Help With House Maintenance Needs

Paper_&_Metal

Hello hope this is the correct place to post, only place seemed relevant.

I am living in a privately rented accommodation with my husband. We are on benefits as I am long term disabled and not able to work. My husband is my full time carer. We receive help from the council for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefits and the other income only consists of PIP and Carers Allowance, we currently receive Working Tax Credits as well but this is for work he did last year so I think they will stop when we come to renewal next year.

What I am writing to ask (sorry but thought it better to give you background details first) is do you run or know of a scheme or grant that will help us to pay for new Double Glazing throughout our Bungalow and we also need a new Boiler as ours has been here since we moved in about 9 years ago and when they check it anally for the landlord they are always telling us it is a bit out dated and possible not working effectively. I must admit it does make a lot of very loud banging and popping noises, although I am assured this is due to it's age and not to be concerned about it.

We have received this year's Warm Home payment thank you but I am constantly battling with condensation, damp and mould due to the old windows. The Landlord is happy for me to find out if I am entitled to help as they are not entirely in a position to replace them but realise due to my health something needs to be done next year.

Any helpful advice or guidance is gratefully appreciated thank you.

Best wishes
:cool2:

Aylesbury_Duck

Paper_&_Metal wrote: »

Hello hope this is the correct place to post, only place seemed relevant.

I am living in a privately rented accommodation with my husband. We are on benefits as I am long term disabled and not able to work. My husband is my full time carer. We receive help from the council for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefits and the other income only consists of PIP and Carers Allowance, we currently receive Working Tax Credits as well but this is for work he did last year so I think they will stop when we come to renewal next year.

What I am writing to ask (sorry but thought it better to give you background details first) is do you run or know of a scheme or grant that will help us to pay for new Double Glazing throughout our Bungalow and we also need a new Boiler as ours has been here since we moved in about 9 years ago and when they check it anally for the landlord they are always telling us it is a bit out dated and possible not working effectively. I must admit it does make a lot of very loud banging and popping noises, although I am assured this is due to it's age and not to be concerned about it.

We have received this year's Warm Home payment thank you but I am constantly battling with condensation, damp and mould due to the old windows. The Landlord is happy for me to find out if I am entitled to help as they are not entirely in a position to replace them but realise due to my health something needs to be done next year.

Any helpful advice or guidance is gratefully appreciated thank you.

Best wishes
:cool2:

Sounds painful! Usually it's tenants that get shafted.

More seriously, surely the boiler is your landlord's problem? He is responsible for making sure the boiler is safe. When was it last inspected and certified?

Are you sure the windows are causing the damp and mould? Condensation and mould arise from moist air. There will be more condensation on single glazed or old double glazed windows than on new but but ultimately, the moisture has to come from somewhere and needs somewhere to escape. Look at your lifestyle first. Do you have extractors in your kitchen and bathroom, which is where a lot of steam is generated? Do you dry washing indoors or use a tumble drier that leaks steam inside or which doesn't keep all the condensate in?

The point is, I doubt it's the windows that are causing the mould and condensation. You might replace them all with new glazing but still experience the problem.

Owain_Moneysaver

You can check with the Energy Saving Trust whether there is any help available -- sometimes there is, even with private rented property.

Banging and popping noises suggests the boiler/system needs a service rather than just a safety check.

Secondary glazing may be cheaper than replacing the windows especially if it can be done DIY.

Paper_&_Metal

Hi my Landlord does pay for the annual inspection certificate as it is then who requires the safety check by law. Last check of boiler earlier this year.

As for the windows they are single glazed as been here since the early 70' if not before that when the bungalow was built.

We open the window and use the extractor fan in the kitchen when cooking on the hob. We open the window in the bathroom when showering or bathing and leave it open until all the steam has gone and then put the extractor fan on once the window is closed.

We hardly use the central gas radiators due to cost. We have a small 9 fin plug in oil filled radiator on to keep the chill out it's on thermostat so it clicks in when it goes below 9°

To keep warm we use extra clothing, blankets, hot water bottles and for really cold spells we have a fan heater type electric fire. Plus additional plug in oil filled radiators in the living room and conservatory which we put on low whenever were in that room. This again enables us to keep our energy costs down as we hear the area we use and not the whole house. We have an electric towel rail in the bathroom which we turn on in the evening for a few hours or in the morning whilst we use the bathroom or after we close the window.

We close the curtains before it gets dark and put them over the windowsill to try keep the heat in. We have foil behind our central heating.

Our conservatory is terrible for insulation especially in winter. There are gaps in the doors, roof and Windows.

I sit the whole bungalow out at least twice a week when it's dry outside by opening all the front and back conservatory doors for the majority of the day.

Our bungalow isn't that big. We've had to redecorate areas several times due to the mild and damp. We've treated the walls with anti mould paint. We've got cavity wall insulation and loft insulation already so it is very warm in the winter. We're semi detached bungalow. We have all available Windows on vent to allow circulation.

I dont use the tumble dryer that often but open the doors when I do so the steam doesn't hang round.
I'm doing all I can think of !

The landlord wants to put in new Windows next year. They asked me if I can find a scheme that might help and they will pay the bill.
Our landlord is related to us by the way and the council is fully aware and accepting of this as everything is above board. We pay rent and have a contract each 2 years similar to anyone else who rents privately. I don't go out much due to disability. Windows used to get wiped dry every morning and evening and recently they now get window vaced as landlord have us one to help with condensation for now.

Hope that helps with lifestyle. Thanks.

Paper_&_Metal

Hi thank you for that useful information I will look them up and see if they can help.

The boiler was serviced last year and we bleed the radiators before their initial use each winter.

The ladt service we had they did suggest the boiler needed replacing soon and said something about a magnet might improve its efficiency a tiny bit until then. Not too sure what they meant but they went here long enough to ask for an rcplanation!

Thank you I will look into energy trust.

Norman_Castle

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-cavity-loft-insulation