Heating issues in a big old flat - does it make a difference if you have a new boiler?

[WonderingWhy]

About to sign on a rented flat, which is huge with big rooms and ceilings etc.

Just found out we don't get a warm front grant for heating - only insulation.

I am terrified it is going to cost a fortune to heat it

Might have to pull out, if it is going to be a massive commitment with the bills - the boiler is 25 years old and the current tenants told me it does cost a bomb and is very cold.

I want to put pressure on the landlord to get a new boiler but the agent is insisting the old one is very reliable and the ll doesn't want to invest anything.

Anyone got any ideas about how to get him to invest - I'll be paying the bills unfortunately.

the high ceilings and REALLY going to cost you.

i can't express this enough.

and so are single-glazed windows if you've got those.

sorry, but right now, we're living in a period property with secondary glazing and it is COLD and costs a bomb to heat.

and it has had the ceilings dropped.

Also check you qualify for the insulation grant since you don't own the property the landlord does and he is very unlikely to qualify.

Old boiler won't be combi so will cost a fortune to run. Our new boiler significantly reduced our bills (old house, medium sized rooms and ceilings)

Oh poo

I've packed nearly everything - we're meant to move in at the end of June.

I really like the flat, it's so nice and big - it needs loads of painting etc which I'm happy to do but the heating might be the stumbling block.

Can I ask how much you pay, please Expat?

At the moment we have a detached 2 bed 1920s house, with normal ceilings, and cavity wall and DG and it costs me £25 a month direct debit for gas.

I realise it isn't going to be anywhere near that!

We're LPG, WonderingWhy, and it's a large 3-bed bungalow, so we pay when the tank runs low.

Btw the insulation is fine, they told me that's covered - just not the heating system.

I am tempted to look at paying towards a combi boiler at this rate...how much do they cost?

Thanks Expat

How is bump?

Bump is threatening the tasty curry I've made.

NOOOOOOO!

If you are putting in a new boiler it has to be a condensing one. Depending on the size you need you're probably looking at about £750 for the boiler plus fitting.

Gosh that doesn't sound too bad actually! Mind you they will prob need to replace all the pipe work as that is prob out of date and wouldn't support the new system...?

Thanks for the info. I will keep it in mind, I know so little about this sort of thing.

My neighbour who is on benefits and rents his privately owned house had a complete central heating system installed a year ago. This was done with a grant.
My boiler gave up the ghost at the grand old age of 23 years, so maybe your prospective new flats boiler wont last too much longer...?
£25 per month? WOW that's very good.

By the way, when I was looking at boiler prices, I had a quote(and from a friend who is a plumber)that said £1300 for a combi...The labour costs bump it up hugely.

That was mates rates.

Ooh really??? May I ask where you are?

I was told that unless I have been responsible for the upkeep of the heating for the past 7 years, and can prove it, they won't do a thing - the landlord has to provide it.

That was replying to the neighbour post btw!

Yes am hoping the boiler might, well, break or something...hmm.

Oh sorry I meant £750 for the boiler then fitting on top of that - not 750 for bioler and fitting. Need to sort out my comma use (or lack of)

Our new house is a large five bed and the boiler is costing £900.

No I understood, that's Ok.

Maybe time to enrol on an NVQ in plumbing or something, then I could do it myself...

you may get a grant towards the new boiler if you do it, but really the landlord should do it.

it will significantly reduce the heating bills but won't necessarily make the house any warmer!

I was renting a big 4-bed 3-reception victorian house with a cellar, draughty single glazed windows, gas cooking, but new boiler. Froze all winter, had a fire in the evenings right up until abotu April. November - April paid a total of £770 for gas - yup, that's nearly £130/month. It was so cold I sellotaped bubblewrap over one of the windows to keep the warmth in.

ask to see the previous tenant's heating bills.

sorry WW you are looking at large bills here (but you already know this)!
We spend quite a bit on gas as we have an old boiler, and ours is a 1970s house! We are looking to replace but have had this done before and a new condensing boiler, rads and pipework cost a few thousand!

OMG

I was asking about getting the chimneys swept the other day, and the agent said he doesn't like tenants to use the fireplaces. (tough I think, I will have to!)

Ours is only a two bed flat but it does have the high ceilings and single glazing.

I'll definitely be getting perspex panels on the windows - I can afford that at least, it isn't much.

I am going on a dating website and looking for a plumber, lol.

WW are you sure you really want this place? How long will you be staying there?
The landlord sounds well tight, but then most of them are! He doesn't have to live there does he?!
Seriously, think about it - there's nothing worse than being v cold in winter and worrying about the heating bill - we have been there! And fuel has never been more expensive than now.
Sorry not really trying to put you off.... I am sure the place is lovely!!

I know, it feels so hard to go backwards and step away from it now - despite knowing how horrible it can be to have a cold house.

I've spoken to the agent again, he'll approach the landlord for me but thinks it's a long shot as the boiler isn't broken...however the landlord will get £600 towards his costs if he installs it while I'm living there, as I am on benefits...so might be a prudent investment for him to do it now and not later.

Thanks for all the sensible advice...I know we'd be better off staying here but somehow can't bear to give up on the new place

I am like that with dodgy boyfriends as well though, so maybe need to grow up a bit! It's cheaper than most places here though so I guess this is the pay off.

WW, we are in North Kent. He had only been in the property for about a year and a bit, so definitely couldn't pretend otherwise. He told them that the landlord wouldn't put heating in(which was true)and they gave it to him. Think he applied to one of those leaflets you get through the door sometimes...' are you on IS or HB? you could get help with insulation and/or heating'.
Phone the local council, they should be able to tell you.

Oh brill, we aren't far from there at all

Thanks so much.

I'll just have to wait and see I suppose...maybe we will find a loophole like that.

Meanwhile, if the heating goes up by 70 odd a month that isn't too bad because most places round here cost that much more in rent alone so I suppose on balance it's Ok.

Just don't like the thought of cold house and cold children!