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Preparing for winter IV

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Comments

  • fuddle
    fuddle Posts: 6,823 Forumite
    kboss I am sure the Landlord Act 1985 stipulates that whatever heating was in the property when you occupied must be maintained and working to working order.

    If your boiler is patched up and is actually working I honestly would make do. When it 'goes' completely I am sure the LL will have to do something to heat your home.

    We were without night storage heating last winter. The LL provided portable heaters when it 'went' completely because she knew she was obliged to. She then spent thousands installing electric central heating for us because night storage, she felt, was moot to reinstall.

    Do you think she would have done that if she thought she could get away with it? Maybe the law is different north of the border?
  • kboss2010
    kboss2010 Posts: 1,466 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    fuddle wrote: »
    kboss I am sure the Landlord Act 1985 stipulates that whatever heating was in the property when you occupied must be maintained and working to working order.

    If your boiler is patched up and is actually working I honestly would make do. When it 'goes' completely I am sure the LL will have to do something to heat your home.

    We were without night storage heating last winter. The LL provided portable heaters when it 'went' completely because she knew she was obliged to. She then spent thousands installing electric central heating for us because night storage, she felt, was moot to reinstall.

    Do you think she would have done that if she thought she could get away with it? Maybe the law is different north of the border?

    The law is different in Scotland, sadly. Though there should be new tenants' rights laws coming in by 2016 so hopefully that will change!

    It's been a constant issue since we moved in. Basically our boiler was fitted badly and it's cheap and there aren't enough/big enough radiators so it's inadequate for the size of the flat (according to an local energy charity energy efficiency survey I had done a few months ago). The flat is also inadequately ventilated, insulated and sealed (old building) so it gets mould on the inside of the external walls and the window seals are rubbish so it's draughty - in Winter I pretty much live in 4 layers and a woolly hat lol. Our gas and electricity bill is huge regardless - it averages £150 a month over the year but it's more like £180 per month on the cheapest direct debit tariff when we have the heating on in Winter.

    We also have huge floor to ceiling windows in every room and the only room that has curtains and not blinds is my bedroom. The landlord won't let me put curtain poles up myself and is insisting I get a professional in (at his expense granted) but I can't get anyone in to do it as it's too small a job, none of the local tradesmen will give me a quote!:mad:

    Oh well, at least it's gas and not storage heaters, then I'd be bankrupt lol!
    “I want to be a glow worm, A glow worm's never glum'Coz how can you be grumpy, when the sun shines out your bum?" ~ Dr A. TappingI'm finding my way back to sanity again... but I don't really know what I'm gonna do when I get there~ LifehouseWhat’s fur ye will make go by ye… but also what’s not fur ye, ye can jist scroll on by!
  • Wow, Kboss, what an absolute nightmare, sounds like your LL is laughing all the way to the bank!

    Hope things look up for you soon
  • fuddle
    fuddle Posts: 6,823 Forumite
    Oh drat kboss. I lived in a big 1930's property a few years back with a dodgy landlord and inadequate boiler/rads/damp/big windows/large energy bills and cold to boot etc so I feel your pain! I bet you havr to run the water fir an age to get it to run warm too eh?

    I just dont want you spending your money on something s/he should, at the very least morally, be doing as a LL. Curtains? Velcro cheap fleeces to windows. Non permament (may need sticky stuff remover... ooops) but really do help in the mean time. Also bubblewrapped windows in my time. hopefully you can find a tradesman soon.
  • kboss2010
    kboss2010 Posts: 1,466 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Thanks :) I'm asking around friends and family at the moment, I'm hoping someone I know has a brother/dad/uncle who is a tradesman and is willing to do me a favour!

    The one small mercy is that the shower is electric so even when there's no hot water we can still have hot showers. I'm also not averse to spending evenings at the gym to use their heating and hot water lol!

    I got my own curtains for the bedroom from a charity shop the winter before last - I found fully lined 90"x90" ones for £10! They look like the green ones that Maria made play clothes from in The Sound of Music but at least they keep out the draught lol. It's amazing the difference they made.
    “I want to be a glow worm, A glow worm's never glum'Coz how can you be grumpy, when the sun shines out your bum?" ~ Dr A. TappingI'm finding my way back to sanity again... but I don't really know what I'm gonna do when I get there~ LifehouseWhat’s fur ye will make go by ye… but also what’s not fur ye, ye can jist scroll on by!
  • Off Lyn's constant inspiration, I've ordered M. Patten's We'll eat again and Post War kitchen.

    I too have ordered 'We'll Eat Again' after reading the posts on the Christmas thread. Can't wait for it to arrive!

    Re. Soup - if anyone likes celeriac I can recommend the River Cottage recipe for Celeriac Soup (you can find it by Googling). It's yummy - my Mum is growing me some celeriac in the garden (for the first time!) just for making soup with!
    Destroying Debt in 2018 - New Job, New Attitude!
    Current figures (as of 01.01.2018) Next £30.00 | Nationwide Credit Card £700.00 | Virgin Credit Card (0%) £2950.00 | Barclaycard (0%) £1150.00
    Guinea Pig Enthusiast ~ Bookworm ~ Crafty So'n'So ~ Introvert
    Refuse | Reduce | Reuse | Recycle
  • Eenymeeny
    Eenymeeny Posts: 2,017 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    Soup recipes: The kids aren't keen on 'lumps' in their soup. I liquidise it and add a 'dollop' of peanut butter. It makes it thick and glossy and absolutely yummy! Especially nice in carrot soup. :)
    The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.
    Thanks to everyone who contributes to this wonderful forum. I'm very grateful for the guidance and friendliness that I always receive from you.
    :A:beer:
    Please and Thank You are the magic words;)
  • mardatha
    mardatha Posts: 15,612 Forumite
    "We'll Eat Again" is very very good. As is "Eating for Victory" - I'm a truly terrible cook and I find if I stick to these two books then I can make stuff that tastes like food! lol
  • Any favourite's Mar? I'm not cooking for several nights next week but if I can still work one of the recipes in I'm looking for something to try next!
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