Improvements in Shared ownership home

jrawle

Could you change the design of the media wall to allow you to leave the radiator in situ, turned off and hidden behind a panel? Then you wouldn't be modifying the heating system, which seems to be the issue as it's against a specific rule they have.

This type of media wall is a bit like Marmite. Some people will love them, others not be keen. If the room is small, it can make it look cramped if you lose floor area by building in effect a false wall. Would you really be prepared to pay to rip all this out, have the wall replastered (as it will presumably have numerous fixings made to it), etc. if you were looking to move? You'd have to do it before you started marketing the house.

As for electric fires, ditto the above. They can be cheaper if you only heat the living room and leave the central heating off. Otherwise, it's going to be much more expensive to heat the room with electric heating compared to central heating that comes from a gas boiler or heat pump.

BarelySentientAI

cmbrookes said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

From another viewpoint, removing a radiator, particularly in a living area, could change the EPC?

I mean, if you were moving the radiator a few feet, I can understand why you would be annoyed, but removing one is definitely going to have an impact to the efficiency of the heating in that particular room.

A brand new energy efficient electric fire would compensate for the heat loss. They are really good. 

All electric heaters are exactly the same efficiency. Effectively 100%.

They're also normally more expensive to run than central heating.

cmbrookes

BarelySentientAI said:

cmbrookes said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

From another viewpoint, removing a radiator, particularly in a living area, could change the EPC?

I mean, if you were moving the radiator a few feet, I can understand why you would be annoyed, but removing one is definitely going to have an impact to the efficiency of the heating in that particular room.

A brand new energy efficient electric fire would compensate for the heat loss. They are really good. 

All electric heaters are exactly the same efficiency. Effectively 100%.

They're also normally more expensive to run than central heating.

Well if needed, if I was to move I'd have everything put back to the original state but I have no plans to move before I own the free hold

FreeBear

BarelySentientAI said:

cmbrookes said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

From another viewpoint, removing a radiator, particularly in a living area, could change the EPC?

I mean, if you were moving the radiator a few feet, I can understand why you would be annoyed, but removing one is definitely going to have an impact to the efficiency of the heating in that particular room.

A brand new energy efficient electric fire would compensate for the heat loss. They are really good. 

All electric heaters are exactly the same efficiency. Effectively 100%.

They're also normally more expensive to run than central heating.

If the OP is looking for an (almost) invisible alternative to a conventional radiator, a Smiths Eco-Powerad might be acceptable to the HA (other convection radiators available). Not a particularly cheap option, but they are fairly compact. But having one of their plinth heaters (retrofitted with a lower temperature switch), I'd look for a model with a smart fan.

RHemmings

FreeBear said:

BarelySentientAI said:

cmbrookes said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

From another viewpoint, removing a radiator, particularly in a living area, could change the EPC?

I mean, if you were moving the radiator a few feet, I can understand why you would be annoyed, but removing one is definitely going to have an impact to the efficiency of the heating in that particular room.

A brand new energy efficient electric fire would compensate for the heat loss. They are really good. 

All electric heaters are exactly the same efficiency. Effectively 100%.

They're also normally more expensive to run than central heating.

If the OP is looking for an (almost) invisible alternative to a conventional radiator, a Smiths Eco-Powerad might be acceptable to the HA (other convection radiators available). Not a particularly cheap option, but they are fairly compact. But having one of their plinth heaters (retrofitted with a lower temperature switch), I'd look for a model with a smart fan.

At the prices I see, and given the claims, colour me interested. Cynical me does not immediately believe the claims without further research. Unlike the OP who presumably has modern and efficient radiators, I have quite old ones. 

Smaller than a radiator, yet bigger on output, this fan convector combines elegant good looks with energy efficiency. Providing warmth from the floor upwards - the ideal heating pattern - the Eco-Powerad fan convector is up to 31% more efficient than an equivalent output radiator and will operate effectively on wet central heating systems.

cmbrookes

The radiator to be capped and removed is only small in size. It's around  1m². We do have another larger radiator in the living room which would still be in operation. 

400ixl

The definition of reasonable is in their hands really unless there is a higher body that you can appeal to I would have thought given the 75% ownership and contract terms.

As others have said, does it have to be capped and removed? If for example it could be turned off and then encapsulated into a free standing media wall (as in stands on its own on the floor and is not built into the structure of the house, would it even need permission?

It would in a way be no different to having a large wall unit in the house at that point, just a custom built one.

Have you got a picture of the wall in question?

cmbrookes

Just thought I'd let everyone know that after pleading my case the HA have granted me permission to have the media wall built and cap off the radiator.