New build flat is boiling hot. Feeling depressed

[FTBregret]

Just bought my first home, a small flat in London. Only just got keys last week and I hate it due to how disgustingly hot it is. Really regret it and feel so stupid for not knowing new build flats get this hot

So far I’ve removed all carpets (will only have laminate floors) all windows left shut during the day and kept all curtains closed to block out sunlight. Also tried fan with icy water in front and barely helped.

It’s still unbearably hot, thermostat currently showing 30°

I’m scared the worse is yet to come as I know it gets hotter in London and if we have a heatwave I will have to get an Airbnb or something.

I haven’t even got furniture yet so that will likely make it hotter too when I properly move in. How will I ever use the oven?

I’ve been looking at air con but as I’m leasehold with Clarion it’s very unlikely the split AC will get accepted. There is another type of water air con but looking at quotes it’s 5k which I can’t afford.

I’ve looked at portable AC but I only have hinge windows and hinge balcony doors (apparently it’s supposed to be for sliding doors??)

How are londoners in new build flats coping?

This might be a bit obvious but is your heating off?

Are you allowed to have laminate? Most flats insist on carpet to help the sound noise.

Yes to double check the heating isn't coming on at weird times? I would open the windows in this weather to get a breeze through the flat, only shut the windows when it is warmer outside than inside

I’d not heard that before, I presumed it should be okay as half the flat was already laminate just two bedrooms had carpet. Also, flat block seems to be well sound proofed (never hear anyone else and neighbours have young kids)

Don’t think it’s heating as I made all All radiators turned off and I put heating on anti freeze mode.

You do need the windows open as much as possible- always when it is cooler outside than inside. I would also check re the laminate as that is not often allowed.

i lived in a new build flat once we had the windows open in the snow! It was bizarre but super cheap for heating (as in we literally never needed it on).

you acclimatise but it does take awhile.

London new builds are made of cardboard.

This seems to be very common with new build flats or so I hear from friends who have bought them. Really well insulated to keep heat in during winter and big glass windows for the “view”. Acts just like a glasshouse

Get a portable AC. Go to B&Q and get a piece of thick cavity insulation, cut it down so it fits perfectly into the gap of your hinge window when it’s open. Cut a hole in the insulation through which you can put the AC ventilation tube. Pull it out whenever you want to close the window.

Portable aircon. It will help a lot - for night time especially. You can get window kits. And it’s hard to believe now, but you will be SO grateful
in winter when your heating bill is lovely and low.

But get the aircon unit. It’s extremely worth it.

I do have a small balcony but other than that it’s not one of those floor to ceiling glass buildings… really surprised it’s this hot. I’m on floor one too (I thought heat rises or something)

When you first enter the flatblock at ground floor it’s much cooler

I'm under my electric blanket so think yourself lucky. My house is only about 19 degrees today would love some heat.

I like that idea of @belladonna22 Sounds easy enough and no knocking out bits of the wall for a vent either. I must remember this....

Thank you!!

Given it is not 30 degrees outside, you need to open your windows and simply ventilate. Make sure you prop doors open to get flow everywhere. At the moment you are keeping the heat in, so let it out!

It's surely not the carpet making it that hot. It's not anywhere near 30degrees outside so opening the windows should get the heat flowing out? This is a bit strange, I've lived in top floor flats and not found them unbearably hot unless it's 30 plus degrees outside.

Hi OP, lots of good ideas in this thread. I would add getting blackout window dressings and keeping those curtains/ blinds closed during the day unless you are using the room. Definitely cross ventilate when the air is cooler outside (open windows on opposite sides of the flat to create a breeze).

If it continues to be an issue, report it to them as a defect.

Windows open but blinds down should help.

Can you get a through-flow of air OP? I lived in a single aspect (i.e. windows only on one side) flat. It wasn't new build per se, but did get hot. There was a corridor with an opening window opposite my front door. If that window was open AND the flat door slightly open (I used a door wedge in the summer) the difference was amazing.

This. You can also buy an "air conditioner window kit" from Amazon etc that is specifically designed for the job. Not that expensive - £20-ish.

Why aren’t you opening your windows? No wonder it’s red hot if you’re not allowing movement of air.

I've got similar! Moved in last summer.

Right now I've got all my windows open and it's 27°. I just have a fan pointed towards me.

Mine is great in the winter for keeping heat though and therefore bills down.

Are you west facing?

I also have windows only on one side, I could try leaving front door open with wedge but unfortunately not a window in the corridor

Does the flat below have the heating on?

I will from now on lol!! I feel stupid but I’d left them closed as previously read on MN some people advising to close curtains and windows during the day when still sunny then open them when it cools down later in evening

You can get mirror effect window film to reduce/reject the rays. Like £15-20 a window and it helps. My bedroom is a furnace so I open the window and hang a white sheet cut to size OUTSIDE the window and then close it so the window keeps it in at the top. This helps massively. And yes, fans ru mining so the heat doesn’t collect at the top of the room and get a portable AC with a tumble dryer type hose. You can buy window seals but as another poster says, you can easily make your own.

@FTBregret if you have your heating on anti- freeze mode then it probably is still heating to a degree. Surely you can switch that off a few months.