New to Oil / Multi fuel stove

talulahbeige_2

Were looking at renting a house that is Oil CH and has a multi fuel stove.
The house is a small detached and is well insulated. IT's not a typical rental property in that it has been the owners home for years and they are now emigrating and want to keep the house.

We're used to having GCH, are we mad to make the move?

ilikecookies

There's no getting away from the fact that it will cost you more to heat your house with oil than mains gas and there is an added "hassle factor" with both oil (eg. arranging delivery of the oil) and stoves (eg. the time taken to get it going, stockpiling and carting wood to-and-fro, etc).

How much more it will cost you is impossible to predict due to the number of variables involved (eg. size of the house, standard of insulation, efficiency of the current boiler, what temperature you like your house, how much you plan to use the stove vs the central heating, etc). Best bet would be to ask the current owners to show you the current running costs and explain what this is based upon (eg. how many months a year do they use the CH, how long is it on each day, etc).

Financial oblivion aside however if the house is in a beautiful location (which may itself explain why it is off the main gas grid) and you love the house you may well not be totally insane!

w50nky

It depends on your circumstances really .

I would ask what the bills have been for oil and fuel for the stove over the last year or so.
Oil heating is not really any different to use so the function will be the similar. The obvious factor will be the cost of the oil and the fact that you have to pay up front for it and the more you buy the cheaper it is per litre. It always seems to increase in cost during the winter months so now would be a good time to fill up (probably). This of course means that if you have to leave the property you may have to leave oil in the tank unless it is purchased by the owner of next tennant. The same is true of fuel for the stove.

I have oil and a multifuel stove. If I could get mains gas I would do so no question. I would not be without my stove though.

G_M

Make sure the inventory/check-in documents specify how much oil is in the tank. Make sure the tenancy contract states that if you leave the tank fuller when you leave you will be re-imbursed (or vice verse).

It is impossible to ensure the tank is at the same level when you leave.