Renting a flat with no heating

CapnCJ

I've been a reader of the site for a little while, and the time has come for me to post - I need some advice.

Me, the missus, and a friend are looking to rent a flat. After some searching around and plenty of disappointments, we've stumbled across a great one. It's big, in a good area, and reasonably cheap, however, it has no heating atall.

Basically, we're not sure what our options for heating the place are, or how much it'll cost.

What's the cheapest way to heat a flat that has no gas supply whatsoever?

krycek985

Iv had a few flats that dont have heating in them. All great during the summer then winter hits you and you relise how crap no heating really is. You can use electric heater but they do cost a fortune to run. If you dont have great windows (double glaze or correctly sealed windows) even heating the flat wount make much of a difference as the second you turn the heaters off the head dissapears out the windows.

I would advise to keep looking if you tend to stay during winter or insure you budget for electric heater / make sure you have correctly installed double glaze.

CapnCJ

The place has double glazing, but there was moisture between the panes on one window. Something I should be concerned about?

G_M

The landlord is obliged to provide a means of heating.

Of course, all he has to do if you insist is give you a couple of electricity-guzzling heaters.

No gas? Then storage heaters, though this may involve permission from the LL to do re-wiring . Plus arranging night-time leccy from the supplier.

Hump

What does the EPC say? - don't touch anything with a rating under 35

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/Energyperformancecertificates/DG_177026

HappyMJ

You could also go for a portable gas heater for the lounge. Each bottle contains 15kg of gas costs £30 and lasts 6 weeks for 5 hours a day on the low setting of 1.4kw. You could get away with only needing 3 bottles over the whole winter period. I'm only saying this because the flat is big. You would need good ventilation and a carbon monoxide detector is a must. You can't use them in bedroom it's only for the living room. As you don't have gas central heating you'll have to get used to it being colder than you are used to or pay for it. A few cosy blankets on the sofa will help.

Eton_Rifle

Most tenancy agreements will forbid the use of a portable gas or paraffin heater.

I'd check if you can use oil-filled radiators for spot heating, as one option, as I've found them very useful as an alternative to central heating.

CapnCJ

So we've spoken to the agent today, and told him we like the flat - We've told him to tell the LL that we'll take it IF he installs heating.

Possibly a bit forward of us, but sod it, we like the flat, so it's worth a go.

Eton_Rifle

Worth a try but the LL would have to be either desperate or thinking long term (with almost certainly a corresponding rent increase since the flat would now be far more desirable) to want to spend, what? 2K to put in a heating system and redecorate?
Plus he'd have to live with the void while all this is taking place.

CapnCJ

He's offered to supply us with a few freestanding electric heaters. Refuses oil radiators and storage heaters.

Not sure if we should take the flat or not

BitterAndTwisted

Oil-filled radiators and free-standing electric heaters are heinously expensive to run. In the depths of winter you will most probs end up only heating the room you're in. Think about how miserable it will be to shower or bathe in an unheated bathroom when the temps outside are below zero.