Electric only flat - realistic cost estimates

MariaMaria101

Thanks for the info all. 

I was also going on the assumption that E7 wouldn't be the best option for my situation so good to have that verified. 

Not that it really changes anything, but I don't believe the landlord is 'bad', as insinuated by some, just that her situation as an owner occupier has been different to mine. She installed the radiators as an owner occupier, not a landlord, and has lived there several years since, but she installed them knowing she will primarily use the wood burner, which I won't. 

I appreciate the perspectives of pulling out/looking for something else, however that is easier said than done! There is incredibly limited rented stock where I live, and there are many things I need to factor in (e.g. proximity to daughters school isn't a bonus, it's a must as my working hours are based on this, proximity to her father for her wellbeing etc). It's therefore not a case of turning this down and taking something with a better energy set up, it could mean waiting 6 months plus for another suitable property, that might be less suitable in other ways. 

Whilst I therefore know it is going to be far more expensive than a property with central heating, I just need to be confident in roughly how much more, so I know if I can afford it, and if its worth just dealing with that for the other benefits the property brings. 

Swipe

You'll have a good idea after your first couple of weeks of using the heating and then you can adjust accordingly.

born_again

MariaMaria101 said:

Thanks for the info all. 

I was also going on the assumption that E7 wouldn't be the best option for my situation so good to have that verified. 

Not that it really changes anything, but I don't believe the landlord is 'bad', as insinuated by some, just that her situation as an owner occupier has been different to mine. She installed the radiators as an owner occupier, not a landlord, and has lived there several years since, but she installed them knowing she will primarily use the wood burner, which I won't. 

I appreciate the perspectives of pulling out/looking for something else, however that is easier said than done! There is incredibly limited rented stock where I live, and there are many things I need to factor in (e.g. proximity to daughters school isn't a bonus, it's a must as my working hours are based on this, proximity to her father for her wellbeing etc). It's therefore not a case of turning this down and taking something with a better energy set up, it could mean waiting 6 months plus for another suitable property, that might be less suitable in other ways. 

Whilst I therefore know it is going to be far more expensive than a property with central heating, I just need to be confident in roughly how much more, so I know if I can afford it, and if its worth just dealing with that for the other benefits the property brings. 

Or maybe the wood burner was installed after fitting the electric rads, once a few bills had been received & they realised just how expensive they are to run.🤷‍♀️

MariaMaria101

born_again said:

MariaMaria101 said:

Thanks for the info all. 

I was also going on the assumption that E7 wouldn't be the best option for my situation so good to have that verified. 

Not that it really changes anything, but I don't believe the landlord is 'bad', as insinuated by some, just that her situation as an owner occupier has been different to mine. She installed the radiators as an owner occupier, not a landlord, and has lived there several years since, but she installed them knowing she will primarily use the wood burner, which I won't. 

I appreciate the perspectives of pulling out/looking for something else, however that is easier said than done! There is incredibly limited rented stock where I live, and there are many things I need to factor in (e.g. proximity to daughters school isn't a bonus, it's a must as my working hours are based on this, proximity to her father for her wellbeing etc). It's therefore not a case of turning this down and taking something with a better energy set up, it could mean waiting 6 months plus for another suitable property, that might be less suitable in other ways. 

Whilst I therefore know it is going to be far more expensive than a property with central heating, I just need to be confident in roughly how much more, so I know if I can afford it, and if its worth just dealing with that for the other benefits the property brings. 

Or maybe the wood burner was installed after fitting the electric rads, once a few bills had been received & they realised just how expensive they are to run.🤷‍♀️

Maybe, I just mean I don't think it's indicative of her being a bad landlord, as it wasn't a decision made when she was/was considering letting the property. And other indications, such as her offering to decorate, put in a gate for my daughters safety, and to soundproof (the floor of the only currently not soundproofed room) don't suggest she is. 

MyRealNameToo

MariaMaria101 said:

born_again said:

MariaMaria101 said:

Thanks for the info all. 

I was also going on the assumption that E7 wouldn't be the best option for my situation so good to have that verified. 

Not that it really changes anything, but I don't believe the landlord is 'bad', as insinuated by some, just that her situation as an owner occupier has been different to mine. She installed the radiators as an owner occupier, not a landlord, and has lived there several years since, but she installed them knowing she will primarily use the wood burner, which I won't. 

I appreciate the perspectives of pulling out/looking for something else, however that is easier said than done! There is incredibly limited rented stock where I live, and there are many things I need to factor in (e.g. proximity to daughters school isn't a bonus, it's a must as my working hours are based on this, proximity to her father for her wellbeing etc). It's therefore not a case of turning this down and taking something with a better energy set up, it could mean waiting 6 months plus for another suitable property, that might be less suitable in other ways. 

Whilst I therefore know it is going to be far more expensive than a property with central heating, I just need to be confident in roughly how much more, so I know if I can afford it, and if its worth just dealing with that for the other benefits the property brings. 

Or maybe the wood burner was installed after fitting the electric rads, once a few bills had been received & they realised just how expensive they are to run.🤷‍♀️

Maybe, I just mean I don't think it's indicative of her being a bad landlord, as it wasn't a decision made when she was/was considering letting the property. And other indications, such as her offering to decorate, put in a gate for my daughters safety, and to soundproof (the floor of the only currently not soundproofed room) don't suggest she is. 

If they made sensible decisions on what heating to put in is totally independent to how they are as a landlord. There may even be an argument that if they are gullible and fall for sales patter they could be a better than average landlord. 

Our last rental had an old but very nice American style fridge/freezer. It unfortunately died and the landlord said they were going to replace it. Originally they said it would be a basic small cheap thing and we protested saying that a good fridge freezer was one of the reasons for renting the flat and it seemed unfair to then replace it with a small under counter style fridge with just an icebox. They agreed and put in a more modest American style one than had originally been there but a massive step up (inc in price) than what they originally suggested. 

debitcardmayhem

Until you experience what the energy costs are likely to be it will be difficult to suggest what may be your best tariff . E7 is probably not the best choice , maybe other suppliers tariffs could work out cheaper for single rate, also Octopus cosy may work for you if can avoid the 4-7 peak times, it gives 2200-2400, 0400-0700 and 1300-1600 as “cheap” rate 12.76p 1600-1900 peak rate 39.02p and the rest at 26.01p (in my region Eastern). Obviously you can heat your water during cheap periods, ditto Washing etc.

You will get a feel once you move in, plus you are saving the standing charge for gas circa 108yr/9mth.
I cannot agree with those who said the landlord is at fault, the owner was living there herself but possibly made a bad decision.

RedFraggle

We run a combination of HHR storage heaters and other heaters. The HHR NSH are in the living areas, we have an oil filled rad running 24/7 in our bedroom and there's a panel heater in the 2nd bedroom where I work. Bathrooms have fan heaters. We keep the flat at 21C with the exception of bed 2 and the bathrooms. 
Hot water is a thermal store run on E7. 
That costs about £165 a month across the year.

 If we had your set up we'd pay a lot more as all heating would be at peak rate. 
I would only live in a flat that is all peak rate electric if there was  nothing else that met my needs which it sounds like this is. 

At least with renting you are not bound to it forever.
Will it be short term? Is there a share of the relationship asset pot? 

bob2302

MariaMaria101 said:

. I can't get an accurate idea on cost, as the owner mainly uses the wood burner she fitted. I won't be able to use that as my daughter has a bad chest 

Are log burners really that bad? I used to burn logs in a big open fireplace, and scarcely ever smelled smoke, I would have thought the enclosed types would send everything up the flue.  

QrizB

bob2302 said:

MariaMaria101 said:

. I can't get an accurate idea on cost, as the owner mainly uses the wood burner she fitted. I won't be able to use that as my daughter has a bad chest 

Are log burners really that bad? I used to burn logs in a big open fireplace, and scarcely ever smelled smoke, I would have thought the enclosed types would send everything up the flue.  

I'm sure they vary, but a neighbour of mine (who had until then been very happy with his) had to stop using it for at least a couple of years after coming down with long COVID as it would affect his breathing.

victor2

bob2302 said:

MariaMaria101 said:

. I can't get an accurate idea on cost, as the owner mainly uses the wood burner she fitted. I won't be able to use that as my daughter has a bad chest 

Are log burners really that bad? I used to burn logs in a big open fireplace, and scarcely ever smelled smoke, I would have thought the enclosed types would send everything up the flue.  

Unless you have a good (and very cheap) supply of properly seasoned logs to burn, they cost considerably more than your average central heating, and only heat one room. A CO alarm is a must and regular chimney sweeping is also if you use it a lot and/or burn unseasond timber or wood that has been treated. Then there's the problem of storing the logs before you burn them.

I have one and it's very nice to sit in front of on a winter's day, but it's cheaper to switch the central heating on and have to whole house comfortable. I appreciate the OP doesn't have the second option though. A log burner could work out a bit cheaper than the electric heaters, but the OP's daughter may not get along with it?