Is it really that expensive?

DragonQ

danthemoneysavingman wrote: »

Just in case this one slipped by... Everyone is paying a subsidy to enable those with poorly insulated homes to get free/cheap insulation! Aren't they?
If you're on this site you should've noticed this as its been on-going for a long time now... but may be your property is really old?... just in case you missed it...

It's a flat. I can't get cavity wall insulation for just my section and there's no way the entire population of the building will agree to a large outlay like that, especially when most of us rent.

I have double glazing, and cavity wall insulation is the only recommendation on the EPC, so it's basically as good as it's gonna get.

lstar337

DragonQ wrote: »

It's a flat. I can't get cavity wall insulation for just my section and there's no way the entire population of the building will agree to a large outlay like that, especially when most of us rent.

I have double glazing, and cavity wall insulation is the only recommendation on the EPC, so it's basically as good as it's gonna get.

Same here, in a flat in a very old building.

The only thing that would meet the golden rule on the EPC is wall insulation, which we cant have as a) no cavity and b) other flat owners would not agree to solid wall. Couldn't even get DG windows (didn't meet rule) or an upgrade to the heating as a) no gas and b) nobody interested in fitting modern storage heating.

DragonQ

lstar337 wrote: »

Same here, in a flat in a very old building.

The only thing that would meet the golden rule on the EPC is wall insulation, which we cant have as a) no cavity and b) other flat owners would not agree to solid wall. Couldn't even get DG windows (didn't meet rule) or an upgrade to the heating as a) no gas and b) nobody interested in fitting modern storage heating.

That sucks. At least my flat does have cavity walls, which helps a bit even without insulation, plus a brand new gas boiler, a wireless thermostat and TRVs. 3 of the 4 walls are external though, plus there's no radiator in the kitchen.

hgotsparkle

We only have electricity bills to pay, none other on top of our rent.We have a 1 bed bungalow and our yearly cost on leccy is around £380 so about £1.04 a day.
I expect this to go up though, but as we don't have high bills anyway, I'm not expecting it to go up by a huge amount, maybe another £100.

lstar337

DragonQ wrote: »

That sucks. At least my flat does have cavity walls, which helps a bit even without insulation, plus a brand new gas boiler, a wireless thermostat and TRVs. 3 of the 4 walls are external though, plus there's no radiator in the kitchen.

Yeah, but to be honest the flat has so many problems that these are not that high on the list. Currently we are dealing with flooding everytime it rains, and perpetual damp.

Current plan of attack is to leave as soon as financially possible. The only thing this flat has going for it is cheap rent (£475/month), but even that is starting to look less and less worth it!

Cardew

PollySouthend wrote: »

I counter your graph with this graph showing that first time buyer average house price to earnings ratio. Its way higher than the 90s and in the 90's it peaked and fell very quickly.

http://housepricecrash.co.uk/graphs-ftb-average-house-price-to-earnings-ratio.php

You seem to ignore the interest rate on mortgages, which are lower now than they have ever been.

worried_jim

Pincher wrote: »

An article in the Sunday Times today says some long term thinkers fear that if a cheap source of energy was actually found, so that our dependency on oil disappears, it will turn the Middle East into a pit of hell. One half will try to kill us by Jihad, the other half will be turning up seeking asylum.

So if some scientist did come up with cheap fusion, we might have to arrest him and put him somewhere safe. Maybe this has already happened?

Good. Let them fight it out among themselves and let Allah sort it out, meanwhile we can build fortress Britain and keep it warm. Everyone's a winner.

sulphate

Cardew wrote: »

You seem to ignore the interest rate on mortgages, which are lower now than they have ever been.

That doesn't change the fact that you now have to earn more in real terms to be accepted for a mortgage no matter what the interest rate is.

danthemoneysavingman wrote: »

Just in case this one slipped by... Everyone is paying a subsidy to enable those with poorly insulated homes to get free/cheap insulation! Aren't they?
If you're on this site you should've noticed this as its been on-going for a long time now... but may be your property is really old?... just in case you missed it...

Are you talking about the Green Deal, because my understanding was that it's in the form of a loan you take out over 25 years and pay back with your electricity bill.

We don't plan to stay in our Victorian house longer than 10 years so I doubt it would be financially worthwhile, plus the thought of having to explain to a prospective buyer they'd be responsible for a 15 year loan doesn't really appeal.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm still not convinced it's "just because it's a Victorian house" because we've barely had the heating on, we can't be losing much heat cos there's not much heat to lose!

Even in the summer when we never had the heating on (obviously) we used more than estimated.

DragonQ

Cardew wrote: »

You seem to ignore the interest rate on mortgages, which are lower now than they have ever been.

Not necessarily a good thing - many people who comfortably afford their mortgages now won't be able to if the rates double. Could be a real problem if these 5% deposit mortgages are being given out willy nilly (I have no idea if they are or not).

lstar337 wrote: »

Yeah, but to be honest the flat has so many problems that these are not that high on the list. Currently we are dealing with flooding everytime it rains, and perpetual damp.

Current plan of attack is to leave as soon as financially possible. The only thing this flat has going for it is cheap rent (£475/month), but even that is starting to look less and less worth it!

Sounds like a nightmare. My bedroom has a perpetual damp smell that I can't get rid of too. I've tried keeping it warm and dry, cold with windows open, nothing really works. The windows and windowsill are clean too, no sign of mould. I just keep topping up the febreze! My flat's also relatively cheap for the area but it's just a stopgap until I can buy my own place. Can't do that until I have a regular monthly income though, no-one seems to like the fact that my PhD stipend is paid quarterly in advance!

kwmlondon

It's a tough one. The problem with fuel costs is that they are pretty inflexible. I'm sure many people are pretty profligate with the heating and have it on more than is needed, but I do worry about older people on a fixed income who are just about managing to heat one room and warm their food. 10% more will mean it's a choice between heating and eating and in a civilised country that's just not a decision I want someone's grandparents to be making.

Having said that, it was the same in the 80s, I remember, with old people dying of hypothermia in the winter.

I do remember, as a kid, that when a bill came in that would be it for the month. We'd be in deep trouble when the electricity bill arrived, or the phone bill. We'd pay it, but we may not be able to go anywhere in the car for the rest of the week until my dad got paid, and being a builder that could be a while, until a job was completed. But that's just my experience, doesn't mean anything really.