How can I help my friend?

[LadyAstor]

My friend has recently moved into a rental and its freezing. The landlord wont do anything and she cant afford to move again.

She's ill with a lung condition and osteoarthritis. she's 58. Her 16 year old daughter lives with her (dad not on the scene).

Im visiting on Saturday. What can i do or take to help?

What does she need? Has she plug in heaters? Electric blankets? Hot water bottles?

To add to @GrazingSheep's suggestions - dehumidifiers are helpful.

Strongly recommend heated underblanket for bed and heated throw for sofa.

A fluffy onesie or slanket can also be useful.

Things to block the bottom of the doorways so they don’t let air in. Even if you have old towels, that’ll do, because obviously they’ll be going on the floor.

Hot water bottles, thermal socks, blankets etc.

Another one I forgot to mention - weighted blankets can be a good help since they obviously feel a bit heavier on top of you.

If you can find some cheap teddy bedding that’s warm as well.

Contact Asthma and Lung UK for advice - I've got COPD and they were really helpful. Yhey may also be able to help with grants for extra heating costs etc.

Electric over blanket, can be moved about. Hot water bottles good. Oodie or soft blanket. Oil filled radiators great if she has to buy a heater. I don't think (unless you are rich) you can necessarily afford to buy her all that, but it might help to go through suggestions, I have recently with a friend who hadn't realised you could get electric throws, they are amazing. Also, if she can wait for some things til after Christmas there will be an awful lot cheap on FB marketplace and Ebay...

Why is it freezing? Start there.

Does it need secondary glazing, or carpets, or is it damp? Is the boiler shit, or do the radiators need bleeding?

Can she afford the heating?

Without knowing why you won’t solve anything.

Why is it cold?

Is she using the heating? Do the radiators need to be bled? Is it Economy 7 and she doesn't know how to use it? (Coldest winter of my life that one). Wood floors or carpets? Does she have curtains up? Windows with gaps / draughts? Same for doors?

There's too many variables to know what she needs without more detail.

Thanks so much everyone.

To explain, its a 200 year old cottage, with gaps in the windows and doors. the landlord has had a plumber, electrician and heating engineer out but the work to install extra radiators and replace windows & doors cant commence until mid-January. The previous long term tenant worked away and didnt report the numerous issues. The fireplaces are closed. No damp.

She has hot water bottles and an electric blanket but not the other things, so I think I'll buy her a heated throw. Ive suggested she ask for a rent adjustment to account for the extra heating bills.

Thanks to whoever suggested Asthma & Lung UK.

Another vote for a heated throw.

I bought a friend a hand warmer, I need to check with him if he uses it (he tries not to put the heating on as it is storage heaters).

www.mumsnet.com/swearsby/best-hand-warmers

So you’re post is not exactly true, the landlord has done something but work can’t commence until January.

oOodie or poncho she can wear.
thermals
wooley socks

Stop up all the gaps in the doors and windows as the priority. Look at fitting window film insulation, draught excluders, door curtains, weather strips, get a dehumidifier.

So it's not true the landlord IS doing something just work can't be done till mid January. You really need to explain properly first off.

Draught excluders on the doors and windows, thermal curtains, heated throw, hot water bottles, put the central heating on.

An oil filled radiator can be moved from room to room, and is a cheap way of keeping the room warm, compared with e.g. a fan heater or central heating.

Ive suggested she ask for a rent adjustment to account for the extra heating bills.

Ask LL to supply a couple of oil-filled radiators in the meantime.

When i said the landlord wont do anything, I meant now, you know, for the next four weeks, while its freezing.

Thanks to everyone who made helpful suggestions.

I'm assuming there's some form of heating at the moment; can she get a plug in electric heater and use it for whatever room she's in? You can get smart plugs that monitor how much electricity is used; she could bill the landlord for the extra energy cost and the cost of a heater if needs be (or ask him to supply a heater and pay the subsequent extra).

I don't know what else to suggest that hasn't been posted by pp - draught proofing tape and temporary glazing film (the sort you seal with a hairdryer) for windows, a decent curtain for the door should temporarily help keep draughts out and warmth in and not break the bank

Get some of that tape covering for the windows to stop the draft - applied with a hair drier.