No heating/ no hot water

p00hsticks

daveymingming said:

Emmia said:

Did this not come up when you viewed the property/read the particulars pre-purchase?

Is there a fireplace or electricity? Oil?

How were the previous owners heating it?

The previous owners were old and basically the inside of the property needed to be replaced. They must of used an immersion heater but that doesn't work.

So you have a hot water tank and electricity ?
The obvious first step would be to get an electrician in to look at why the immersion heater isn't working - it could be something as simply as a fuse. 
 

MWT

daveymingming said:

Hoenir said:

daveymingming said:

Emmia said:

Did this not come up when you viewed the property/read the particulars pre-purchase?

Is there a fireplace or electricity? Oil?

How were the previous owners heating it?

I bought it at auction and I was aware of it. The previous owners were old and basically the inside of the property needed to be replaced. They must of used an immersion heater but that doesn't work. I have read about grants for all sorts of energy related things. It's just I'm so lost in it all and it appears because I am single and work a full time job, that I'm not eligible for any help. I would of thought having hot water to a home is a 'right' is it not?

Which is why the property was auctioned rather than marketed. Priced accordingly. Didn't you budget for having the at least the basics done. 

I was aware of the lack of hot water. This is a money saving site no? The government are giving many many grants for all sorts related to energy. I was hoping for some advice on what I may be entitled to (if any). Some have helped so thanks, some are trying to have a dig. Dig somewhere else will ya.

You can start here : https://www.gov.uk/apply-great-british-insulation-scheme

I'm not going to be too surprised though if your earnings are too high for any scheme that isn't based on just your Council Tax band.

Emmia

daveymingming said:

Hoenir said:

daveymingming said:

Emmia said:

Did this not come up when you viewed the property/read the particulars pre-purchase?

Is there a fireplace or electricity? Oil?

How were the previous owners heating it?

I bought it at auction and I was aware of it. The previous owners were old and basically the inside of the property needed to be replaced. They must of used an immersion heater but that doesn't work. I have read about grants for all sorts of energy related things. It's just I'm so lost in it all and it appears because I am single and work a full time job, that I'm not eligible for any help. I would of thought having hot water to a home is a 'right' is it not?

Which is why the property was auctioned rather than marketed. Priced accordingly. Didn't you budget for having the at least the basics done. 

I was aware of the lack of hot water. This is a money saving site no? The government are giving many many grants for all sorts related to energy. I was hoping for some advice on what I may be entitled to (if any). Some have helped so thanks, some are trying to have a dig. Dig somewhere else will ya.

Surely this is something you should have considered/looked at before bidding, in terms of whether there are grants etc., or the likely costs of installing (and running) a system for heating and hot water if you're paying yourself.

Heating with electric is more expensive than gas too.

EssexHebridean

First thing on the immersion tank - google for how to reset its thermal link - it may be as simple as that has popped. If that DOES work, the next thing to do is heat it from cold while you are in attendance and awake to check that the thermostat works as it should. That would be a dead simple and free fix to sort the hot water aspect if it worked, and if at some stage it's been run dry and then the timed reheat has kicked back in, it could possibly be the problem. 

JSHarris

If there is a DHW cylinder with an immersion, and it's not working, then personally I'd be a bit wary of just trying to get the immersion to work without checking the condition of the rest of the installation.  It sounds as if the property hasn't had much in the way of maintenance or upgrade work over the years and that suggests that the electrical installation may well be old and possibly even unsafe.  Not wishing to doom monger, but it's a sad fact that a lot of people don't bother to get their home electrical installations periodically inspected, as required in the regs.

Pity you're not in my area, as for some years now I've been doing periodic inspections for free for those that need them and don't get them done because they don't have any spare cash.  A periodic inspection (now renamed an EICR) usually takes less than a whole day.  I believe the typical cost should be around £200 to £300, although it's increasingly common for quotes to be based on the number of socket outlets and light fittings now, rather than hours. 

Apart from the safety benefit and the possible reassurance that it's safe to get the immersion working, run power tools etc whilst doing the place up, it could be money well spent in terms of giving a good idea as to what work might be needed and how much it might cost, so may well help with budgeting. AFAIK there isn't any grant funding to help with this for most people, but the results may help with proving that work needs to be done to meet the requirements of other grants or subsidies that may be available.

BJV

I bought a house and I earn over 30k.

When we moved in the boiler did not work, the roof leaked and cooker in the kitchen was condemned. Not for one second did I think that I should ask the taxpayer to pay for the repairs. 

Don't you think it would be better for the taxpayer to spend the money where it can help the most amount of people instead of paying for you to add value to your house? There are so many people in genuine need.

I understand your frustration but why not use the forum to help you save so you can pay for the repairs yourself?

Not having a dig but really? Cheap house at auction that is priced cheap because it does not have gas, needs renovation etc and you are surprised that there is not a grant to help you renovate it?

theoretica

There is also the ASHP grant scheme - it doesn't say the electrical heating it replaces needs to be central heating or work - but you do need to have insulated first.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme/check-if-youre-eligible

JSHarris

Best first port of call might well be your local authority.  Some have grant schemes or council tax discounts aimed at getting housing back into use.  May not be any such schemes in your area, but I think it's worth asking.

Robin9

If the property has a coal fire does that have a back boiler to provide h/w. ?     My parents did - plus water from a well, no gas, no electric, septic tank-

Swipe

Robin9 said:

If the property has a coal fire does that have a back boiler to provide h/w. ?     My parents did - plus water from a well, no gas, no electric, septic tank-

Have you seen the price of coal these days? It's double from 2 years ago. Plus if he's in Stoke, he'd have to use smokeless which is much more expensive than house coal.