To think I've made a huge mistake moving?

[3teens]

Trying to keep it short. Family of 7, DP has continence issues requiring regular washing.
Moved from a 3 bed new build house with shower, bath and toilet upstairs, toilet downstairs. (dp didn't have these health issues at the time) To a 4 bed council house requiring loads of work, which only has a separate toilet and a bath and sink in bathroom.
We had to move urgently to be near my ill mother. Been here 8 months, just had a statement from energy supplier and we're using £200+ per month on gas. (been paying £70)
Wtf am I going to do? I know most of it is coming from constant bath running for all of us as I only have heating on for approximately 2 hours a day as I anticipated a small rise with the extra room.
Before it's asked, readings are all correct. Any advice?

Can you get a shower that attaches to taps for rinsing.

Are you on the cheapest tariff?
Money saving expert will show you how to get best prices if your not sure.
Can you get a cheap shower attachment for the bath so your not using as much water to fill in the bath? Have a sit down shower instead.

You need a shower, baths are wasteful in power and volume of water. Have you compared suppliers? Kids don’t need bathed every day, so you could maybe cut back on volume with them?

Can you get a shower fitted?
I got one that fitted over the taps in argos and used this until I could get electric one installed.

I've tried the shower attachment things but we have really old, 80s style taps and nothing attaches. I don't bathe the kids everyday if possible but 3 of them are going through puberty so sweat, greasy hair, etc are relevant. DP tries to stick to flannel wash where possible but sometimes has no choice but to have a full bath. He has bowel incontinence too.

Get a shower installed. You would make your money back in 2-3 months.
You can put a showing in a council house as long as you ask for permission (I'm my experience "asking for permission" is just a formality though.)

Shower in*

Get your taps changed?

Depending what LA you are in, they will provide and install a shower, be worth an ask and also find out if they have a programme of bathroom renewals. Here in Scotland the local councils have rolling improvement programmes of bathroom and kitchen renewals inc shower.

You could apply for an Occupational Therapy assessment for DP.

They would look at his medical need to have a shower and may recommend that the council should install one.

Each area works differently to ask either your housing provider or ring adult social care and they should be able to explain the criteria and the process.

I didn't think of asking the LA. I'll try that. Thank you everyone

100% go and compare your prices and suppliers. It's so easy to change nowadays and could save you a significant amount like it did us

Are you allowed to install an electric shower over the bath?

Or shower attachment to the taps as pp said, especially if partner is needing multiple washes per day (do you mean he needs to wash himself a lot, or that lots of laundry is generated?).

Does everyone need a bath daily? Can some of you just wash armpits etc at sink every other day?

Or I've seen people stand in bath with a bucket of hot water and a large cup to pour water over themselves. So lather up leg, pour cup of water on leg to wash soap off, etc.

Sounds like your tariff needs sorting. Standard tariff is daylight robbery.

Shower attached to tap. Kids don't need to bath daily, get a flannel out for a wash in the sink.

Is it a combi boiler or have you got a tank? Is the hot water tank well insulated?

Insulate your bathtub remove panel and stuff a load of loft insulation around underneath) and share bathwater. Kids before incontinent DP.

Someone I know had a walk in wet room installed by the council because she needed it. I don’t know how or even if that would help With your bills but I’m just mentioning it because she lives in a council flat that she rents and the council did a very good job of transforming the bathroom.

You need to get your LA accessible homes team to do an assessment of your husbands needs. An occupational therapist will carry out and request a shower as a minimum. Also check if you're on the cheapest tarot. Contact the gas company and explain the excessive use is due to a disabled person. Maybe there is a scheme they can get you on.

Also has your husband applied for PIP. If not I would suggest this is done ASAP as well as visit your local CAB or welfare rights unit for help. Your LA may have one.

*tariff not tarot I'm not mystic meg honestly

Doesn't help with your gas bills but do you know you might to be entitled to a reduced water rate? Just thought it worth mentioning in case you weren't already aware.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/water/water-supply/problems-with-paying-your-water-bill/watersure-scheme-help-with-paying-water-bills/

Also there's the warm home discount you may be eligible for? www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme

Your Local Authority housing department may have access to a disability facilities grant, which would include installing suitable cleaning methods. A mixer tap can be fitted to the bathroom (I did this, the taps cost me about £40). However, be sure to get the right taps for your water system, and if its low pressure (like when the hot water comes from an immersion tank) you can expect shower water flow to be quite poor and fluctuating. If you are using a lot of water, please look at watersure...it covers households affected by health issues and caps your bill if you qualify. Also, look into other ways to reduce your household bills to compensate for the energy you are using. For example, you may qualify for a council tax discount if you can show that there is a room or facility in the house that is needed for a person with disability.

If you go to one of the comparison websites, you can check if you are on the cheapest energy tariff. Personally I saved loads by swapping so it is worth checking.

Look at size of the water cylinder. You need at least 50 litres per day each so a 400 litre tank would save on multiple heatings of water, Get an assessment from the council about improvements, help, care and plumbing changes, even maybe solar thermal for water and heat pumps for cooking and heating.

You could replace the taps on the bath to One with a shower attached rather than trying to put something on the existing tap. Not expensive.

we got rid of our bath and have just a shower - its great. Also when your kids are teens they will spend hours in the bath - get rid.