Free landlord insulation how does it work?

[Stom91]

Does anyone know about the free loft/wall insulation for landlord? And I how I go about asking him to consider it?
This house is so so so cold!
And the electric heating isn't putting a dent in how cold it is! I have a 2 yr old DD and one on the way!
I just don't know what to do. We pay £800 a month and it's just so cold in here!

[wowfudge]

What sort of property is it and roughly when was it built do you think?

[PigletJohn]

many people can get free or subsidised insulation from BG, even if they are not BG customers

www.britishgas.co.uk/smarter-living.html

Have you looked in the loft yet? What thickness of insulation is there, and are there gaps?

Assuming you are paying about 10.5p plus 5% VAT per kWh, plus about 18p/day standing charge, £800 per month would cover the cost of about 7,200 kWh, or 225 kWh per day, or over 9kWh per hour, which I calculate as 3 fan heaters at 3kW each running for 24 hours per day, which seems quite a lot as we are not yet into winter.

Can you check your actual (not estimated) meter readings please and see how many you have actually used over what period?

[specialsubject]

I could be wrong, but I suspect the £800 might be the rent. Not related to the insulation of the building.

what EPC grade is the place, OP? While EPCs are not much use, as of 2018 no property with a rating below E can be rented out. So if that is the case your landlord will have to do something.

[HoundPaws]

specialsubject do you know what will happen regarding old/period properties which could not possibly ever reach band E? I assume there would have to be an exemption? Sorry to hijack..

[specialsubject]

I know nuzzin.... (very bad sitcom impression, which unfortunately is where a lot of well-meaning but misguided landlord regulation belongs)

the idea of course is to get landlords to upgrade properties and not rent out chilly dumps. All for that.

This is still in consultation:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/346767/Domestic_PRS_Regulations_Consultation_Draft__v1_6__No_tracks_final_version.pdf

although I have seen a commentary on it which wonders about exemptions.

I admit I haven't followed it closely because my rental was bought partly with this in mind and is a C. The only way to raise it to a B would be to add solar panels (take 100 years to pay off according to the EPC) or a wind turbine in the small back garden. Neither of these will be happening. It has a very modern boiler, masses of loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, catches lots of sun and stays warm with minimal heating. TBH I'd have bought a property like this regulation or not, because despite being a landlord I'm not an evil bastard.

local agent said they've never seen an 'A', and there's lots of new housing in the town.

[HoundPaws]

Great thanks. I am buying a modern property to let which should be OK but my bf has a converted barn with solid stone walls, so no hope of reaching modern standards. Mind you, I do wonder about EPCs as my late Grandmother's Georgian house got the lowest EPC I've ever seen, it was about 1 or 4 I recall; yet it was a lovely warm cosy house :/

[Stom91]

Sorry for the late really. Yea the £800 is rent. I meant I pay most of my wages in rent and it's freezing.
We have panel heaters that just heat up but don't heat the room up.

There's air coming in from the Windows
And heater in the lounge is a fab one but it dries the air out and then I can't breathe.

I've rang leaders and ask them to email landlord and ask if he's be willing to have a look at the scheme as its so cold in here.
So we will have to wait and see!
It's energy rating D

[Stom91]

Heater in the lounge is fan. It's not fab at all its rubbish 😂

[NewLife4Me]

Our house is 1926 and we are having to have all our cavity insulation taken out.
It should never have been put in, in the first place.

What age is the property? This does make a difference as some houses are supposed to have air flow in order to stop damp.

[PigletJohn]

are the windows wooden or plastic?

single or double glazed?

How big and how thick are the curtains?

do you keep the interior doors closed?

How much electricity do you use per week in winter?

[wowfudge]

I asked about the age of the place because if it's Victorian it probably doesn't even have cavities to fill.

The OPs reply is exactly why I never rented anywhere that didn't have double glazing and decent heating. I know not everyone has a real choice, but how long have you got to go on your tenancy?

[Danglyweed]

I contacted british gas about the free insulation for our rented house. Just asked that our landlord signs a form saying its ok. It works in your landlords favour so I dont see why they would be bothered about it!?

[Stom91]

No idea how old the house it's but it's not
Old old. Probably just after the war 40s maybe.
Windows are plastic double glazed but even the guy that came out to fix them said they're cheap crap.

We have u til June. We only moved here in June. As needed to leave out old place as the landlord wanted it back. We didn't have a lot of time. It's a lovely house is summer. Huge garden that is a sun trap. But just so cold now!
We only spend about £30 on electric a month

[specialsubject]

definitely contact the landlord.

meantime, get to your local charity shops and buy some good thick curtains to deal with those draughts. They remain yours.

and that's a really low bill if you are heating with it. Are you sure that your direct debit is right? Are you doing monthly meter readings?

[Stom91]

We pay £80 a month DIrect debit so that we are in credit. We haven't had a bill since using heating as its a
Quarterly.

[specialsubject]

that is more feasible. I take it you do meter readings and have ensured you are on the best tariff?

[Stom91]

Yep. If we keep paying £80 and stay at around£30 a month they will owe us money at the end of the year the online thingy says. We've got some oil heaters on the way and I've blocked the cat flap. Just waiting on a reply from the landlord xx

[specialsubject]

excellent - good luck and keep chasing!

[Stom91]

How long shall I wait to call leaders back asking if the landlord replied? About the insulation

[specialsubject]

from my experience of leaders, call twice a day or they just keep flicking hair and filing nails...

remember you can also contact the landlord directly. Ask for his/her details.

[Stom91]

He's in another country quatar or somewhere. But I'll can't again x

[specialsubject]

doesn't matter, I'm sure he has email. Demand his contact details.

[Stom91]

He's agrees to do it! Yay. So it's being sorted :)