Will high energy bills mean more people downsizing?

[flashbac]

For those underoccupying houses just for the sake of it, because they like the luxury of loads of space, because people come and stay every other Christmas or whatever. Energy rates are horrendously expensive now. Will more people think about downsizing do you think?

No

It depends. For people in large houses who are short of cash - maybe.

No. They'll just turn the heating off.

No. They will just heat the rooms they need.

No, they'll just be more careful with the heating.

Nope. They'll turn the heating off in the 3 unused bedrooms.

No but open plan and big, high vaulted ceilings will become a thing of the past.

Probably not, it costs to downsize so it could potentially take a long time before it begins to balance out.

I bloody hope so hahaha. Far too many rich pensioners in this country hogging the five-beds

House size only makes a difference for heating. As long as you can shut off rooms you don't need heated then you can just heat a main living room. Warm quilts, blankets, hot water bottles for beds.

No. Genuine question though- we're on a fixed tariff til 2023 and we've been told therefore the increases won't effect us - is this right? Not sure if I'm misunderstanding.

Nope. Especially now, like us, people are using the 'spare' bedrooms for WFH. We only heat the bedroom we actually sleep in. So it wouldn't make much difference moving to a smaller house (standard 4 bed btw rather than a Georgian mansion!)

No but I already have plans to downsize in the not to distant future but it will probably effect my choice in new house. I won’t want any thing open plan or even with the lounge and dining room knocked through. Small cosy rooms With doors I can shut would be my goal.

Not really. Two of use in a five bed (or four bed with a big study as we use it!) and higher bills won't be a reason to downsize. We love the extra space, I value that above cheaper bills.

Nope, no chance.

Large 4 bed for two of us, we only ever heat the downstairs and would rather make do with layers/blankets/hot water bottles than turn the heating on when we don’t have guests.

I have a heated blanket in my office for when I WFH.

No.

PIL have a huge house and have never bothered with heating. If the fire isn’t sufficient, then it’s a case of multiple layers and bringing our own electric blankets.

@etulosba

No. They will just heat the rooms they need.

Exactly! We're not all in large houses because they like the luxury of loads of space, because people come and stay every other Christmas or whatever, some of us have been left like this due to losses. I only heat the sitting room in the evening and a bathroom if I'm having a long soak. Other rooms are not heated, whatevaaa. The cost to me of down-sizing would pay for a lot of heating and I really don't want a pokey house, whatevaaa.

No of course not, firstly this is temporary, secondly you don’t need to heat every room, just the ones you’re using, so no different to living in a smaller house, and thirdly you don’t heat your house all year.

Is there some form of issue going on with you? Are you jealous of people with large houses?

@HereComesTheSum

No. Genuine question though- we're on a fixed tariff til 2023 and we've been told therefore the increases won't effect us - is this right? Not sure if I'm misunderstanding.

Yes it will if the fixed rate you're paying wouldn't cover the energy you use when the prices increase. If you continued paying the current fixed rate you would still have to find the extra money later, a fixed rate doesn't necessariy protect you from large increases.

@Whattochoosenow

No but open plan and big, high vaulted ceilings will become a thing of the past.

My first thought when I see these massive single area living spaces with very high ceilings and lots of huge windows is the cost of heating it and also cleaning all that glass!

@HereComesTheSum

No. Genuine question though- we're on a fixed tariff til 2023 and we've been told therefore the increases won't effect us - is this right? Not sure if I'm misunderstanding.

The increases won't affect you, but your bill can go up. Some people confuse fixed tariffs with fixed pricing and are outraged when their bills go up with increased consumption. Not saying you're one of those people, but it never hurts to be clear about these things.

I'm in the same position and frankly I'm worried about the jump that'll happen next year. It's going to be painful!

@JudgeJ thank you that makes sense, we only fixed a short while ago and our payments went from £80 per month to £185 so I assume we've already accounted for some of the increases expected hopefully.

A lot of people in big houses can afford higher bills. Others will just heat a few rooms. Moving is expensive!

Nope, I will just put a thicker jumper on and take it one day at a time

YABU.

In my area def not.
We are London and most of our neighbours are 60s up to 80s. Those in their 50/60s either don’t work at all or are semi retired

In the main they have no mortgages and good pensions.
Our street of 4/5 bed houses has 1-2 occupants in the majority of houses (I only know of 4 “young” families 40/50s with kids on our half of the road and that’s about 50 houses)
There are Bentleys, teslas, Audis and Mercedes on the drives…
Ocado and Waitrose vans roam the roads…
Rear gardens contain elaborate light displays are on all night, every night…

There is no energy crisis for these people…