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Original poster

No heating upstairs

56 replies

babyg24 · 17/11/2023 11:04

Just a moan really.

I bought a house last year. I got divorced so I was on my own with kids. No family here.

Older house but had been modernised new kitchen/bathroom between 10-15 years ago so liveable. Within budget and right size and location for myself and kids.

Had a full survey done as I'm on my own and I don't know what I'm looking for at/ and I felt more comfortable buying a property knowing that was done.

Nothing bad on survey so went ahead.

Move in and realise after a few days that there is no heating in bedrooms (it was summer at the time but I kept thinking something didn't look right about the rooms!).

The house is over 3 storeys, so there is only radiators downstairs in living areas. 5 in total.

Previous owners had lots and lots of stuff.

I know it's my fault for not checking properly. It's just something that never occurred to me.

Never something that was thrown up by conveyancer, previous owners, estate agent... I suppose it's down to me though to make these checks?

I've never bought a house before and I'm lucky to have this house, however myself and the children are cold and I just needed a moan.

I can't afford to have the work done right now and will need to save for a while. Which is what it is.

I just wondered if I'm wrong to be a little angry that it was never mentioned by anyone or is this normal in some houses?

OP posts:
Original poster
babyg24 · 17/11/2023 14:56

Dehumidifiers a good idea but I don't even have £200 atm to put towards that, can save up though and hopefully next winter.

Will look out on Facebook for some oil heaters cheaply I reckon that will be the way to go atm.

I don't have the heating on much anyway as I can't afford, usually for an hour or 2 in the morning and evening. We all wear onesies, dressing gowns and wrap up warm.

OP posts:
Madcats · 17/11/2023 15:54

Do you have a local Freegle or Nextdoor group? Somebody MIGHT have oil radiators they could lend/give you to tide you over the coldest months.

It really is desirable to get hold of a dehumidifier (even if you just bought those Poundland Crystal ones). You don't want to get ill because you or the kids are all in a mouldy house).

Original poster
babyg24 · 17/11/2023 16:07

Thanks @Madcats I'm having a look now. I'll try and get a dehumidifier as a priority then.

I suppose what prompted this post/my whinge is my youngest has been very poorly over the past 2 weeks (in and out of hospital with a bad chest and breathing difficulties).

A nurse mentioned "do you live in a very cold house" and I know I do :(

I'm trying to keep at least one room very warm for the little one. I've had a "smart" electric heater trying to keep her room warm during the night. It's costing so much money though I know it's not a long term solution.

But if she's getting poorly and it's due to my house I'm going to have to eat beans on toast and make sure it's okay here for the kids.

OP posts:
Original poster
babyg24 · 17/11/2023 16:08

There are some dehumidifiers on Amazon which are about £40 but I've no idea if they are any good or not.

OP posts:
HappyHamsters · 17/11/2023 16:53

The aero 360 plastic dehumidifier are really good and about £25

HappyHamsters · 17/11/2023 16:56

Just looked, they are about £10 with no running cist except changing the cartridge which come in several smells

221BBakerSt · 17/11/2023 17:02

We only have a 6kw multi-fuel stove to heat an entire 3 bed house in the Highlands…heat rises and I leave doors open as much as possible for circulation. We all have 16.5tog quilts, it’s absolutely fine.
It’s a learning experience, you’ll be scoping out the heating in every house you go in to now!

SoddingWeddings · 17/11/2023 17:19

I also grew up without central heating and it's not all lovely cosy heaters and blankets.... It's shivering in the morning running for the loo, shivering when you get out the shower, when you're getting dressed etc. Dressing yourself, with wet hair, in cold clothes over an electric heater is miserable.

OP, have a look at electric blankets - I grew up with the under sheet type, but now have an over blanket to wrap around me when WFH. That makes an enormous difference. They should all have timers these days so you can't cook yourself, which I've done too many times as a teenager 😂

So does sheer weight of bedding - I have a weighted blanket which really helps when I'm chilled through. Agree with PP about high tog duvets.

Zebedee55 · 17/11/2023 17:26

Plug in oil radiators will solve the problem.

thecatneuterer · 17/11/2023 17:30

Djimm · 17/11/2023 14:46

Easily done OP. We bought a house with a newish kitchen, moved in to find there wasn't a single drawer. It didn't occur to us as a thing until we unpacked the knives and forks.

You'll get there. Maybe put kids in together if they are small. Having a second person in the room really helps. You might be better putting the money for oil fired radiators towards installing more central heating, depending on how your boiler is etc.

I managed to buy a house that didn't have any sockets at all in the kitchen!

MrsMoastyToasty · 17/11/2023 17:36

See if your council offer home improvement grants.

Original poster
babyg24 · 17/11/2023 17:41

There are some home improvement grants but because my property is a D and not an E rating I don't quality.

No plug sockets @thecatneuterer Shock!!!

Honestly some things just don't occur! I actually just counted and I only have 4 rads downstairs... 4! (None in kitchen!)

Why was the owner harping on about his amazing Hive system for these piddly 4 radiators grr...

I don't think I have the heating on enough to make the "heat rise" upstairs.

Looking at oil filled heaters but online it says they are just as inefficient as electric? So confusing.

But I do need something as my little one is getting poorly, our clothes feel damp in the wardrobes and it's only going to get colder.

OP posts:
Caspianberg · 17/11/2023 17:45

You can get wall
mounted electric radiators. They look just like normal ones but can just plug in at socket so no major work. I think they might be oil filled also.

My parents got some a couple of years ago for bedrooms. They have no central heating and didn’t want the faff and expense of installing now . growing up we had no heating in bedrooms though. So downstairs they have two gas fires in fireplaces, upstairs these electric wall radiator, and a air heater thing now in bathroom

I saw the electric wall radiators at an ideal home show and they are supposed to be fairly efficient

Gnomegnomegnome · 17/11/2023 18:10

We have what @Caspianberg said in our front room but nothing elsewhere.
We got ours cheap on Facebook marketplace from someone who had just put in central heating.

MadeOfAllWork · 17/11/2023 18:59

The thing with an oil filled radiator is that when they are off the oil is still warm so they continue to heat the room for a short while.

I didn’t have heating upstairs, or downstairs for that matter, in my last house. We used oil filled radiators all through it.

MegaBlox6 · 17/11/2023 19:05

I also really recommend the oil filled plug in radiators. I have one in my son's room to keep it warm and they don't cost the earth to have on..if you think the rooms are feeling damp even with some heaters in there get a few dehumidifiers. They're not too expensive to run either and also make a lot of difference.

CantFindTheBeat · 17/11/2023 19:14

Ah, OP, I'm so sorry for you. I can totally see how you overlooked it.

It is definitely worth raising a complaint with your surveyor. They might argue their point but so can you. Go back to them and ask for a copy of their complaints procedure and submit your complaint in accordance.

You've got absolutely nothing to lose.

Original poster
babyg24 · 17/11/2023 21:19

Lots of options here, thanks all for the advice.

Been reading up some more on the dehumidifiers and I think one would definitely help. If I can get some oil filled heaters cheaply on fb that would be great too.

Just venting that throughout the whole process the vendor or estate agent or no one else noticed or thought to mention it. I know quite a lot of people, with different heating systems such as oil no necessarily mains gas, and I don't know anyone with this problem :(

OP posts:
Djimm · 17/11/2023 21:54

thecatneuterer · 17/11/2023 17:30

I managed to buy a house that didn't have any sockets at all in the kitchen!

Show quote history

Amazing! What on earth are people thinking? I can easily imagine I never checked for these either

MaggieFS · 17/11/2023 22:05

I completely understand why it's frustrating. Argh!

With regards to oil filled radiators, it's really worth getting one with a thermostat and a timer if you can. It will add to the price but it's so worth it because it effectively acts like good central heating. It only comes on at the times you set and once the temperature is reached it goes off.

I've still got one from when I also had a house with no upstairs heating; we've used it occasionally recently when the boiler has broken and putting it on the landing, we can actually do a couple of rooms with it.

MaggieFS · 17/11/2023 22:10

Just had a quick look and you can get a new one for £115 or quite a few on Facebook market place second hand (obvs location dependant)

Djimm · 17/11/2023 22:17

OP I wouldn't say it was anyone else's job to mention the lack of central heating, but if "full central heating" was literally listed on the particulars I think you might have a case for misrepresentation against the agent or seller. I am not an expert but I think it should have been described as partial central heating.

If it could be handled under small claims it might not be that expensive or need a solicitor, but whether it would be worth pursuing I've no idea.

Winter2020 · 18/11/2023 08:28

Hi OP,
I wonder if it would be possible to challenge/change your EPC? I imagine it was based on assuming the property had full central heating throughout (because all the stuff meant it was not possible to see).

Perhaps you can contact the person/business that did the EPC and discuss the difficulties you are having. An EPC is supposed to give an idea how easy or expensive it would be to keep the house warm and you are struggling

Then if the EPC is downgraded you might have access to the grants.

Peridot1 · 18/11/2023 09:47

@Winter2020 - that’s a really good idea.