House with EPC rating E - how to keep the house warm without spending a fortune?

FreeBear

Peggy0628 said: I can't really move further than 5 miles from my workplace as I don't have a car and public transport is not an option (sometimes I finish work at 2am, or start at 6am on Sunday and buses don't run at those times). At the moment, I'm walking to work every day in all weathers (it takes me circa 80 minutes each way) to save money.

A bicycle will cut your travel time down - I do a similar distance each day in about 30 mins. When it is cold & raining, the ride is not pleasant, but neither is walking.

Peggy0628

lisyloo said:

I don’t wish to be harsh but if you have little savings (no deposit) then it sounds like you maybe living beyond your means

I'd like to clear this up.
The reason I have no savings is that I have recently broken up with my boyfriend of many years. He was the one sorting out all finances (bill payments, choosing providers etc). When he moved out, I was left with the house, the pets and all bills that go with it and an empty bank account. I'm almost 40 and starting from scratch. I am earning enough money to pay bills (I have a tight budget and the numbers work out) but I have no saving as I have simply not been able to put anything away yet. I may be able to get some extra hours at work later in the year (when we need cover for people's holiday) but at the moment, there is no overtime available.
It's a huge shock to the system when you find yourself alone after many years and have to figure everything out on your own. I'm not using it as an excuse but if the break up happened in the summer, I would probably be in better situation now (because I'd have more time to save some money before the winter bills arrived). Unfortunately it happened just as the energy prices went through the roof. I was hoping I'd be able to buy a car sometime soon (so I could look for a better job further away or getting a better place while keeping my current job) but if the energy prices continue going up, it would take me years so save up enough for even the cheapest used car (plus insurance, car tax etc).

markin

For many years we was always able to find a £150ish banger with 6month to 12 month Tax & MoT, look at local adds.

Pets are expensive, farm then off to friends and family.

If the loft is only 70mm or less buy a roll or 2 for over the Bedroom

Become a lodger, or take one in.

ChaunceyGardiner

Become a lodger, or take one in.

OP is renting. She is not in a position to take in a lodger.

theoretica

ChaunceyGardiner said:

Become a lodger, or take one in.

OP is renting. She is not in a position to take in a lodger.

Not necessarily - if the landlord agrees.

But it might also be worth thinking very broadly - are there any areas which are further away but the rent is lower and would cover transport costs?  Would job hunting in a different area appeal?

QrizB

markin said:

For many years we was always able to find a £150ish banger with 6month to 12 month Tax & MoT, look at local adds.

Have you seen the used car market at the moment? I was offered more than that when I scrapped my last car. Also tax hasn't been transferrable since 2014.

maisie_cat

ProDave said:

I keep on saying this.  LOOK at the EPC before buying or renting.  If you want cheap heating, choose one with an EPC B or an A if you can find one.

Some day, the market is going to wake up to the fact a property with such a poor EPC is worth less because it is going to cost a lot more to heat it.  I would not want to be owning a very poor EPC property when the market finally wakes up to this fact.

The April rise in energy prices just might make people wake up.

If you do find a better property and move, tell your landlord exactly why you are moving, that you don't want to live in a cold, damp expensive to heat property.

Unfortunately the EPC is a small part of the reason people buy a house. We spent a fortune in our last house getting it to improve 2 bands, while the neighbour languished at band F. Despite the changes we made the EA said nobody cares, and if we had our time again we would not bother..
The house we are in now is an E, we thought that most of the improvements were easy only to find that they'd already been done, the assessor just "assumed" and this house is warmer.
Any property at A or B is likely either a new build estate where despite the paperwork, the actual work is likely to be substandard, or a self build where hearts ruled heads and is very expensive.

ChaunceyGardiner

theoretica said:

ChaunceyGardiner said:

Become a lodger, or take one in.

OP is renting. She is not in a position to take in a lodger.

Not necessarily - if the landlord agrees.

Why would the landlord agree? It's extra risk for zero reward. In any case, prospective lodgers are unlikely to be impressed by a cold property which is riddled with mould.

lohr500

Accepting that you can't easily move, then I would follow Essex Hebridean's advice and look at a few low cost options to help reduce your heating costs. All you can do in this situation is look to minimise your heating costs.

Check all the windows and doors for draughts. Self adhesive foam strip draught excluder is really cheap from the DIY stores and makes a big difference if you can feel the wind blowing through the openings.

Make draught excluder sausage rolls (out of old towels or curtains as Essex H suggested)  to put at the base of any opening external doors.

Switch off or turn down the radiators in rooms you don't use often.

Follow Essex H's advice on keeping curtains closed whenever possible. Even consider blocking up windows in unused rooms with salvaged thick double wall cardboard sheets

If you have a hot water storage tank, make sure it has a thick insulated jacket covering it. If only a thin one, add another on top.

If you are sure there is no room thermostat for the central heating, check the thermostat setting on the boiler. Running the boiler for a little longer, but on a lower thermostat setting could well be more efficient and will allow the house to warm up for longer which may well help with the mould.

Do consider an electric blanket for your bed and an electric throw to keep warm whilst sat around. My wife just bought an electric throw from Aldi for less than £40 to use whilst she is sitting as she feels the cold. It is rated at 160 watts maximum power. So even with a new capped electricity rate of say £0.28 per kWH, the throw would only cost 160/1000 x £0.28 = £0.045 pence per hour. That probably works out lower cost than heating extra water for hot water bottles or pads warmed up in a microwave.  

You don't describe the style of property and if you have access to the loft space. If you do, take a look and see if there is any insulation up there and if so, how thick. Or ask a friend to do this for you if you are not comfortable going up there!
If there isn't any loft insulation, or only a very thin layer, then a lot of your heat will be going to waste through the roof.
Not sure what the rules are for tennants adding extra loft insulation on a DIY basis, but perhaps you could add more yourself, or at least point out the lack of insulation to your landlord and ask if they will address the matter. A few rolls of extra insulation shouldn't cost the landlord a great deal. 

Spray the mould as suggested so at least you kill the spores and don't breathe them in. Then wipe the walls down so it doesn't look unsightly for when friends visit.

Look for any other tips on energy saving in general, like only running a washing machine when fully loaded, boiling just enough water for tea/coffee rather than filling up the kettle each time, making sure wherever possible you switch off as many appliances at the mains that have a "standby" setting. Switching off lights that aren't needed and replacing old style bulbs with modern LED versions.(Keep the old bulbs and refit them if/when you move to another property).

It's a tough one, but if you can't move then you need to do all you can to reduce your energy consumption.  

Sea_Shell

OP,  you sound quite isolated.

Do you have any family or close friends nearby?

Anyone you can call on, even if it's just for a little while, to get warm and have a hot cup of tea.