To avoid flats with electric only?

[LemonFox]

We're currently looking to move into a 2 bed (rental) so we've got more room as our current place is quite small. We've found a lovely looking place that sounds like it may actually still be available when we can go and view it - everywhere else we've lost out on thusfar as we couldn't go and view for a few days due to work schedules.

It's ground floor, very good location and is generally a really nice looking property. We've got a viewing booked in and sounds like we'll have to make a decision there and then as they've got lots of other viewings booked in after as and properties go like hot cakes around here.

The only downside is it's electric only - electric hob which I'm not overly fond of and electric heating. I've only ever had gas central heating so I may be worrying over nothing but wouldn't electric be more expensive / less good? I don't want to walk away from a lovely property but I can't get my head around the fact it's electric only. AIBU to turn it down on this basis?

ETA there's only two of us currently but hoping to start TTC in the not so distant future and don't want to be stressing about any heating issues if we do have a baby whilst we're in the flat.

I had the same opinion, until I started to stay at my DP's and my DD got a new all electric kitchen. Cost wise, it doesn't make a difference. I don't like an electric hob, prefer gas, but have had to get on with it. I wouldn't let it stop me taking it, if everything else is right.

I haven't lived in a place that has gas since I was 18. Modern apartments especially are electric only. Electric hob is not as good as gas but it's really not a big deal.

It's the room and water heating costs that you need to worry about. Electricity is about 4 or 5 times the price per Kwh (ie per unit of heat). Overnight rates (such as Economy 7) make it less costly if you have storage heaters that can use it. But they're still not great in my opinion.

read up on the horrible stuff gas hobs put into the air, I hate cooking on electric ones too but we're planning on getting rid of our gas one.

Induction hobs are great and safer with kids around

Electricity does cost more per kWh, but on a carbon perspective is greener than gas & other fossil fuels.
(Bearing in mind that the UKs generation still partially from fossil fuels)

Look into how efficient the property is, and why it is electricity only.
e.g. Is gas unavailable, and they either had deliverer fuels or were only on electric heating, or that it has been converted from gas to ground/air source heat pumps etc
If converted then ideally investment went into insulation etc first, so that you end up with efficient heating without heating the air outside

Old style electric hob or induction? Having switched from gas to induction, I would never switch back, so responsive and so easy to keep clean.

My flat is electric heating only (lots of new builds are) - it's amazingly efficient and my bills are pretty low. Underfloor electric - keeps the flat nice and toasty.

Sorry should have specified. It's the old style electric hob rather than newer style induction or the halogen type hobs.

@tommika that's a really good point about the greener aspect.

We live in a 2 bed flat which is electric only. Have found heating fine and the hob is good too even though it's old. We average around £90 per month in total

Stay away from properties with old storage heaters. They eat leccy like nothing else, can't control when they heat the place. Boiling hot in the morning and freezing at night.. Me and my ex rented a place with them and after a quarterly bill of £450 (winter 03/04) - we said sod that. Went to the market for some thick jumpers, blankets and then bought some electric heaters.

I used to live in apartments with electric only and never found it a problem. You get used to the way to heat pretty quickly - we never used the night storage heaters but just turned the override switch on when needed and it got hot immediately due to smaller rooms and all on one level, not like a house where heat escapes.

If the old style job bugs you maybe ask the landlord if they will allot you to replace it? They are approx £200 new for a ceramic hob so if you think it’s important this could work. Maybe landlord will split the cost with you?

If there was a shortage of housing this is definitely not something to be put off by. I also agree with previous poster- most I ever paid in electric for a flat was £70 a month

Don't be put off. But buy a camping stove. It is a real nuisance not being able to make a cup of tea during a power cut

I have a eco heat source pump which heats the water and heating. Radiators are the same as GCH,

The problem is finding a company that services EHSP, Rare as hens teeth. Found one at the other side of the county to me. Book the next service when they complete one. Yet the govt want more properties to go to use EHSP

Most gas hobs you need a match to work the hob in a power cut.

Pour 2 bed flat is all electric and hot water /storage heaters are on economy 7 (but can s also run dishwasher in cheap hours to save cash? I avoid washing machine as it's rude to run that overnight in a flat)

Costs around £150 per month now costs all sky rocketed. Fiat is surrounded on 4 sides by other flats so nice and toasty anyway.

I think you need to understand what kind of heaters there are. I stayed in a flat which had old and very expensive electric heaters that we could not afford to run. They used so much electricity and were rubbish.

It is my understanding that newer systems are a vast improvement though. Worth investigating.

I've always lived in flats with electric only. My first one had storage heaters, I hated them personally, thought they were crap. My flat now has electric radiators which I much prefer.

Don't forget you will not be paying a daily standing charge for gas which should save you some money.

I have gas heating but all my cooking is electric, I love my induction hob.

Check with the Energy Performance Certificate says. The letting agent or landlord must be able to give you a copy. Then you can assess if it will be more expensive than other properties with gas.

If you've ever let jam boil over on a gas hob you will really see the benefit of a smooth ceramic or induction electric hob!

My flat's all electric, there's no gas to the block. On Economy 7 with modern storage heaters. Stays warm and bills are reasonable. As someone has already pointed out, you don't need to pay the gas daily standing charge. The heating charges overnight on cheap electricity. The immersion would too, but I have an electric shower and dishwasher, so I don't bother with hot water.

I'd check the heating when you view it. Old storage heaters are know to be a bit rubbish. The modern programmable ones are good though.