No normal heating in the flat

pumen

We just moved into a new flat and found out that there is no normal heating. There is no central heating in the building (a converted block), and there are no radiators in the flat. I am not from Uk and am chocked - always had central heating and couldn't even suspect a basic thing such as heating is lacking, Basically, all there is electric room heaters, not sure what they are called (there are at the bottom of the walls, in a panel around the perimeter of the walls), which are extremely inefficient, do not provide proper heating and are extremely expensive to run (I expect energy bill too be huge if they are on all the time). Once they are on, there is heat (the flat is still very cold), but once I turn them off, there is no storage heating and the temperature goes down in 1-2 hrs and the flat becomes very cold. The worst thing is that we just moved in about six weeks ago and cannot move as our breakup clause only starts in April. Any suggestions what to do please? We are not from the UK, pay a lot of money for this flat and do not know what to do now.

worried_jim

Sounds like electric panel heaters. Might be worth asking a neighbour how often they use theirs and the cost to give you an idea of how to budget. Not every property in the UK has acsess to gas unfortunately. Good luck and welcome!

pumen

worried_jim wrote: »

Sounds like electric panel heaters. Might be worth asking a neighbour how often they use theirs and the cost to give you an idea of how to budget. Not every property in the UK has acsess to gas unfortunately. Good luck and welcome!

It is a big block, I know some flats have radiators. This one has electric panel heating. This is the first time I encounter this technology - lived in five countries prior to UK and never had this problem, couldn't imagine this problem may arise. Are they more expensive to run vs. the radiators? Really shocked and do not know what to do now. It is not very cold outside yet, but the flat is cold even now. What will happen in January-February(((

lucystardust87

I've never heard of that type of heating so can't advise on how much it'll cost. I've lived in a few flats with storage heaters which didn't keep the heat and the flat ended up using oil filled radiators which plug into the wall, so unfortunately still running off electric. But it might solve the problem of you being cold even when the fitted heaters are running.

robin58

If the way of heating in your flat is not what you expect, there is only two ways to sort it.

1/ Talk to the owners of the block/flat and see if it's possible to change type of heating.

2/ Move. There is more than one flat in this country!

pumen

Is it legal in the UK for the landlord to provide a flat without heating? I am happy to break my lease and forget about this problem, but they do not want to release me.

tykesi

Surely you checked out how it is heated before you agreed to rent?

Sounds like an expensive mistake to make.

pumen

robin58 wrote: »

If the way of heating in your flat is not what you expect, there is only two ways to sort it.

1/ Talk to the owners of the block/flat and see if it's possible to change type of heating.

2/ Move. There is more than one flat in this country!

I am happy to move, but I can't as my break clause only starts in April. I do not need heating in April, I need it now! They are not releasing me. this is also very strange as I am a consumer of the flat and as I am not satisfied with the service, i should be allowed to move, but I do not think this is how it works in the UK? They told me I cannot move at least six months

tykesi

pumen wrote: »

Is it legal in the UK for the landlord to provide a flat without heating? I am happy to break my lease and forget about this problem, but they do not want to release me.

Of course it is, and anyway it DOES have heating.

Break the lease and it'll cost you even more. As I said above you should have checked this BEFORE signing a contract.

pumen

tykesi wrote: »

Surely you checked out how it is heated before you agreed to rent?

Sounds like an expensive mistake to make.

I couldn't even imagine that This problem may happen in this great country. I lived in a number of second-third world countries and always had good heating in winters with warm flats. This was indeed my mistake and that is why I am seeking advice what to do now. These people charge a lot of money and do not provide a basic necessity such as heating.

lstar337

pumen wrote: »

I couldn't even imagine that This problem may happen in this great country.

It's not a problem, the flat has electric heating.

pumen wrote: »

I lived in a number of second-third world countries and always had good heating in winters with warm flats.

Go back to them then. We aren't exactly begging for people to come to our country and moan about the living conditions.

pumen wrote: »

These people charge a lot of money and do not provide a basic necessity such as heating.

There is heating, electrical heating.