meant we had all the information we needed to make a decision.
In other words, knowing the answer to all these questions will help your buyers imagine their day-to-day life at your home and put them at ease with the whole process.
Don’t let your oil tank distract from your home’s appeal
Oil tanks aren’t the most visually appealing things to have. A big hurdle for potential buyers is how the tank looks, particularly if it stands out and distracts from the overall aesthetic of your home.
If your oil tank isn’t in a discreet position—e.g., in an outbuilding or garage—you might want to consider installing some screening or covers to help blend the tank into the rest of your surroundings.
This could be done through greenery like shrubs, trellises with climbing plants, or even fencing panels to create an enclosure for your tank. If you do go for this option, follow the safe distance guidelines and don’t cover up any access points for delivery.
That’s what our sellers did. The oil tank was next to a nice sitting area, which was covered. So they installed a fence between the tank and the garden furniture.
It was very well done, and if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t notice that you’re sitting next to an oil tank. There was also no smell, which was good.
Selling a house with an oil tank in the UK? Consider the entire boiler and heating system
The oil tank is only one part of the equation. Buyers will also be concerned about the boiler and heating system. Be prepared to provide information on:
Boiler age
Be honest about the age of your boiler. If it’s a modern, efficient condensing oil boiler (typically lasting around 15 years), highlight this.
Building regulations compliance certificate
Ensure you have the compliance certificate proving the boiler was installed according to regulations.
Service history
Annual servicing by OFTEC-registered engineers is crucial. Make sure your service records are up-to-date and readily available. These reports demonstrate that the system has been well-cared for and operates safely and efficiently.
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When discussing the whole heating system, it could be a great place to bring up how oil heating systems can be more cost-effective, efficient, and reliable than traditional ones.
For example, a study on heating systems in detached houses showed that oil heating had one of the lowest costs compared to electricity-driven systems (Gustavsson & Karlsson, 2002). The UK’s fuel industry trade body, UKIFDA, also revealed that heating oil prices were well within the 10-year average at 58 pence per liter (UKIFDA, 2025).
If done right, potential buyers will enter wary of an oil tank and leave completely sold on the idea.
Our sellers did that a bit, especially after we told them it would be our first home heated with oil. It was clear that they were trying to reassure us, which was good. But in hindsight, they could have done a better job at it.
However, because they were so well prepared in all the other areas we described above, we left the viewing not intimidated by the idea of buying a house with an oil tank.
Ready to sell a house in the UK with an oil tank?
Selling a house with an oil tank in the UK doesn’t have to be a barrier.
By being transparent and following the above tips, you can highlight the benefits of an oil tank, put your buyers at ease, and be on your way to a successful sale.
Want more tips and advice for selling your home?
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