Heating in Lounge of rented accomodation

DominicJ_2

Just checked, mine are 3.2 and 10.4, (British Gas Websaver13) but even so, gas is a third of the cost, even in a low efficiency appliance its going to be cheaper than an oil radiator.

macman

Just how old is this gas fire? When was it last serviced? Have you received a copy of the annual gas safety certificate that your LL is required by law supply you with?
A couple of 400W panel heaters are not going to make much difference-and will cost at least twice as much to run. 400W is the output of 4x100W light bulbs. A decent panel heater will be at least 2kW.

dancingfairy

Hi - a couple of thoughts from me:
1) again I agree it's not up to the letting agent what they think at all - it's not their money.
2) Have you got permission in writing from the landlord ( not the letting agents ) that you can install these heater things? Otherwise it may come down to 'he said, she said' kind of argument. It could save you a lot of hassle later on.
3) Could you persuade the landlord to sign up for a years contract or longer period of time in return for getting the heating sorted to something you'd be happy with? At the end of the day you can negotiate with the landlord - they may feel willing to splash out if they know they will get a guaranteed rent for a set period of time or if you offer to go halves on it etc (as mentioned before).
Best of Luck
df

tyllwyd

The other thing - your letting agent mentioned new windows - do you think it is the windows that are letting out a lot of the heat? Are they double glazed etc?

BitterAndTwisted

Depending on how long the OP expects to be in this property, and if they've waited ten years for it, one assumes a long time, they could consider asking the landlord if they can install a wood-burning stove, or even a multi-fuel one. If there's a gas-fire one assumes there's a working chimney.

Also, that working chimney might be drawing all the heat from the gas-fire up it and not into the room. I'd be having a think about that.

If the single-glazed windows are getting rid of any heat, it might be worth having a think about getting some bubble-wrap over them for the next couple of months.

I highly recommend the "Preparing For Winter" thread on the Old-Style forum. It's a very, very long one but there are so many useful and cheap hints and tips about conserving what heat there might be.

millym

If the central heating system is decent, I reckon you should pay for a radiator to be put in the living room. You should recoup your costs fairly quickly from the savings you make on your gas bill.

Depends how good your heating is though. I previously stayed in a huge place with very high ceilings, and in winter had to put around £45 a week in the prepay meter. I now live in a 1 bed flat and pay less than this for gas a month, and thats with a gas hob added on.

As was mentioned before, you could try to get the LL to pay half, though he really isn't obliged to. I can sympathise though, as a cold living room is no fun!

Leon_W

To be honest, if I were the landlord and got a long winded letter moaning about a heating system, windows, or anything else that was in a perfectly acceptable working condition I'd issue the Section 21 faster than a speeding bullet. No matter how long you had waited or loved the house.

Don't get me wrong, most tenants I have had in the one little cottage I rent out have been fantastic but one guy really got on my wick. He moved in and after a month had a list of "faults" as long as my arm (ie:snow flakes coming down the chimney. I ask you !) You can just tell he was going to be trouble. Got shot of him ASAP.

DonnaP1

Hi guys, sorry for late reply... Had no internet yesterday!!... Thanks for all your comments, the landlord called me yesterday and he is going to come round and inspect.. I have been here a year now, and he said Im not the first to comment on the lounge temperature, but no one stayed here long enough for him to do anything about it! Very nice man, he knows how long I have waited for the house, and also knows Im not planning on going anywhere anytime soon, even if nothing is sorted! He has no objection to me putting the panel heaters in, as long as I fill up the holes and paint if and when I decide to move out. In answer to the question about the windows - They are double glazed but the cheap of cheap ones, and mayaswell not be double at all! As this is the only room I have a downside with, I know I will have to just live with it if the landlord doesnt do anything, I do love this house, and am not moving!! My original post was just to enquire IF the landlord was obliged to do anything, Im not moaning by a long shot, as the rest of the house is warm! x

puddy

DonnaP1 wrote: »

This is all very true, but surely no house should have a lounge that goes down to 7 degrees in temperature!!!

i have to question this. over last christmas our heating broke down. we had no heating AT ALL for a full 2 week period. during that time the temperature in the whole house went down to about 10 degrees. no lower

this is for a 3 bed semi near the sea. it was cold, but i fail to understand how one room can be 7 degrees in your house if there is heating in the other rooms?

is it detached, does it have double glazing, carpets?

we have hard floors which were drafty and some of our double glazing is not sealed properly

however, i too would either get a 2000w oil filled rad which you plug in, or an electric rad you plug in or use the lounge as your bedroom and your current bedroom as the lounge.

or move

DonnaP1

puddy wrote: »

i have to question this. over last christmas our heating broke down. we had no heating AT ALL for a full 2 week period. during that time the temperature in the whole house went down to about 10 degrees. no lower

this is for a 3 bed semi near the sea. it was cold, but i fail to understand how one room can be 7 degrees in your house if there is heating in the other rooms?

is it detached, does it have double glazing, carpets?

we have hard floors which were drafty and some of our double glazing is not sealed properly

however, i too would either get a 2000w oil filled rad which you plug in, or an electric rad you plug in or use the lounge as your bedroom and your current bedroom as the lounge.

or move

Well, unless the digital thermometer is wrong, then thats what the temp said it was!! All sorted now anyway, thanks for everyones comments