I can’t put the heating on.

[VacancyAtNumber10AGAIN]

Just that really. I can’t afford it. £19 went in 4 days last week. I’m on prepayment. They want £300 to change to credit meters. I can’t afford that.

flat is prone to damp and mould so have to keep windows open to ventilate, washing isn’t drying. Clothes in wardrobe are freezing cold and there’s black mould all round the window frames.

I don’t see why people in the world have to live like this. It’s not the 1800’s. I’m worried for my DD’s health and my own. Does anyone know if there are any schemes etc for help with gas? Also this isn’t a begging thread, I don’t take handouts off people and I won’t even ask my own mother for help with bills.

Counting down the days until summer

Same, the amount of water I sucked up yesterday from my bathroom window, back door window and the bathroom windowsill was amazing. Wouldn't be without my window vac (and that's without having washed my windows today too 😂)

This is aimed at Londoners, but most of the links work for elsewhere: www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/communities-and-social-justice/help-cost-living

It's a good place to start in seeing what support you can access.

DD lives in a HA property on a pre payment meter and they're not allowed to change them.

If you are on universal credit you will receive council tax reduction. If this applied by the council you should then be eligible for an energy rebate @ £150. This ends on the 30th November so you need to apply for this as councils are doing the final payment next week. Report all maintenance issues to the landlord .

@VacancyAtNumber10AGAIN The little dehumidifier boxes: buy cheap cat litter, pour into plastic boxes (takeaway tubs/ice cream tubs etc) and poke holes in the lid, it'll do the same job and be cheaper.

www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme

Do you qualify for this too? It's changed this year and the government control it rather than the energy companies so there's different criteria than the previous years.

Prepayment meters may not currently be much different in cost to direct debit, but direct debit lets you budget and spread the high cost of winter fuel bills over a longer period of time. That's a massive difference on a low income.

@HashtagShitShop i did qualify previously. But this year I don’t. It’s just a massive pain in the arse that people have to fucking live like this.
I feel so bloody sorry for anyone unwell or elderly sat in the freezing cold.

I am waiting to get CMA but dds father was abusive. I only got rid of him not long ago so I will have to see what’s going on there.

not sure if I can afford a dehumidifier as the ones I’ve found are over £100 and that’s out of the question atm but I shall see if there are any going on Facebook marketplace.

Do the window vacs work ok shower screens ?

I'm sorry lovely, it's bloody stupid isn't it. My mum did qualify through being disabled but she doesn't because they've removed pip from the criteria and she doesn't get pension credit because she gets a tiny amount of money from my late dad's pension that isn't enough to help anything financially but tips her over the limit. 🙄

Sorry but you are not correct. I have a prepay which was changed from a credit meter (my choice), and when I asked the HA for permission for it to be changed I was told that I didn't need permission for any meters, regardless as to whether it was prepay or credit. It maybe different for other HA's of course but mine will let you put in whatever meter you wish.

Plus an extra £650 if on Universal credit or tax credits. Over £1100 of extra help for many.

Keep wiping any mould away each day from windows and open windows to ventilate. Those little boxes with white stuff in sick the damp put of the air. They are cheap and can be reused.

I'm sorry not to be of help but a friend of mine lives in a HA property and it's really cold. Bedroom was around 13 deg two days ago. They've complained time and time again about the lack of insulation, etc. but are getting nowhere. They have a number of health issues and like you are concerned about mould.

Can only reinforce what someone else has suggested re changing meter, which would drop your standing and unit price a little.

How the big energy co's can make billions in profit and charge people so much when they're struggling is beyond me. It won't make any difference to them, but will make a huge difference to the people who are so worried about putting the heating on.

I've been told that in some areas there are 'fuel bank' schemes, where people can donate the cost of heating a room/house etc., which may be worth investigating?

Not a long-term solution, but I found this Astonish Mould and Mildew remover on Amazon (I use Prime) for £1.20 for a big bottle, and it works incredibly well, in bathrooms, tiles. It's a cheap short term solution anyway:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000TRIY16/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yes indeed.

The key thing here is, where does the water go next?

If squeegee gets squeezed into a bucket as you go, and the majority of the water tipped down the sink, then a squeegee might do a reasonable job.

If the majority of the water just sits in a sodden cloth or squeegee, drying back into the air... it'll be on the windows again next morning.

I don't have a window vac so just use a normal wiper blade on showerscreen/ tiles, and encourage the water down the plughole.

It's awful We've gone up to over £5 per day on the electric meter (we're on prepayment too) and haven't checked gas yet but based on how the last £15 I could afford to top up before payday tomorrow went, it must be £6 - £7 per day.

And they're about £50. Would rather spend that on heating.......

Please contact Depher via twitter or on 01282420678. They support vulnerable people (including families with children) with heating / food support. If you’re uncomfortable with accepting help, think of it as a loan that you can pay forward when you have the means to. Please do try them x

There may be a warm bank nearby that you could use .your local church is a good point of contact.

You may be able to get some in Poundland or wilko. Those window vacuums are good as you’re on a budget beldray (the one I have
) are cheaper than karcher. Check out Amazon or eBay compare prices.

Are you fretting your £66 a month @VacancyAtNumber10AGAIN ?@VacancyAtNumber10AGAIN ? You need a letter and to get it from the post office I believe?

I take out drying to the local launderette now, it costs £2 - £3 for a weeks worth for me and DS, 20 - 30 mins on high in those massive dryers.

Keep a couple of the hopper windows open. Doesn’t help with the bills but can help with condensation.