Cost of living in flat compared to a house

findingmyownway

Hi guys,

I am shortly to move from a 2 bed semi detached house, probably into a flat.

I have never lived in a flat before - what kind of difference in bills can i expect? I guess gas and electric will decrease, maybe water too?

dmg24

It all depends on the size of the flat!

My bills are no cheaper than a two bed house I used to live in, but then the flat I now live in is considerably larger!

findingmyownway

dmg24 wrote: »

It all depends on the size of the flat!

My bills are no cheaper than a two bed house I used to live in, but then the flat I now live in is considerably larger!

hmm, i guess i was hoping the insulation would require less heating! lol

maybe im living in dream world!

ryandj

It depends which floor you are on for the heating I think. but on the whole, it will cost less to heat than an equivalent sized house. If you are anywhere from 1st floor upwards you will get heat coming up from below.

dmg24

findingmyownway wrote: »

hmm, i guess i was hoping the insulation would require less heating! lol

maybe im living in dream world!

That would depend on the age of the property as well as the size!

I would base your calculations on the size of the properties, rather than how many beds/ whether it is a flat or a house.

The most expensive place utilities wise I have had was actually a one bed flat, which was set over three floors and had such inefficient heating (and no double glazing) that I also had to run portable heaters in every room!

findingmyownway

dmg24 wrote: »

That would depend on the age of the property as well as the size!

I would base your calculations on the size of the properties, rather than how many beds/ whether it is a flat or a house.

The most expensive place utilities wise I have had was actually a one bed flat, which was set over three floors and had such inefficient heating (and no double glazing) that I also had to run portable heaters in every room!

The place i am looking at is brand new so should conform to current regulations.

Have viewed lots of houses and flats this week. The majority have made me want to cry they are is such bad condition! so have decided to bite the bullet and pay the extra £50/month to get a modern higher spec place :cool:

zebulon

ryandj wrote: »

It depends which floor you are on for the heating I think.

that's quite true - I stayed in a flat once i never had to put the heating on, my neighbours (down and above) must have had theirs on full power or something - it was almost like underfloor heating.

but then the time I was in a Basement/GF flat .... :snow_grin
(oh and no double glazing in this one anyway, and very old windows, eeekkk)

Ladybird20

...dont forget as well some flats especialy the newer ones have a management fee..which can range from 50.00 to 120.00 per month depending on what needs communally maintaining...I take it you do know what management fees are and what the payments go to,,,,its something that you need to ask when renting or buying its very important..They may incorporate the fee in with your rent of the property , that is of course if you are renting,, i have just re-read ur post,,its a new build so they will have a fee for management have you asked what the charge is?? gud luck with your move...

SquatNow

findingmyownway wrote: »

The place i am looking at is brand new so should conform to current regulations.

Are you talking rent or buy?

neilsc99

we pay maintenence fee's which vary from year to year but about 100 a month for 10 months, building insurance is in this, water about 70 a year and ground rent is 100 a year

findingmyownway

SquatNow wrote: »

Are you talking rent or buy?

I am looking to rent.

Split up with boyf a couple of months ago, he is buying me out of our house (at a valuation we had done in January ). I am intending to bank the cash and rent for a while to watch the market before getting myself settled again.