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Original poster

Can you stay with family if no heating or hot water?

147 replies

IsabelleSE19 · 05/02/2021 17:08

Our boiler has conked out and won't be replaced for another five days. At least four of those days are forecast to be temperatures around freezing. Is it reasonable to stay with family members until then? (They have a self-contained outbuilding, and no, I am not Dominic Cummings.) It is about a two and half hour drive from us. Government guidance says you can stay away from home if you have a reasonable excuse, but our situation is not really described in the list of those excuses. The closest one is 'if you are unable to return to your main residence', but that's not really accurate either. WWYD?

OP posts:
blowinahoolie · 05/02/2021 21:30

This happened to us recently. Four DC but we managed with lots of hot water bottles and fan heaters. DH got the heaters via his employer. House has to be a minimum temperature when working from home apparently. Had to wait two days. Has to always happen when sub zero temperatures 🙄

Hopefully you get it fixed much sooner than four days OP!

blowinahoolie · 05/02/2021 21:31
  • had to wait two days until heating was fixed. Got fan heaters same day.
Snookie00 · 05/02/2021 21:37

Reluctanthomeschooler’s answer sums up the batshittery of many covid threads here. People on here just revel in other people’s misery and discomfort. Must give them pleasure that other people are struggling too.

OP- Glad that you’ve found a temporary solution that works. If it doesn’t then you shouldn’t think twice about going to your parents. It’s not against the rules and is totally understandable with the weather that we’re expecting.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/02/2021 21:59

@SnowmanDrinkingSnowballs

Surely most house have either an electric shower or an emersion heater,we have both, madness not to have either.
No it’s not madness. I have one bathroom with a shower cubicle, where do you suggest I put a second shower? Also doesn’t an immersion need a tank (I know my Mum’s used to)? Any suggestions where I should put one of those in my flat?

Some people just have no idea.

daisypond · 05/02/2021 22:44

Surely most house have either an electric shower or an emersion heater,we have both, madness not to have either.

I don’t have a shower at all, neither electric or with immersion heater. My “shower” is a mixer tap with a long hose in the bath.

ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 05/02/2021 22:49

Yes, I would go!

cherry2727 · 05/02/2021 22:52

Why would you even come on here and ask this?!! I'm soo confused!! Surely this is a decision between yourselves ( dh and parents )?

Lineofconcepcion · 05/02/2021 22:52

We managed 8 days with no heat or hot water, but I did slip out for a shower 🤔

Original poster
IsabelleSE19 · 05/02/2021 23:04

Cherry the thing is it's not simply a decision between us any more is it? There are the guidelines to consider. I'm glad I posted as someone DMed with advice they'd got direct from their council. I think it would be allowed if we went, but we might try and stick it out. Will see how we feel when the weather gets really cold on Sunday.

OP posts:
Anothernick · 05/02/2021 23:11

@SnowmanDrinkingSnowballs

Surely most house have either an electric shower or an emersion heater,we have both, madness not to have either.
Storage tanks and immersion heaters are rare in modern houses, most have combi boilers that work directly from the mains water supply. Tanks are generally found only in larger houses with two or more full bathrooms.
sunflowertulip · 05/02/2021 23:12

Ours broke mid winter a couple if years ago (pre pandemic) and, to be honest, it didn't occur to us to go and stay elsewhere though we do have local family. A couple of heaters were really efficient keeping us warm. We did go to family for showers so I might ask local friends/family if we could pop in and keep our distance for a shower. It wasn't ideal but was fine and we weren't cold generally (though we moved the heaters depending on where we were and was cold when you left the room!). I wouldn't judge you at all for going though!

middleager · 05/02/2021 23:46

Our boiler went during the very cold snap in December, but my son was self isolating so we had to go without heating or hot water for 5 days, with no option to go elsewhere.

We managed with plug in heaters, electric blankets and boiling kettle/cat lick washes.

We have a fairly big/cold house compared to my previous two up two down, but it wasn't as bad as we had thought. I'd stay put if I were you.

mumwon · 05/02/2021 23:57

if you do this turn off your cold water & check advice from your insurance

alwaysplayingplaydoh · 06/02/2021 12:26

In that sized flat one oil filled radiator would be enough and as someone mentioned unthread they are £15 from a descent sized supermarket.

Haven't got space for it! Every sq ft counts. Why would I have something like that in which would barely ever be used when my mum is down the road and I could stay with her?

Madcats · 06/02/2021 12:41

Admittedly we had an immersion heater in our hot water tank and a woodburning stove, but we managed a winter without a boiler or a proper kitchen.

It is worth asking friends/neighbours if they have a spare heater tucked away (most people seem to end up doing building work).

Make sure you all have decent slippers and try to keep the rooms you are in above 16 degrees.

LH1987 · 06/02/2021 12:44

I’d probably put up with it,Amazon prime an electric radiator etc as decamping for 5 days seems a lot of hassle. I tend to run hot though.

That being said,I think this is a legitimate excuse if you find the situation intolerable. I don’t think anyone could criticise it.

yearinyearout · 06/02/2021 13:09

I'm sure half of Mumsnet will want you to manage with saucepans of hot water and some wet wipes rather than take the sensible option of staying with family but yes, I'd go.

daisypond · 06/02/2021 13:10

@alwaysplayingplaydoh

In that sized flat one oil filled radiator would be enough and as someone mentioned unthread they are £15 from a descent sized supermarket.

Haven't got space for it! Every sq ft counts. Why would I have something like that in which would barely ever be used when my mum is down the road and I could stay with her?

Er, you go and buy one. Most people don’t have one- until they need one. Then they buy one or borrow one. The OP’s mum is not just down the road either.
Abraxan · 06/02/2021 13:32

@alwaysplayingplaydoh

Equally with bubbles- technically allowed but not really within the spirit of the rules and most people could do without imo.

Biscuit

I wouldn't get too worked up about FizzyPepsi to be honest as I'm not convinced they're here on genuine grounds.

They say all this in this thread about minimising risk, not doing stuff which are genuinely within the rules, etc. But in another thread today is all about schools being fully,open etc from what I can gather.

So potentially here to goad or has likes to pick and chose the risk factors to suit.

Abraxan · 06/02/2021 13:39

Surely most house have either an electric shower or an emersion heater,we have both, madness not to have either.

An immersion hearted will only help with hot water, not the radiators. We do have one but we are in a minority amongst fa,ily and friends.

I don't known anyone with an electric shower I don't think.

We have one electric heater. We'd have to go out and buy more in such a situation. Not everyone will be able to,afford to do this though.

Being cold for a lengthy period of time is rarely good for one's health.

november90 · 06/02/2021 13:46

Gosh a lot of snobbish and very patronising posts on this thread.
My answer is quick, you're allowed to under these circumstances so I would as there's no way I'd stay in a house with no hot water or heating. I work in home insurance and have for nearly a decade, a house with no hot water or heating is classed as inhabitable. If you choose to stay in it or not, it is your decision, however you don't need a bunch of patronising strangers to make you feel like you have to put up with no hot water or heating when you don't have to.

Original poster
IsabelleSE19 · 07/02/2021 10:55

Thanks for posting november90. We've bought and borrowed some electric heaters and we're going to try and stick it out, but it's really reassuring to hear that if we did give up then it would be valid from an 'uninhabitable' perspective.

OP posts:
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