Cost of living - can't afford to maintain home?

[DanteThunderstone]

Just thinking aloud really. Just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat of money being so tight now, and/or the fear of money being so tight in the immediate future, that you're unable or unwilling to pay for necessary maintenance jobs on your home?

As an example, we really need new windows - the ones we have are old and leaky and half don't even open properly and they do nothing to keep the heat in and their seals are all mouldy. But whereas in different circumstances we might be looking at taking out a loan to get them replaced, now money is so tight and we're so scared about the cost of living and rising fuel costs that we're going to just live with them.

Equally two of our radiators don't work but the couple of hundred quid it would cost to get a plumber to come and diagnose and maybe fix them is being hoarded. It feels too reckless to spend anything now.

A friend can't afford to replace her jammed front door so doesn't use it anymore even though it's a fire exit. Another has a bay window that's leaking through its flat roof and weakening the whole wall but again just can't spend hundreds of pounds. My auntie has a toilet leaking into her floorboards but can't afford to get it sorted. My mum's bannister needs patching up.

And if there are significant numbers of people mike me and my friends who aren't putting even relatively small amounts of money in the pocket of local trades and companies, presumably that's going to have an effect on the tradespeople's budgets and families?

Is anyone else holding back on, or just unable to, keep their homes maintained in a way that a year or so ago wouldn't have been such a critical problem, or am I unusual in knowing so many people putting up with deteriorating conditions cos we're terrified of rising prices?

If Im honest no but I think thats mainly because our windows probably were ok in terms of the seals, they were just incredibly ugly and I hated them

I didnt get a new door and have struggled over the years to find one I like, I want a wooden one but cant find someone to do it.

We also got a new boiler and I didnt notice the bills going down either.

We are in east london in a fairly recent gentrified area....i reckon every third house has a skip outside....full on renovations to each property....there is money about....these young couples must be spending at least 200k each on all the work or even more....plus the house price at over 700k....no sign of a slow down...we are replacing part of our roof and i am looking at all options and types of materials to bring the cost down....re use the existing tiles etc as in good condition....wish we could just make a call and get the lot down without all the research on best deal etc....

My DH is a self employed decorator, and we really thought earlier this year, when there were predicted energy rises and food increases that there would be a downward turn in his business, but to be honest he’s still very busy, getting calls, and booked up until November currently. Of course all that might change once the winter energy bills hit, but at the moment it’s not having a negative affect on his business. Maybe the calm before the storm.

We've been like this for years. This year we finally replaced the cooker after the old one had been down to one hob and one oven for nearly a year. We also had to replace the front door as the old one broke. It wouldn't lock closed but it also wouldn't open.

The dc are used to a number of our windows sealed closed as they are broken.

We should clear our mortgage this year though and then the plan is to do structural work like windows, I don't see the point in replacing them while the bank still has a claim if we are unable to pay for the house. It would be a waste of money.

Our house is very big and needs lots of work like decoration etc. we had been saving and wee about to get started but decided to get solar psv instead. Relally happy I don’t have to spend any more sleepless nights worrying about fuel bills. The decor can wait

How much are solar panels and can they provide all the fuel?

Do they save the power for when its dark for example?

We haven’t had them for very long but they are amazing in the day. The cost is many thousands and you have to save for ages. If you get a quotes they tell you the payback time. We have batteries too which charge in the day to provide l electric at night. I’m a few years they will have paid themselves off and I will be happier. I can start saving for decoration now 😁

what sort of power amount do you get say from Oct-May will you get much power daily then?)

Thank you Bellac!

I have woken up to find my shower has broken! Will take that apart and hopefully it’s only a part which I can mend myself! X