Landlord laziness costing me a fortune in electricty

[Sparklfairy]

I'm not slagging off landlords, as I kind of see both sides to an extent (i.e. they want to make some money), but this latest revelation about my flat has pushed me over the edge.

Earlier this year I discovered that my immersion heater is actually a shared one between all four flats in the block (same landlord for all of them). This means that any time any flat uses hot water, we all pay to heat it up again. At times I was using 7 units of energy a day and hadn't even used the hot water all day.

When the pandemic was at its peak with lockdowns and uncertainty, I moved back into DM's for 6 months and couldn't work out why my energy bills for when I was away were essentially the same. Now I know.

The flat came with white goods, a big plus for me as it was the first time I had moved alone and already had to buy all my (second hand) furniture, plates etc.

Last year when I moved the FF to clean under it I noticed a part of the plastic casing along the top was missing, and it crossed my mind it was probably really inefficient. I mentioned it to the agent at my last inspection but nothing was done and I haven't brought it up again.

It's a little under counter FF, so fridge and tiny ice box.

I've now discovered it's sucking energy because it's old and presumably the missing plastic where the ice box is, is making it extra inefficient.

I'm delighted not to discover that I'm paying £1.22 a day in electric, just to store fresh/frozen food. Without my standing charge ~50p/day.

My DM's FF (full height 50/50) uses 1/4 of the energy mine does, and it's irritating me no end because a FF isn't a choice and has to be on 24/7.

So, between the two of those, I'm using up to 10 units a day, before actually, you know, living, using a laptop (WFH) or turning a light on.

So I have 2 AIBUs (I'll turn off voting)

AIBU that LLs should be mindful of their setups (shared immersion) and at least factor in the unfair cost of tenants subsidising other tenants hot water because it's less hassle for them?

AIBU to see if I can find a more efficient and unbroken FF and get a mate with muscles to stack the LLs one on top of it as I have nowhere else to store it?

Anyone?

To be fair in those circumstances I'd be looking to move.

The shared immersion is ridiculous.

YANBU

Me too.

Unless this is a ridiculously cheap Palace.. No way would I be paying others bills (essentially what you're doing...) during the largest cost of living crisis in living memory.

In wonder if your fellow tenants know and are thus using more than they usually would?

I'd be looking to move pronto...

Or can all of you tenants combine and pressurjse LL to sort this?

It’s shared hot water rather than shared immersion heater, and while I’d hate that, it’s not something that’s a simple fix as each flat will need to have its own water tank or combi boiler installed.

How does the way your building was set up for hot water mean your landlord is lazy?

Landlords do have to have energy ratings nowadays.

On the fridge, the LL has no responsibility to have one that’s “as new” so I’d probably just get one myself from freecycle to replace it.

The shared immersion I can get - especially as they didn’t tell you prior to renting. I can’t see it changing though, so your only option would be to move. This would probably end up being false economy though, once you factor in moving costs etc. it will probably be cheaper for you to stay put and continue paying the bills (short term at least, long term obviously not!).
The fridge freezer I’m on the fence with. Landlords aren’t going to buy new with each tenant, that would be wasteful, not just financially unviable. If the flat hadn’t been furnished you would have had to purchase your own (as you say, it’s a necessity) and, as you’ve already pointed out, it probably would have been second hand. Likely, it would have been as economical as your current one. You could ask the landlord to bin and buy your own, but you’d have the same issue. You would also have the outlay of buying a new one - more false economy, it’s probably cheaper to keep the one you have.
I’m not being unsympathetic, it’s very annoying! However, I don’t think this is your landlord’s fault, more a generable affordability issue. People who are less well off can’t afford the top of the range goods which are more efficient. Can’t afford the more expensive shoes and clothes which last longer. Ultimately we end up paying more having to buy new more regularly (just cheaper items) or have cheaper, less efficient goods. The joys of capitalisation, I guess 🤷‍♀️

Is it a house or commercial building that has been converted into flats, rather than a purpose built block of flats?
If it's the former then I'm wondering if it has been converted without the appropriate planning permission/building regulations.
(I used to work in the water industry and we were regularly called out to properties with low water pressure, only to find the whole block was on a single incoming supply).

LL can’t do much about the shared immersion heater without a LOT of expense.

i would be chatting to the other tennants though and making them aware and suggest that if you all use less you’ll all pay less.

re the fridge YABU. I’d just buy a new one tbh and ask him /her to take the old one away as it’s inefficient. However unless you plan to stay there a very long time, making use with what you have is likely to be cheaper

Shared hot water is not a new thing but it requires meter at the property so people pay only when they use.

Also, the hot water heater cannot be possibly connected to all 4 flats at once, which means you are all connected in some way?

I wouldn't want to live like this. It would drive me potty knowing that even if I tried to save on leccy it may well have no effect. You'll always have one person in the group who doesn't give a damn. I would leave.

How do the showers/baths work ? if the shower is electric, it makes more sense for you to have baths from the immersion heater hot water !

The LL should have warned all tenants about the boiler situation when they moved in (or tenants should have asked), or perhaps just had water costs included in the rent. I don’t think it’s lazy not to have bought each flat a seperate boiler.

The FF I’m on the landlord’s side. There is no point putting new white goods into a rented property because the tenants nick them and replace with junk off freecycle when the tenant leaves. Has happened to my parents a couple of times.

I had a plumber out over a bank holiday that I called myself as the letting agent emergency line wasn't working when I had a leak. He said he'd never seen a set up like it before and the way it had been done meant that we were all subsidising any heavy hot water users.

It's four flats, above a commercial unit on the ground floor, which the landlord also owns and rents out. I believe it was him that did the conversion many years ago (has dozens of properties and this is his business).

I'm not expecting him to buy me a new FF. I'm just annoyed that two things that are out of my control and came with the flat mean my basic electric bill before I even switch a light on is about £120 a month, when I live alone in a small studio with 3 power points in the whole place.

LLs have to bring their properties up to Grade C for energy in the next few years, I think mine's an E but can't remember. There's been lots of talk here about how many will sell up rather than pay what's necessary. I wonder what that means for me and my home, like PPs said sorting the immersion would cost a lot and I'm aware of that.

It is frustrating just existing and feeling like you can't control your energy bills.

Look to move.

Speak to the other tenants who will presumably also find the immersion situation ridiculous and then go jointly to the LL about it with a money-saving proposal.

FF - you can buy a new one and see if someone will store the old one for you, or just leave the new one at the end of the tenancy and get rid of the old one. Doubt the LL wants to help you with this so do whatever works best for you.

If there is essentially a communal hot water supply it might be a better idea for it to be metered centrally and included in the rent.
The landlord would have to increase the rent to cover this at a ‘safe’ sum as there is little incentive for the users to economise when they are not responsible for the bill. The rent would likely increase by much more than you save on electricity, which will not help.
What does the hot water supply? If might be a longer term possibility for the landlord to fit individual electric water heaters and electric showers in each unit to separate the costs.
Unless the fridge freezer is not working, in that it is not keeping things chilled and frozen it is unlikely to be replaced.

It does not sound good OP. Can you move if you not happy with arrangement. I don't suppose LL will replace fridge freezer if it still works. Hot water sounds dodgy though.