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What is the minimum temperature that a rental property must be?

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  • MobileSaver
    MobileSaver Posts: 4,339 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The landlord must provide heating, but that could easily be fan heaters in every room.
    The tenant usually pays for the power to use that heating.
    What is it that makes reaching say 18-20 degrees impossible?
    Our house rarely exceeds 18 degrees, even in the very hot summer last year.
    If it's cold enough outside and if the house doesn't have a sufficient heating system, it can easily be impossible to have the inside reach 18 degrees, regardless of how much money you spend on gas / electric.
    Adding a £15 electric fan heater to a room would probably increase the temperature enough to reach 18 degrees.

    Every generation blames the one before...
    Mike + The Mechanics - The Living Years
  • Emily_Joy
    Emily_Joy Posts: 1,491 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    The landlord must provide heating, but that could easily be fan heaters in every room.
    The tenant usually pays for the power to use that heating.
    What is it that makes reaching say 18-20 degrees impossible?
    Our house rarely exceeds 18 degrees, even in the very hot summer last year.
    If it's cold enough outside and if the house doesn't have a sufficient heating system, it can easily be impossible to have the inside reach 18 degrees, regardless of how much money you spend on gas / electric.
    Adding a £15 electric fan heater to a room would probably increase the temperature enough to reach 18 degrees.

    How much it will add to the bill? 
  • RelievedSheff
    RelievedSheff Posts: 12,690 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    The landlord must provide heating, but that could easily be fan heaters in every room.
    The tenant usually pays for the power to use that heating.
    What is it that makes reaching say 18-20 degrees impossible?
    Our house rarely exceeds 18 degrees, even in the very hot summer last year.
    If it's cold enough outside and if the house doesn't have a sufficient heating system, it can easily be impossible to have the inside reach 18 degrees, regardless of how much money you spend on gas / electric. 

    It's the winter I'm concerned about.
    If you are concerned about the cost of bills find a property with as best as possible EPC result as you can.

    A property with an EPC rating of E for example is going to cost a lot more to heat than a property with an EPC rating of A or B.
  • MobileSaver
    MobileSaver Posts: 4,339 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Emily_Joy said:
    The landlord must provide heating, but that could easily be fan heaters in every room.
    The tenant usually pays for the power to use that heating.
    What is it that makes reaching say 18-20 degrees impossible?
    Our house rarely exceeds 18 degrees, even in the very hot summer last year.
    If it's cold enough outside and if the house doesn't have a sufficient heating system, it can easily be impossible to have the inside reach 18 degrees, regardless of how much money you spend on gas / electric.
    Adding a £15 electric fan heater to a room would probably increase the temperature enough to reach 18 degrees.

    How much it will add to the bill? 
    A reasonable cost based on the prevailing electricity tariffs so perfectly acceptable under any existing legislation.

    Every generation blames the one before...
    Mike + The Mechanics - The Living Years
  • theartfullodger
    theartfullodger Posts: 15,691 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 27 February 2023 at 4:10PM
    +1, especially HHSRS the sections on cold/heating.

    see
    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/9425/150940.pdf

    - section 2 Excess Cold, p 25

    """
    2 EXCESS COLD 

    This covers the threats to health when temperatures fall below the minimum
    satisfactory levels for relatively long periods. 

    Health effects. 

    A healthy indoor temperature is around 21˚C. There is small risk of health effects
    below 19˚C. Below 16˚C, there are serious health risks for the elderly, including
    greatly increased risks of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Below 10˚C a
    great risk of hypothermia, especially for the elderly.

    """
    So yes, it is documented.. 

    Interestingly in solidarity with our comrades in Ukraine & to reduce use of Mr Putin's gas we've reduced our central heating to 18 degrees: Err.. most days...

    Point it out, calm and polite, to landlord (yes Landlord), copy agent, keep copy of email/letter.  If unhappy with what they do (or don;t do..) or propose, request council do HHSRS survey.
  • maisie_cat
    maisie_cat Posts: 2,136 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Academoney Grad
    +1, especially HHSRS the sections on cold/heating.

    see
    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/9425/150940.pdf

    - section 2 Excess Cold, p 25

    """
    2 EXCESS COLD 

    This covers the threats to health when temperatures fall below the minimum
    satisfactory levels for relatively long periods. 

    Health effects. 

    A healthy indoor temperature is around 21˚C. There is small risk of health effects
    below 19˚C. Below 16˚C, there are serious health risks for the elderly, including
    greatly increased risks of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Below 10˚C a
    great risk of hypothermia, especially for the elderly.

    """
    So yes, it is documented.. 

    Interestingly in solidarity with our comrades in Ukraine & to reduce use of Mr Putin's gas we've reduced our central heating to 18 degrees: Err.. most days...

    Point it out, calm and polite, to landlord (yes Landlord), copy agent, keep copy of email/letter.  If unhappy with what they do (or don;t do..) or propose, request council do HHSRS survey.
    I never knew about this, we are both 60 this year and  we have no chance of reaching 19 degrees. Most of the time it is 15 degrees at the moment. We are however able to wear fleeces and base layer as well as socks
  • Emily_Joy
    Emily_Joy Posts: 1,491 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    If it's cold enough outside and if the house doesn't have a sufficient heating system, it can easily be impossible to have the inside reach 18 degrees, regardless of how much money you spend on gas / electric. 

    It's the winter I'm concerned about.
    It is a bit unclear what is your question about. Do you mean
    (1) what temperature you are legally obliged to maintain (e.g. to avoid broken pipes) OR
    (2) what temperature you should be able maintain at a reasonable cost?

  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 27 February 2023 at 9:01PM
    Emily_Joy said:
    The landlord must provide heating, but that could easily be fan heaters in every room.
    The tenant usually pays for the power to use that heating.
    What is it that makes reaching say 18-20 degrees impossible?
    Our house rarely exceeds 18 degrees, even in the very hot summer last year.
    If it's cold enough outside and if the house doesn't have a sufficient heating system, it can easily be impossible to have the inside reach 18 degrees, regardless of how much money you spend on gas / electric.
    Adding a £15 electric fan heater to a room would probably increase the temperature enough to reach 18 degrees.

    How much it will add to the bill? 
    How is that relevant? If you want to increase the ambient temp, you have to spend more on heating, whether the heat source is supplied by the OP or the LL, unless the rent includes the utilities.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • +1, especially HHSRS the sections on cold/heating.

    see
    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/9425/150940.pdf

    - section 2 Excess Cold, p 25

    """
    2 EXCESS COLD 

    This covers the threats to health when temperatures fall below the minimum
    satisfactory levels for relatively long periods. 

    Health effects. 

    A healthy indoor temperature is around 21˚C. There is small risk of health effects
    below 19˚C. Below 16˚C, there are serious health risks for the elderly, including
    greatly increased risks of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Below 10˚C a
    great risk of hypothermia, especially for the elderly.

    """
    So yes, it is documented.. 

    Interestingly in solidarity with our comrades in Ukraine & to reduce use of Mr Putin's gas we've reduced our central heating to 18 degrees: Err.. most days...

    Point it out, calm and polite, to landlord (yes Landlord), copy agent, keep copy of email/letter.  If unhappy with what they do (or don;t do..) or propose, request council do HHSRS survey.
    I never knew about this, we are both 60 this year and  we have no chance of reaching 19 degrees. Most of the time it is 15 degrees at the moment. We are however able to wear fleeces and base layer as well as socks
    I'm 75... 

    If you rent and the place won;t heat up enough pursue the matter with your landlord: It's your right!
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