Time:O:Stat - Consumer Electronics Design for Smarter Heating Control
The Time:o:stat landlord thermostat is a prime example of how smart, user-focused consumer electronics design can transform an entire market. Designed specifically to help HMO landlords and short-term accommodation providers cut heating costs without compromising tenant comfort, the product has sold over 10,000 units and is widely trusted across the industry. D2M has worked closely with inventor Anthony Cherry for more than a decade, taking the Time:o:stat from its earliest concept through five product generations, including the latest models showcased, and backed, on BBC’s Dragons’ Den.
The Outcome
D2M’s decade-long collaboration with inventor Anthony Cherry and electronics partner Xitek resulted in a refined and trusted consumer electronics design tailored specifically for landlords. To date, over 10,000 units of the Time:o:stat thermostat have been sold, helping landlords reduce heating costs by up to 40–50%
Anthony’s pitch secured £80,000 investment on BBC’s Dragons’ Den from Touker Suleyman, with the product retaining full autonomy and continuity in design and development. The Time:o:stat includes multiple model options and is now manufactured in the UK to ensure reliability, quality and fast support. D2M’s design solutions—including simplified installation brackets, robust casing design, and compact user-friendly electronics—have helped position the Time:o:stat as the go-to smart thermostat for HMO landlords, student housing, Airbnb hosts, and holiday let operators.
The product is widely regarded in the industry for its durability, ease of use, and well-engineered functionality, earning praise from landlords, property managers, and maintenance contractors alike. Customers routinely report significant savings and ease of operation, positioning Time:o:stat as a reliable and trusted heating control solution.
The Story
When HMO landlord and entrepreneur Anthony Cherry became frustrated with tenants leaving heating on all day while he footed the bill, he set out to create a device that could solve the problem without alienating tenants. His vision was clear – develop a tamper-proof, easy-to-use thermostat that would give tenants control over their comfort while preventing waste saving landlords significant costs in the process.
Anthony approached D2M to help bring this idea to life. From the earliest concept stages, our team worked closely with Anthony to define a clear design brief and ensure the product’s functionality met the unique needs of landlords. We partnered with local electronics specialists Xitek, just north of our Cheltenham base, to handle PCB design and electronics engineering. This tight collaboration between electronic engineers and our own industrial designers was crucial, ensuring the casing design and internal components worked together seamlessly while keeping the unit compact and robust.
Durability, reliability, and simplicity of use were paramount. The product needed to be manufactured in the UK to ensure quality control and rapid support, so we also worked extensively on cost-effective consumer electronics design for manufacture. This included designing mounting brackets for different installation methods, refining prototypes through multiple testing phases, and making iterative adjustments to improve installation speed and reduce costs.
Over more than a decade of working together, we’ve supported Time:o:stat through five generations of product development, each time refining the form factor, improving usability, and enhancing landlord-specific features. Our design and development work helped Anthony launch with confidence, leading to an appearance on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, where the product secured investment from Touker Suleyman. Today, Time:o:stat is trusted by over 10,000 landlords, recognised across the industry, and continues to evolve with new models like the Time:o:stat ONE.
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Details
The Time:o:stat range is the result of meticulous consumer electronics design tailored to a very specific use case, managing heating in HMOs, serviced accommodation and holiday lets. At its core is a countdown boost timer that allows tenants or guests to activate the heating for a landlord-set period, ensuring the system switches off automatically and energy isn’t wasted heating empty rooms.
Two main models are available: the CLASSIC, ideal for HMOs where tenants require some daily scheduling flexibility, and the ONE, which adds app-based remote management for landlords with multiple properties. Key features across the range include tamper-proof controls, maximum and minimum temperature limits, comfort warmth mode (lowering the maximum temperature for longer boosts), and optional humidity and open-window detection on the ONE model.
From a design standpoint, the challenge lay in housing advanced electronics in a compact, durable casing that could withstand daily use, installation in varied property types, and the occasional knock from tenants. D2M’s industrial designers worked hand-in-hand with Xitek’s electronics engineers to ensure PCB layout, power supply, and user interface elements fit seamlessly within a small footprint while still being simple to install and operate.
Every detail, from bracket design for quick installation, to casing materials chosen for durability and chemical resistance, was considered with both landlord cost savings and tenant usability in mind. This focus on function and form, backed by rigorous prototyping and field testing, has resulted in a reliable, UK-manufactured product that meets industry compliance standards while delivering measurable savings.