Seemingly nice flat but electricity only

agrinnall

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

I spent years in flats with just electric heating. Its not ideal but its perfectly manageable and I wouldn't want to live in a block with gas and be relying on others not to blow the place up!

Many new developments of flats will not have any access to gas, at least in part for this reason. While that's probably not the reason for a flat built more than 40 years ago it's something youre likely to find in many more recent flats, so unless you want to restrict your viewing to only those that have gas you may as well accept that electric only is an acceptable option.

whatnext18

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Don't let the estate agent rush you, its their fault if they've not allowed enough time, just carry on looking and asking your questions, it would be different if it was the current resident showing you around!

I spent years in flats with just electric heating. Its not ideal but its perfectly manageable and I wouldn't want to live in a block with gas and be relying on others not to blow the place up!

It should be an economy 7 meter usually, and if there are storage heaters that's usually the best way to do it, they heat up through the night while electricity is cheap and then release the heat through the day. A couple of energy efficient 'top up' heaters are good for colder evenings, and you'll have to learn good habits like wearing slippers and bed socks in the winter and get a few good quality heavy blankets.

On economy 7 you can also save a fair amount of money by heating your water overnight (if its a tank not a combi) and setting your washing machine/dishwasher on timers to go at about 3/4am. This is late/early enough that your neighbours will be deeply asleep and the slight noise of your appliances shouldn't disturb them. Charge things overnight and don't use them plugged in during the day etc.

If its a good flat and suits otherwise, electric only shouldn't be a barrier.

A common thing is read about electric flats is that I should have storage heaters and eco 7. Although I work shifts and sometimes be out till quite late, and a lot of people say the heater loses heat by the time the get home.


So are the inefficient convector ones my only options?
Granted I haven't seen the lease yet (or should I apply to see it, though the seller is apparently in a great rush), I wonder if at some point I can install an electric boiler system, barring objections from freeholder?

whatnext18

agrinnall wrote: »

Many new developments of flats will not have any access to gas, at least in part for this reason. While that's probably not the reason for a flat built more than 40 years ago it's something youre likely to find in many more recent flats, so unless you want to restrict your viewing to only those that have gas you may as well accept that electric only is an acceptable option.

Thanks for your input.


I have been slowly adjusting my expectations since I started viewing, having an idea of what I can afford in terms of size and didn't quite think about heating options when I started.
What I am trying to weigh is the cost of such heating if I were to achieve some level of comfort, as storage heaters are commonly complained about, and whether it's worth sticking it out and view others.


The one I saw is in a good location, I can makedo with the size (due to my budget), though I have to say I'd probably price it 10-15k lower than the asking price. The EA said someone offered below 215 and the owner is refusing to take it, even though the person wants to move ASAP. Should this be some sort of red flag, or quite common with sellers?


Thanks

whatnext18

knightstyle wrote: »

The amount you spend on heating will be affected largely by how well insulated the flat is. Does it have recent double glazing? Are the walls insulated? If top floor what insulation is there above the ceiling?
DD had a two bed flat, middle floor and hardly had the heating on at all.
The person below was disabled and kept their flat nice and warm all day.
Remember, a perfectly insulated house or flat needs no heating at all! Our bodies and the lights give off heat and you only need to replace heat lost.

I am groundfloor unfortunately so no heating from below
The flat is double glazed brick construction. The reduced data EPC I have seen online gives a rating of E52 (yet they advertise C69, don't know why)
The owner claims to be at home a lot with convectors heaters and still pay £50/month. There's such a great variance in other people's bills(gas or otherwise) it's not easy to tell how high this really is. If it's really £50 on average, I can pay it. Whether it's worth it, is a rabbit I better not get into now.

whatnext18

bouicca21 wrote: »

Lots of flats are electric only, so it may be worth you exploring Rightmove a bit further just to confirm whether you are ever likely to have a choice. If electric only is what is available then you are going to be stuck with it.

I pay a similar amount for a very much larger flat, but mine does have gas central heating, is well insulated and I'm more likely to put an extra layer on than turn up the heating.

My options tend to be flats, or basement flats. Being a seaside town basement flats come with a nice set of damp issues which are rather common so flats that aren't 100 years old might be a blessing in disguise.


An EA that showed me a basement flat flat out pointed at some stains when damp issues are being asked. She's Polish and said she isn't surprised by what can happen with the houses here anymore:rotfl:

davidmcn

I suspect many people's complaints about storage heaters are from experiences where the heaters are outdated and/or underpowered for the property they're in. I used to live in a 1960s flat which had modern storage heaters and it was fine (including into the evening). Bills weren't too much either, though that would have been helped by the insulation of being surrounded by other flats on all sides.

davidmcn

agrinnall wrote: »

Many new developments of flats will not have any access to gas, at least in part for this reason.

I've only seen the safety aspect mentioned in relation to retirement developments (fears whether grounded or not about senile neighbours leaving the gas on...).

Otherwise I suspect it's more likely to be penny-pinching by developers not wanting the hassle of introducing an additional utility and/or trade.

There may also be an environmental argument - I think Denmark has banned gas from newbuild developments, on the basis that it's inherently non-renewable, whereas at least electricity has the potential to be from renewable resources (even if for the meantime it's been generated using gas).

dancing_star

whatnext18 wrote: »

So are the inefficient convector ones my only options?
Granted I haven't seen the lease yet (or should I apply to see it, though the seller is apparently in a great rush), I wonder if at some point I can install an electric boiler system, barring objections from freeholder?

my previous flat had storage heaters when I moved in and an immersion heater for hot water.


I did consult an electrician who said that due to the fusebox (or something, it was years ago & I've slept since then) I couldn't have an electric boiler on that circuit.



I got the storage heaters ripped out and replaced with electric radiators with a central programmable control thing.



Worked ok, it was a cold building though, 1850s built and thick walls with no insulation and large windows. So whatever heating I had it was never going to be tropical.


I'd recommend the centrally programmable heater though over storage heaters.

whatnext18

tgroom57 wrote: »

Take a checklist with you, (EA always have checklists!)
Definitely book more than one viewing, the first is to see if you might be interested, the second is to give it a good checking over.

I am in favour of electric heating. I have oil-filled radiators - they have their own thermostat controls and I plug them into time-switches. You don't have to have storage heaters. Economy 7 is good provided you keep an eye on what time it comes on.
With electric if the heater goes wrong (very rare) you just unplug it and buy a new one ~£70. If something goes wrong with gas (quite usual, and you have to pay for yearly boiler maintenance- remember to ask about that cost) you are tied to paying for someone else to fix it, and £70 is going to be just the call-out fee.

I work irregular hours from time to time so if I do get electric only, I reckon eco 7 might be worse for be actually. (finish after 8pm 2-3 times/ week, working overnight 3-4 days a month)
That's what I sort of have in mind, bite the bullet to have oil-filled radiator looking ones installed and if it comes to it, check the lease to see if I am allowed to install an electric central heating.
Internet sites claim a 4 bed house costs 4k upwards, mines just a tiny one bed so hopefully by the time I do it 2k is okay.
Either way I still need to decided whether I should go for a flat that's IMO perhaps 10k more expensive than it should be!

whatnext18

t=4754355 the number after showthread

sorry can't post links



Making The Offer

Let me restate that the initial offer/price might not reflect problems and affect saleability and the price.

The EA and Vendor will insist that this is dealt with later as
a you will be out £1000s time and dreams and likely to compromise
b the Vendor need not agree to any reduction and try their luck with a less astute buyer

Step 1 Make your offer
- subject to Survey
- verification of the SC GR and lease length and
- what you see IS what you get


In this section, could someone kindly explain what am I looking out for by asking 'what I see is what I get', I am thinking it should be related to fixtures or floorboards etc? I imagine appliances will be removed so probably not what the OP meant.
Also how would you word it in the offer email?