Replacing electric wet heating to gas?

Baa289

Hi,
I'm interested in buying a flat which has electric wet heating system. Would it be possible to change to gas heating? And what would be work and cost involved?

Thanks!

EachPenny

Baa289 wrote: »

Would it be possible to change to gas heating? And what would be work and cost involved?

First question is whether the flat already has a gas supply (e.g. for cooking) and if not, whether the street has mains gas (e.g. if the neighbours have)

Baa289

No gas supply in the flat - I think the whole building is electricity only. Other properties in the street have gas. thanks

Robin9

Highly unlikely you will get gas installed - after the explosion at Ronan Point in 1968 gas was removed from many blocks of flats.

EachPenny

In which case your next move should be finding out whether there is anything in your lease which would prevent you getting a gas supply laid on. Any thoughts about costs and different types of boiler are largely irrelevant if your lease doesn't allow you to have gas, or if you'd have to pay a lot of money just to get approval from the freeholder/other leaseholders for the supply to be run through or over parts of the building you don't control.

You might find the whole process easier if other occupants of the building would also be keen to have gas.

Baa289

it's in Scotland so no leaseholder. So probably needs permission from the other occupants as freehold of communal parts is shared.

Owain_Moneysaver

Permission probably not needed as your deeds should allow you to run pipes and cables on or through common parts. However gas safety regs restrict where gas pipes and flues can be run, so you usually need to bring the gas supply in directly from the outside at ground level up to your flat.

Baa289

So do you think it'd be worth doing? Building is 7 years old so the electricity heating system is modern (radiators and thermostat control) and well insulated. Would bill still be significantly more than gas?

EachPenny

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Permission probably not needed as your deeds should allow you to run pipes and cables on or through common parts.

'Should', but not but not necessarily 'will'? Even so, there has to be a question mark over the suitability/availability of common parts to accommodate a supply run in compliance with the regs. For example if the only option was a route along external walls then would this necessarily be permitted by the deeds? (unsure of legal situation in Scotland so apologies)

My earlier post about it being easier if other occupants also want gas still applies though, might be worth speaking to them to find out and see if you can come to some joint arrangement to reduce total costs.

EachPenny

Baa289 wrote: »

Building is 7 years old

In which case I'd definitely want to find out more about why a new-build wasn't constructed with gas already in-situ, even if not actually installed into individual flats.

On the plus side, building regulations/building standards applicable then should have required a high level of energy efficiency regardless of fuel type.

Robin9

Do the Estate Agent particulars quote a running cost for the existing heating ?