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Heating Help (Lack of)
I'm pretty sure there is nothing out there as I have been looking into this this year and the past two winters.
I have no heating and no way to afford getting any.
A bit of back history (Apologies in advanced for a lengthy post)
I moved into my little flat almost four years ago after my hubby left me. It was not long after the wedding so I had a few debts left from it (which is being dealt with so not a problem). This left me with little money but very fortunately for me my lovely mum helped me get somewhere very cheap to rent that enabled me to stay close to family and keep my pets and I was allowed to decorate how I pleased. The place had very old fashioned gas heaters but the safety certificate was passed the day before I moved in so I was quite happy. The day I moved in the heaters would not stay lit but gas still flowed out. The agency sent someone out my second day and it was all condemed. The agency was useless. Both my landlady and myself had to keep on at them to get it removed and they left big holes in my about the size of a dinner plate. You could reach in from the communal garden and touch my bed! The holes were also big enough for my dog to crawl through. However we got it sorted, it cost my landlady an uneccessary fortune with all the agency costs and too much stress for me and the worst possible time.
Any way as a result I now rent from her privately which has worked out fantastically. My rent has been kept low because of the heating and I am allowed a friend as a lodger.
My landlady has no legal obligations to put in heating and really really cant afford it. She has replaced the old gas fireplace in the lounge with a modern electric one and provided me with two oil filled radiators (which I have since replaced with wall mounted convector heaters).
Up until last year I was managing. However last winter I used the heaters much much less (to compensate my lodger working different hours so needing heating at different times we worked out a schedule when to have it on) but I was persuaded by a utility company to switch to them as they would cost less. I asked to still pay the same amount each month of £50 which is less then what I was asked so that I had a buffer. Long story short this was not enough and I am still paying £96 per month for last winters heating.
I have looked everywhere for help with funding for some form of heating to be put in that is more enviromental and cheaper. We have not had the heating on at all so far. We just wear layers, coats, gloves etc.
Everything out there is for those on benefits, those with children and the disabled. (and in no way am I having a dig at those who are).
I work full time hours on part time pay in a qualified job (local school so term time). However anything I found that says low income in fact means some form of benefit which I am not entitled too. I also do voluntary work which is unpaid and I will not give up (at least its somewhere warm!)
I can't physically have children so spend my time working and volunteering with them.
I don't have a disability but do have physical helath problems effected by the cold.
Moving is not a possibility. My rent is at least £150 cheaper then a one bedroom dive in not so nice locations and still have electric heating of some form. They certainly don't allow pets.
Please don't be rude and say to get rid of your pets if you can't afford them. I can afford them. They are small, dont cost much and are fully insured. The cost of them each month would make little difference.
My lodger is paying as much as she possibly can so I can't up her rent and wouldn't want to. After having a nasty lodger in the past I want to keep this one! She helps me around the place to make up for it.
I am not asking my landlady again as I know she can not help although she would happy for anything to be installed. She already feels guilty enough even though she has done more than legally required by buying the heaters, and has not once upped my rent because of this.
Basically if anyone has come across of any schemes I may be eligable for please tell me!
I have no heating and no way to afford getting any.
A bit of back history (Apologies in advanced for a lengthy post)
I moved into my little flat almost four years ago after my hubby left me. It was not long after the wedding so I had a few debts left from it (which is being dealt with so not a problem). This left me with little money but very fortunately for me my lovely mum helped me get somewhere very cheap to rent that enabled me to stay close to family and keep my pets and I was allowed to decorate how I pleased. The place had very old fashioned gas heaters but the safety certificate was passed the day before I moved in so I was quite happy. The day I moved in the heaters would not stay lit but gas still flowed out. The agency sent someone out my second day and it was all condemed. The agency was useless. Both my landlady and myself had to keep on at them to get it removed and they left big holes in my about the size of a dinner plate. You could reach in from the communal garden and touch my bed! The holes were also big enough for my dog to crawl through. However we got it sorted, it cost my landlady an uneccessary fortune with all the agency costs and too much stress for me and the worst possible time.
Any way as a result I now rent from her privately which has worked out fantastically. My rent has been kept low because of the heating and I am allowed a friend as a lodger.
My landlady has no legal obligations to put in heating and really really cant afford it. She has replaced the old gas fireplace in the lounge with a modern electric one and provided me with two oil filled radiators (which I have since replaced with wall mounted convector heaters).
Up until last year I was managing. However last winter I used the heaters much much less (to compensate my lodger working different hours so needing heating at different times we worked out a schedule when to have it on) but I was persuaded by a utility company to switch to them as they would cost less. I asked to still pay the same amount each month of £50 which is less then what I was asked so that I had a buffer. Long story short this was not enough and I am still paying £96 per month for last winters heating.
I have looked everywhere for help with funding for some form of heating to be put in that is more enviromental and cheaper. We have not had the heating on at all so far. We just wear layers, coats, gloves etc.
Everything out there is for those on benefits, those with children and the disabled. (and in no way am I having a dig at those who are).
I work full time hours on part time pay in a qualified job (local school so term time). However anything I found that says low income in fact means some form of benefit which I am not entitled too. I also do voluntary work which is unpaid and I will not give up (at least its somewhere warm!)
I can't physically have children so spend my time working and volunteering with them.
I don't have a disability but do have physical helath problems effected by the cold.
Moving is not a possibility. My rent is at least £150 cheaper then a one bedroom dive in not so nice locations and still have electric heating of some form. They certainly don't allow pets.
Please don't be rude and say to get rid of your pets if you can't afford them. I can afford them. They are small, dont cost much and are fully insured. The cost of them each month would make little difference.
My lodger is paying as much as she possibly can so I can't up her rent and wouldn't want to. After having a nasty lodger in the past I want to keep this one! She helps me around the place to make up for it.
I am not asking my landlady again as I know she can not help although she would happy for anything to be installed. She already feels guilty enough even though she has done more than legally required by buying the heaters, and has not once upped my rent because of this.
Basically if anyone has come across of any schemes I may be eligable for please tell me!
0
Comments
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Sorry everyone I have just realised how much I rambled!0
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Hiya, I am thinking of the free insulation deals for the walls if your land lady in willing?
Hot Water bottles are used a lot here.
Have you thick curtains?
Bath and early to bed is sometimes what I do with my kindle to read.The secret to success is making very small, yet constant changes.:)0 -
The mistake was to replace gas heaters with electric ones which cost around 3 times as much to run for an equivalent heat output.That gum you like is coming back in style.0
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The mistake was to replace gas heaters with electric ones which cost around 3 times as much to run for an equivalent heat output.
I know that which is the reason for my post as I have no alternative.
The flat above is council so when I have enquired about cavity wall insulation I was told that because of the style of building my flat would have been done too when upstairs was done (because of gravity) Also when they made the the holes there was definately something in the wall cavities0
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