Aibu to ask seriously… how to keep warm!

[Biscuits1011]

we all know the cost of living is hitting people hard. We’re on prepayment metres, landlord insists on them. Rent privately through an agent so can’t make any major improvements to the house. It’s badly insulated but landlord won’t do anything about it, it’s rated E so legal. Got 2 very young children. We can’t afford what it’s costing to heat our home. £60 a week on gas alone! Have heating on an hour morning; 2 in evening and an hour in the day. I’m on maternity, so home with the baby all day long. It’s so cold. I could go back to work early but Im off on full pay so wouldn’t make a financial difference! People suggest hot water bottles… blankets heated throws ect but that’s ok when I can just sit on the sofa… not when I have to run around after a toddler and have a baby to look after. We have layers on.. but it’s so cold unless the heating is actually on!

its all open plan downstairs also, so can’t contain heat in one room either. Honestly I’m so worried about the cost, but also it’s so so cold right now 😞

I thought about a halogen heater but again it’s not really safe with a toddler roaming about

Put the heater in a metal pet cage or have it against a wall with a fire guard over it.

What is the insulation like in your attic? I'm going to assume not good if your energy rating is so low. I know you turned down the idea to someone installing insulation due to cost, but you buy rolls of it from the likes of B and Q and do it yourselves for cheaper. You could always lift it and bring it with you/sell it on if you move. Have you had a look in the attic to see what it's like?

You can stick bubble wrap to your single glazed windows to make them warmer, and get draft excluding tape for anywhere that needs it or make draft excluders for along the bottom of doors. You can also get washable rugs which would probably work well for the kitchen.

I don't want this to sound harsh, but it doesn't sound like you're going anywhere soon, so I do think it's worth making the house as energy efficient as you can now with cheap, temporary measures.

I’d have to buy those things though and we just don’t have the money right now

I would Google the law about what your landlord is supposed to supply. A safe level of heating is one of the things and it is specific temperatures for bedrooms and living rooms. Your landlord can't possibly guarantee this is possible without having a room thermostat rather than the boiler temp control (which is different). Since the property is managed you might have luck with the agent arguing on this grounds. I just got a thermostat and radiator temp knobs installed on this basis (though was a newer boiler and should have been fitted already 6 years ago by law).

Is there anywhere ye could cut this month to get something? An investment this month of 100-200 could save ye in the long run. Very hard to get the 100-200 together though, it's so tough 😔