With the arrival of autumn, heating once again becomes one of the most significant items in household expenses. This year, attention to consumption is particularly high: on October 2, 2026, ARERA announced a 12.7% increase in the typical user's spending on the Gas Vulnerability Protection Service, referring to September compared to August.
This figure pertains to a specific service and does not mean that all bills will increase by the same percentage. However, it is an opportunity to reflect on how energy costs can impact home management.
Centralized or autonomous heating: which is truly more advantageous? The answer depends on the characteristics of the system, the building's efficiency, consumption habits, and how expenses are calculated.
For those considering buying or renting a home, understanding these differences can help better evaluate the property and avoid surprises when the first winter bills arrive.
Centralized and autonomous heating: what is the difference?
The main distinction lies in how heat is produced and distributed.
In centralized heating, a common system serves multiple housing units in the same building. Heat production is managed at the condominium level, while individual apartments can have systems to regulate temperature and account for consumption.
In autonomous heating, each dwelling has its own heating system, managed individually. A common example is the apartment's gas boiler, but there are also other solutions, such as heat pumps.
The difference mainly concerns management.
Those with an autonomous system generally have more freedom in scheduling heating, while still adhering to applicable regulations on operating hours and temperatures. In a condominium with a centralized system, operating hours are set at a common level, but individual regulation can allow for adjusting the heat to personal needs.
This means centralized does not necessarily equate to a lack of control, just as autonomous does not automatically mean greater savings.
Which heating costs less?
This is one of the first questions asked when visiting an apartment, but comparing the two systems based solely on the type of system can be misleading.
A modern, well-maintained centralized system with temperature regulation systems can ensure efficient heating management. At the same time, an autonomous system can be cost-effective when it allows for adapting operation to the hours and needs of the home's occupants.
In both cases, however, consumption depends on various elements.
The characteristics of the building make a difference
A home with poorly insulated walls, outdated windows, or significant thermal dispersion generally requires more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Conversely, a well-insulated home can limit energy needs, regardless of the installed heating system.
The apartment's floor, exposure, surface area, and position relative to other housing units can also affect the home's thermal behavior.
Therefore, during a visit, it is useful to observe the property's overall characteristics, without stopping at the presence of an autonomous boiler or radiators connected to a common system.
The age and maintenance of the system also matter
An efficient heating system must be correctly sized, regulated, and maintained.
The presence of a relatively recent system can be a positive element, but it is not enough to guarantee good functioning. It is important to check the maintenance status, technical documentation, and any scheduled interventions.
For centralized systems, this information can be requested from the condominium administrator. For autonomous systems, it is advisable to check the logbook and documentation related to interventions carried out.
Centralized heating: how are expenses divided in a condominium?
An aspect that often raises questions concerns the distribution of costs.
In condominiums with centralized heating, the total expense is not necessarily divided equally among all apartments.
The regulation on heat accounting provides, where applicable, that at least 50% of the expense is attributed to actual voluntary thermal energy withdrawals. The remaining part can be divided according to criteria such as thousandths, surfaces, or other measures provided by the regulation and condominium decisions.
To understand the concrete functioning of one's condominium, it is necessary to know the adopted distribution criterion.
Consumption-related and usage-independent quota
Practically speaking, the expense distribution may include two components:
A quota related to individual consumption, depending on the heat attributed to the apartment through accounting systems. A quota divided according to condominium criteria, linked to costs not directly attributed to individual voluntary consumption.
This explains why, in a condominium with centralized heating, even those who keep radiators off may still incur expenses.
Individual accounting still allows for linking part of the costs to actual heating usage, promoting greater consumption awareness.
Before buying or renting an apartment with centralized heating, it is advisable to request the expense report and verify how the heating quota is calculated.
It is not enough to know the total amount of condominium expenses: one must understand which services are included and which costs depend on consumption.
Autonomous heating: more freedom, but also responsibility
With an autonomous system, the occupant can generally directly manage the regulation and scheduling of heating, within applicable limits.
This flexibility can be useful, for example, for those who spend much of the day away from home or wish to adapt the system's operation to their habits.
Individual management, however, also entails some important checks.
Before moving into a new home, it is advisable to ascertain the generator's condition, its proper functioning, and the execution of scheduled maintenance interventions.
In Lombardy, the management of thermal systems is governed by regional provisions defining responsibilities, controls, and documentation obligations.
Among the tools to know is CURIT, the Regional Unified Register of Thermal Systems, used for managing information on systems and maintenance and control activities.
An important point: not all interventions necessarily have an annual deadline. Frequencies must be verified based on applicable provisions, system characteristics, and relevant technical indications.
Heating in Milan: what changes in winter 2026/2027?
In Milan, the thermal season 2026/2027 began on October 15, 2026.
However, the Municipality has introduced specific limitations for the initial ignition period, considering above-average seasonal temperatures and energy consumption reduction goals.
According to the communication from the Municipal Administration on October 9, 2026:
From October 15 to 30, 2026: ignition allowed for a maximum of 8 hours a day, between 5:00 AM and 11:00 PM. From October 31, 2026: ignition allowed for a maximum of 13 hours a day, always between 5:00 AM and 11:00 PM. Expected end of the thermal season: April 15, 2027, unless new provisions are made.
Exceptions are provided for certain categories of buildings, such as healthcare facilities and specific childcare services.
These indications concern the Municipality of Milan. For homes located in the suburbs or other municipalities in Lombardy, it is advisable to verify the applicable rules in the specific territory and any local ordinances.
Those using an autonomous system must also remember that programming freedom does not automatically eliminate the limits set for heating operation.
Buying or renting a home: which documents to check?
When evaluating a property, it is normal to focus on the price, square footage, room layout, and location.
However, energy costs are part of the expenses that will accompany daily life in the home.
To have a more complete picture, there are some documents worth requesting before making a decision.
1. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
The EPC is the document that describes the energy performance of the building or housing unit according to the calculation criteria set by the regulation.
It contains useful information about the energy class and performance indicators of the property.
It is important to remember that the energy class does not coincide with the bill amounts: actual costs also depend on usage conditions, climate, and energy rates.
The EPC is therefore a starting point for assessing the home's efficiency, to be complemented by other information.
2. Bills and consumption from previous seasons
For an apartment with autonomous heating, knowing historical consumption can help understand the magnitude of expenses.
It is preferable to compare energy consumption, expressed in their respective units of measure, in addition to billed amounts. The final cost can also vary due to contract conditions and energy prices.
For an apartment with a centralized system, condominium reports and accounting statements are particularly useful.
In both cases, historical data must be interpreted carefully: the habits of previous occupants may be very different from one's own.
3. System logbook and maintenance documentation
The system logbook collects technical and documentary information about the climate control system.
In the case of an autonomous system, it is useful to verify its availability and update, along with reports of interventions carried out.
For a centralized system, information on the thermal plant and its management can be requested through the administrator.
Five useful questions to ask during a property visit
When visiting an apartment, some questions can provide important information even before delving into the documentation.
Is the heating centralized or autonomous? And what technology does it use? How much was spent in recent winter seasons? Is it possible to consult consumption and reports? How are consumption regulated and accounted for? In centralized systems, are there thermostatic valves and accounting devices? When was the last maintenance performed? Is the system documentation available and up-to-date? Are there any planned works on the system or building? Are there any approved interventions or other expenses to investigate?
The answers can help understand the property's quality and formulate a more comprehensive assessment of its management costs.
The right home is also evaluated by the expenses it will incur over time
When it comes to heating, the most useful question is not necessarily which system is best overall, but which system is most suitable for the home's characteristics and the needs of its future occupants.
An autonomous system generally offers greater management flexibility. A well-regulated and accounted centralized system can provide a good level of comfort and allow for monitoring individual consumption.
What makes the difference are primarily the building's condition, the system's efficiency, usage methods, and the transparency of available information.
For those looking for a home in Milan or the surrounding area, evaluating these aspects before purchasing or renting means looking beyond the initial price and also considering how much it will cost to live in the property.
G. SOURCES USED
1. ARERA — Gas price update
2. Municipality of Milan — Start of the 2026/2027 thermal season
3. ENEA — Cost distribution in centralized systems
5. Lombardy Region — Provisions on thermal systems
6. Lombardy Region — CURIT
7. Lombardy Region — Energy efficiency of buildings
8. Municipality of Milan — Energy Desk