The Great British "not put my heating on yet" brag

ArbitraryRandom

Generally speaking, households with higher incomes were more likely to live in the most energy efficient homes. Households in the highest (5th) income quintile were more likely to have an EER band of A or B (4%) rated home than those in the first (2%), second (2%) and third (3%) quintiles. Households in the lowest (1st) income quintile (3%) were more likely to live in an EER band of F or G rated dwelling than households in the highest income quintiles (4th and 5th, both 2%).

Older people are most at risk of having poor (or poorer) health as a result of living in a cold home and were also less likely to live in the most energy efficient homes.

Mains gas supply was present in 89% of owner occupied dwellings and 88% of local authority dwellings, both of which were more likely to have a mains gas supply than housing association (83%) dwellings. Moreover, private rented (78%) dwellings were least likely to have mains gas compared with other tenures. 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091144/Energy_Report_2020_revised.pdf

So older people and low income people in private rents are most likely to live in energy inefficient homes and have electric heating - hence be high users (or people who are low users only because they can't afford to turn the heating on). Not (IMO) people who it would be 'fair' to expect to pay an increased standing charge... 

markin

MultiFuelBurner said:

markin said:

Rent on E-F properties are usually far lower anyway, people vote with their feet leaving the less well off having to put up with single glazing and poor heating.

Anything to back this up with statistics or is this just your opinion? I mean it makes sense to the learned people here but out there in the big world where even people buying don't care about EPC's?

I agree the knowledgeable folk here will know a heating system that may be more efficient than another. Most I believe dont.

Since 2018 you can't rent an EPC F by the way (bar some exemptions which council will readily throw at your now to get people off their books)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance

And some.reading for you

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091144/Energy_Report_2020_revised.pdf

The isn't an updated 22-23 out yet, but word on the 'street' is EE's have seen a large growth on its importance in 2022/3, Also new homes better EPC and more rent naturally, go search right move.

If you presume Social rent is cheaper than Private (could be false) then this chart below shows Social has a hugely lower number of e,f,g properties Vs B-C.  Figure 10

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/energyefficiencyofhousinginenglandandwales/2023

From your link, Only 1% of private rentals have Solar vs 6% home owners, With heat pumps too low to count out of 100k+ installs.

How many private LL would spend £6-15K and not put the rent up?

MultiFuelBurner

Word on the street lol come on back up with some stats please or it's just your opinion. One I hope to be true btw but on the housing forum here it's clear EPCs aren't worth the paper they are printed on or largely considered.

As a current LL with a number of properties we were waiting with baited breath as to what schemes or options would come out of the upcoming EPC minimum EPC C regulations.....it didn't happen.

As per the stats 94% of private households can't afford or don't want solar so why would 99% of landlords that don't have solar jump on that for no gain. Plus I presume many LL have flats without any roof permission for solar?

In preparation for the now defunct minimum EPC C regulations we looked at air to air multi split heat pump systems for a block of flats and the council refused planning for 9 outside units. Something isn't joined up which didn't surprise us much. Not even sure the local council realised what the units were and how cheap it would make heating for the tenants. We haven't re-applied what's the point bashing your head against the system. Surely air to air heat pumps is the way to go for all these electric only non wet heating system flats? But no apparently not.

Whatever improvements cost you are right that goes on the rent. The cost of doing business there has to be a bottom line or it's not worth all the hassle being a LL is in these current times.

I might need several cups of coffee to digest your link👍

SAC2334

Isoei said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Does you bathroom have a window?  If so, then one of the best options might be that as soon as you're done with the shower (and all that water is in the hot air) open the window fully and close the door to the flat - let as much of the damp air out as possible before it can condense. 

A squeegee brush can make a big difference: https://www.lakeland.co.uk/24842/oxo-good-grips-window-and-shower-squeegee - get the water off the sides of the shower and down the drain; and standing on towels to avoid the water standing on surfaces outside the shower area. Ideally hang them to dry outside or put them in the washing machine rather than hanging elsewhere in the house.  

Sadly no window, or outside space to hang the laundry - a nightmare, haha! But the squeeqee is a brilliant idea, I'll have to give that a go Extractor fan is old and could do with a good clean, that might help too.

I've got those little tub-type dehumidifiers, the ones with the crystals. Not really sure if they'd do much to help.

Better is to just have a "mariners " shower. Very little steam/moisture if you just switch shower on for approx 30 secs to wet yourself and switch off , talking your time to wash yourself without completely wasting lots of electricity and water for no real reason. Switch back on again for 30 secs to rinse off . I started this routine when we were paying as much a 42 p /kwh but its such a simple routine I ve stuck with it .
 My electric shower is on for no more than 1 minute now..Very little steam in the bathroom 

Chrysalis

MultiFuelBurner said:

@Chrysalis that would potentially have the undesired effect of more landlords leaving the market and less rental properties. That then leads to even higher rents for tenants which would eclipse any amount that they may rebate in winter if forced to. Private landlords should not be a replacement for Government promises and social housing. 

I do however like the idea of tenants that pay on time each month after 2/3 years this being taken into consideration for mortgages as proof of what they can actually afford to pay out each month and actually borrow. Although the stretch test might be a bit tricky it could lead to more renters having the chance to buy.

The system is broken and not much light at the end of the tunnel

I suppose the issue is whenever an idea is brought forward to address the balance the counter argument is we cant do it as LL's would leave, which kind of does show indeed that social housing is the only solution.

On the subject, last night I was passed on some information on a scheme which provides free replacement boilers using the government money, but guess what, its only for home owners, so tenants for some reason are not been helped as much as home owners.

When I rang them up I was told the only thing for tenants is central heating if you dont currently have any at all, for home owners, they can actually get a boiler upgrade which can add up to 40% efficiency.

EssexHebridean

SAC2334 said:

Isoei said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Does you bathroom have a window?  If so, then one of the best options might be that as soon as you're done with the shower (and all that water is in the hot air) open the window fully and close the door to the flat - let as much of the damp air out as possible before it can condense. 

A squeegee brush can make a big difference: https://www.lakeland.co.uk/24842/oxo-good-grips-window-and-shower-squeegee - get the water off the sides of the shower and down the drain; and standing on towels to avoid the water standing on surfaces outside the shower area. Ideally hang them to dry outside or put them in the washing machine rather than hanging elsewhere in the house.  

Sadly no window, or outside space to hang the laundry - a nightmare, haha! But the squeeqee is a brilliant idea, I'll have to give that a go Extractor fan is old and could do with a good clean, that might help too.

I've got those little tub-type dehumidifiers, the ones with the crystals. Not really sure if they'd do much to help.

Better is to just have a "mariners " shower. Very little steam/moisture if you just switch shower on for approx 30 secs to wet yourself and switch off , talking your time to wash yourself without completely wasting lots of electricity and water for no real reason. Switch back on again for 30 secs to rinse off . I started this routine when we were paying as much a 42 p /kwh but its such a simple routine I ve stuck with it .
 My electric shower is on for no more than 1 minute now..Very little steam in the bathroom 

Be cautious on this one though - not all electric showers are easy to use like this as some will give a burst of blazing hot water when they are turned back on after a short time off like this. just be mindful of the possibility! 

FIREDreamer

dealyboy said:

@ArbitraryRandom said:

@FIREDreamer said:

This is our bedroom ceiling in the outside corner, above a wardrobe - is this mould?

Given where it is, shape and colour, I'd suggest humidity/condensation is more likely than a leak.

First thing I'd do is to check what's above there - could be caused by whoever insulated the attic being a bit lazy at the edges. 

Second thing is to make a point of ventilating the room in the morning (it's just good practice) - open the window each day for at least 15 mins, longer on a nice sunny dry day, to let all the water vapour you breathe out overnight escape. I also like to pull back the covers on the bed/do it before making the bed, to let the mattress breathe as well.  

It looks like damp rather than mould at this stage. Interesting that it washes off as it looks as though it's in the ceiling (floor above), but clearly not. I presume the ceiling has a gloss paint surface perfect for condensation.

I watched a couple of youtube videos today, they are highly rated ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbtijHKy2Vo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIDb-pdOnXM&t=623s

There is a boarded attic above.

Spoonie_Turtle

SAC2334 said:

Isoei said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Does you bathroom have a window?  If so, then one of the best options might be that as soon as you're done with the shower (and all that water is in the hot air) open the window fully and close the door to the flat - let as much of the damp air out as possible before it can condense. 

A squeegee brush can make a big difference: https://www.lakeland.co.uk/24842/oxo-good-grips-window-and-shower-squeegee - get the water off the sides of the shower and down the drain; and standing on towels to avoid the water standing on surfaces outside the shower area. Ideally hang them to dry outside or put them in the washing machine rather than hanging elsewhere in the house.  

Sadly no window, or outside space to hang the laundry - a nightmare, haha! But the squeeqee is a brilliant idea, I'll have to give that a go Extractor fan is old and could do with a good clean, that might help too.

I've got those little tub-type dehumidifiers, the ones with the crystals. Not really sure if they'd do much to help.

Better is to just have a "mariners " shower. Very little steam/moisture if you just switch shower on for approx 30 secs to wet yourself and switch off , talking your time to wash yourself without completely wasting lots of electricity and water for no real reason. Switch back on again for 30 secs to rinse off . I started this routine when we were paying as much a 42 p /kwh but its such a simple routine I ve stuck with it .
 My electric shower is on for no more than 1 minute now..Very little steam in the bathroom 

Staying warm rather than getting cold is good enough reason for me.  And 30 secs was the length of time our old shower took to get to a stable temperature, the current one takes about 10-15 secs depending on the temp of the incoming water, so that quick is just literally not possible for any of us.

Although I do turn it off at certain times when I do a full hair wash now, since even in winter the shower curtains on the two open sides of the room keep enough heat in for that length of time.  (Before, the shower was over the bath so one end was open and heat didn't stay in.  I was able to turn the shower off for times during the summer but not the rest of the year.)

SAC2334

Although I do save energy only having the shower on for as long as its necessary , (one minute for me ) , the last thing I want is a cold bathroom as I m not a public schoolboy at Gordonstoun. I heat my bathoom really warm and make no compromises at all .The radiator is hot for a few hours at least . 
One thing which seems to have changed now with my shower , on final  switch back on, there is no burst of  scalding hot water any more. I ve no idea why . There used to be a few secs of this which was easy to detect but now its not doing it .

FIREDreamer

FIREDreamer said:

This is our bedroom ceiling in the outside corner, above a wardrobe - is this mould?

It does wash off but always comes back.

Just scrubbed it again and it mostly comes off. It is artex. A bit more scrubbing is needed. It does not give way when i press on it.