Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To turn down the 'perfect' flat because it has electric heating?

93 replies

PeachyParisian · 06/01/2015 23:59

Lovely flat that ticks all of our boxes but DH is kicking up a fuss because it has electric radiators. It's only to rent, not buy and I'm not sure if it's worth continuing our search (we've been looking since September!) because of this one thing.

Are they really that much more expensive to run? I've only ever had gas heating in the UK. We had electric heating in France and it was quite expensive (although had nothing to compare it with really) which is probably why he is against it.

We have to decide by tomorrow Confused over to you wise MNers!

OP posts:
KingJoffreyObviouslyWatchesHol · 07/01/2015 00:01

Electric heating is shit.

You'd be cold and miserable.

Expedititition · 07/01/2015 00:05

We had a lovely flat with night storage heating. It was so damp. Mould everywhere.

WestEast · 07/01/2015 00:06

As above. We moved into our lovely two bed flat in summer. Stupidly heating didn't cross my mind. It's now bloody freezing. We're on a pissing prepayment meter as well. It cost £7 to heat ONE heater overnight. We're not having the heating on now, apart from in DSD's room before she goes to sleep (with an extra duvet and hot water bottle).
It's honestly no fun when it gets to zero outside and you can't put the heating on.

ProseccoPrincess10 · 07/01/2015 00:09

YANBU electric heating is crap and ridiculously expensive.
I lived in a flat with it, the flat was lovely but it was always freezing unless we left the heaters on all day whilst out at work. When we moved out and gave final meter readings we owed £950!

MildDrPepperAddiction · 07/01/2015 00:12

Cold and damp. Look elsewhere.

Groovester · 07/01/2015 00:14

I have now bought 2 properties with electric storage heating. Installing gas central heating was the first thing we did in both of them!

Graciescotland · 07/01/2015 00:18

Another one who loathes electric heating, especially night storage heaters, hot and dehydrated at 6am and frozen all bloody evening. That said it does depend slightly on the place. We stayed somewhere with electric radiators on the bedroom walls that blew warm air. They heated up a room really quickly and because it was shiny and new and properly insulated you could have them on for a bit before bed and wake up and the room was still cosy. So anything built pre 2000 run for the hills; post 2000 ask for the epc if it's rated B or below or maybe even a C if I loved it, I'd go with it.

justjuanmorebeer · 07/01/2015 00:19

Hang on, you haven't said if they are storage heaters or not and what type of property it is.

If it is a Victorian conversion with old windows, run away.

If it is a new build apartment with electric rads in every room then those places can actually get like saunas. (My ex's old place heated up within 5 mins of having those heaters on it was better than GCH)

TotallySociallyInep · 07/01/2015 00:20

You could buy and use these instead. We had a flat that only had a gas fire in (long time ago) so we had these in the rooms they are a lot cheaper to run then electric or storage heaters, and although low kw work well once over a 1000ow they start costing.
www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/4159201/searchTerm/oil+filled+radiator.htm

MissWimpyDimple · 07/01/2015 00:20

It really depends on the property and the type of heaters.

Convector heaters (the ones that spew out heat instantly) are quite expensive to run, but there are other types of electric heating that are fine.

Modern storage heaters are much much better than the old type- I had the whole lot replaced at my parents and now they are great and really effective and efficient.

There are also electric radiators which can be ok. It's very much a case of what they are.

Also is it a modern property? Does it have double glazing and what floor is it on (if it's a flat...)

BigPawsBrown · 07/01/2015 00:23

We lived in a new flat with electric radiators. First of all, we hardly needed them on because the flats retained heat so well. Second of all you could actually see the steam rolling off them, so they heated up a room really fast. Third you could just switch one on at a time so wasn't like turning "the heating" on and having to isolated radiators etc. Fourthly I didn't personally notice that it was that expensive, even when it snowed and we had them on.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 07/01/2015 00:23

I has electric heating in a fairly new flat that was in the middle of a large block. It was actually fine as we were kept warm by all the other flats around us so it wasn't that bad to use. I guess it therefore depends on the situation of the flat.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 07/01/2015 00:25

Depends on what type they are. We have electric radiators and they are excellent and economical to run. Storage heaters are pretty crap.

Itsgoingtoreindeer · 07/01/2015 00:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Instituteofstudies · 07/01/2015 00:25

If they're very old storage heaters and the flat is oldish and not well insulated you'll probably be miserable. They cost a lot to run and you will shelling out your dosh to end up frozen by around lunchtime.

If it's a well insulated, modern build (and bearing in mind the last 3 months out of the 6 will be warmer weather) you might manage.

You could always switch the storage heaters off and use oil filled ones that are more efficient. My neighbour does that.

Original poster
PeachyParisian · 07/01/2015 00:29

It's a block of 6 flats, 80/90s build (I think) with double glazing.

I have no idea what a storage heater is Blush it just seems like radiators fixed to the wall that are electric.

It's a 2 bed flat (not huge) is our average electricity bill likely to be more than £60 a month?

OP posts:
Original poster
PeachyParisian · 07/01/2015 00:30

Ahh just googled storage heaters, Yep it's those!

OP posts:
Original poster
PeachyParisian · 07/01/2015 00:32

Or maybe they are convector heaters, I dont knooowww.
Perhaps I should ask the estate agent!

OP posts:
Witcheswerehorses · 07/01/2015 00:34

It depends if you have an economy 7 tariff. You should have for storage heaters.
We were dreading this aspect when we moved in to our house, but it has worked well. We are well insulated, only use two storage heaters in the whole house most of the time, and we use a halogen heater in the living room. Don't forget that although electricity bill will be higher, it's the only bill rather than gas on top etc

Screwballscrambled · 07/01/2015 01:16

I had electric storage heating in my first flat

I couldn't afford to run them. It was miserable I spent the entire winter with 2 jumpers and a duvet wrapped around me

Even when I went into the kitchen to put kettle on.

If I could have I'd even have gone to the toilet with the duvet wrapped round me!

SorchaN · 07/01/2015 01:24

I lived in a flat with electric heaters years ago, and would NEVER do it again. But maybe things have changed since the late 90s?

silverstreak · 07/01/2015 07:07

Our current flat is electric underfloor heating - we're afraid to turn it on in case our bill goes through the roof!! That said the fact that it's Jan and we haven't actually had to (although do have a small portable convector in 2yo bedroom which comes on for an hour before bed for apres-bath) days a lot IMO... Flat is 2 bed 1-floor modern (about 14yrs old, I think) with double glazing, open plan living, 2bthrooms both with towel rails and showers, huge boiler, and usual kitchen appliances Inc d. Washer - our bill is between £55-70pm so far; I don't think that's at all bad, esp as we like showers/baths a lot! :)
Conversely, our previous place was a nightmare - quaint little 2 floor 2-bed cottage (which we were soooo pleased with when we found, crazy fools) with single glazing sash windows, and decrepit storage heaters which were about as efficient as sitting round a CIG lighter.... :/
Which sounds more like your flat?! Good luck!

PennyJennyPie · 07/01/2015 07:12

We're in a mid terraced house with electric storage heaters. We pay about 300 £ per annum for all electricity and we are not cold. I'm actually afraid of gas....

Guitargirl · 07/01/2015 07:13

We live in a 3 bed place which has electric heaters attached to the walls in each room. It's toasty. Our electricity is 90 pounds a month and we usually receive a refund at some point in the year as 90 a month works out as an overpayment. We have no gas so that is the only payment we make.

namelessposter · 07/01/2015 07:18

I hate electric heating too. Skip this one and look on.