I've recently moved into a rented place and love it except for one major problem......it's freezing !!
I did know before I moved in that it didn't have central heating but not being used to that anyway I thought it'd be ok and I'd cope.....how wrong was I and it's not even really wintery out yet !!
There's no gas in the property at all so everything is run off electric and just to use a heater in my living room for a couple of hours a day and using the cooker is costing me a fortune, approx £5.00 a day...(it's a key meter), can't afford to have the immersion heater on, so no instant hot water. Now I've noticed that in both bedrooms there is black furry mold appearing on the walls. I've had a word with the letting agent but there's nothing they can do apparently as the landlord did leave me 2 electric storage heaters to use !!
Not hopeful but just needed to vent off a bit....thought it might warm me up

Oh Sneezy, I feel really sorry for you. Have you had a calor gas heater before? They used to be very efficient years ago, so I imagine they are even better now. They can be controlled and were quite ecomonomical. I know calor gas is much more expensive now, but you would have to work it out. They are on wheels, so can be moved about. Argos sell various ones at about £60. If you have an eleectric blanket make the most of that, day or night if needed. Thise meters seem to be a huge expense which don't seem to resemble the actual electricity/gas costs. You need to keep it warm and dry, if things start getting damp it won't be good for you either.
Have a look at link, there maybe some ideas. Alternatively, move before next winter!! Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
http://www.wikihow.com/Stay-Warm-at-Home-Without-a-Heater

Sneezy, sounds to me like you need to find somewhere better to live, you can't live in conditions like that. Some landlords don't care how you have to live or how much it costs to heat your home so long as they get their rent. There are decent places out there. Good luck.

the spores off that mold can trigger chest / breathing problems. a calor heater , whilst keeping you warm, also adds to the damp problem,
pm me if you want a couple of halogen heaters ( £5 each )

Thanks Granny and Dilly....I've only been here 6 weeks and have signed a 6 month contract
It's such a shame because it is a lovely apartment not done out like your normal rentals it feels really homely....except for the cold. Iam doing most of the things suggested, I only lent out my calor gas heater to my daughter before I moved so feel guilty asking for it back !! I am using my electric blanket...couldn't go to bed without it but in the night although I'm snuggly and warm, my bedding, that's not in the blanket zone feels damp when I touch it
I can't afford to leave the heater on in my room all night.

I thought we had dealt with these 'Rachman' type landlords years ago. How are they permitted to rent out such dreadful places. Unfortunately this is compounded by the tenant being unable to afford to heat the place.

Thanks eggandchips but I bought myself a couple of them last week....but they're eating the electric up !!
I just can't understand how someone can do a place up so nice but not put an affordable source of heating in....seems I'm stuck with it until I can afford to move again
Oh and to add insult to injury...I'm waiting in for a roofer to come as the roofs leaking !!.....apparently it's under warranty as it was only done in 2011.
They must have seen me coming !!

The damp is not good!

Thoughts are much the same as Moonstar but having a daughter who had rented all sorts of places, it would not appear to be that way, particularly the electric meter senario. So expensive. Who gets the profit I wonder?

That's not helping Sneezy. Can you get the elctricty meter tariff checked?

Thanks Dilly....don't even know who the electric supplier is because it a key meter, just go shop to top up !!
I'll make enquiries though Thanks.

Key meter means your paying someones elses bill, contact transco today ask who is the energy supplier to your property then contact the energy supplier direct and set up your own account and get them to remove the meter straight away and make sure they dont try to charge you for the removal of the meter. Do not use bgas or scotish power both are normally first to raise prices and the last to lower them, the holes in your roof will cause any insulation in loft to become wet and when wet it losses its ability to hold your heat in, make sure your insulation is 270 mm minimum in thickness ie 30cm smaller than a standard school ruler. There is a new scheme being released Feb or March I think called the Green deal.

The Green Deal scheme is a new Government initiative set up to encourage people to reduce on the amount of energy escaping their properties costing billions a year. The way the scheme is set up allows you to have home improvements made in your home with no upfront costs payable. Even if a homeowner is struggling financially and can’t afford new home improvements then The Green Deal scheme is prefect for them.
The Green Deal is paid back through your utility bills which will include a Green Deal charge but because Green Deal follow the ‘Golden Rule’ it means you will be paying either equal to or less than what you originally paid to energy company
The Green Deal will arrange an accredited assessor to visit your home and complete a report to show what improvements are needed.
The work included within the Green Deal scheme includes;
• Heating, ventilation & air conditioning (including condensing boilers, under floor heating & heating controls)
• Building fabric (e.g. cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, draft proofing, energy efficient glazing and doors and more wall and floor insulation
• Lighting (fittings and controls)
• Water Heating (innovative hot water systems and energy efficient taps and showers)
• Microgeneration (Solar thermal, solar PV, ground and air source pumps).

If your paying the wrong supplier for your property you will most probs still owe money to the current supplier, get a new key ASAP from the electric supplier of your choice do not get caught paying the same bill twice.

Thanks futurepast.....as I'm only renting though not sure I'd be allowed to get the meter changed....??

yes u can meter is owned by the energy supplier not landlord

Oh right Thanks.....I'll get on it ASAP

i had a card meter in my old house and they wouldnt remove it, you pay more for having them kind of meters so good luck i hope they change it for you

Just a thought.... Are there other flats within your building? If so, it could be that the incoming electrickery is rightly metered at source by your usual utility company ie. fixed published rates. THEN the landlord has his own meters installed in various flats. The landlord's meter (cheap as chips on eBay) is his property. He can set his own rate which will always be waaaay in excess of what he pays the utility company. A handsome profit for him/her/it is guaranteed !

Hi Pinzgauer....it's a 2 floor maisonette above a shop so don't think it's linked to any other meter it seems to be all self contained. The shop is only used for a couple of hours 1 day a week so don't suppose they use much.
I've now found out we're with EDF.....will get in touch with them on Monday.
It actually says on their site that we should have told them within 2 days of moving in so they could set the meter !! I've probably been paying off an outstanding bill from the previous tenant !!!

Oops ! I hope you can get things sorted out pronto.

Wow Good Advice there, which can be taken to your next Rental.

Great info from Future Past

Hi. thinking longterm, i would look at moving elsewhere.i understand u have signed a 6month contract. a possible trip to citizens advice may help you get out of it.i also read you have an eleccy blanket to keep warm at night.please,please dont go out & buy a hot water bottle. should go without saying.....water & electricity= a fuzzy hair-doo.as for the damp, having good ventilation is important to prevent condensation.its a fine line between heating ur place & allowing warm moist air to escape but if tue roof is knackered the walls will be wet which zapps the warmth from the room.its probably been recently decorated to cover any signs of what is happening to the property.

Try and get on an economy 7 electricity tariff. That way you can use the heaters at night and the immersion heater and it will cost less. It's worth using things like the washing machine during the evening tariff too.

Thank You all so much for all the advice.....The roofer didn't turn up !!
Had water gleaming on my bedroom ceiling last night and going behind the wallpaper which is now full of bubbles....not quite bad enough to actually drip on my bed yet !!
Gingevans, I thought about opening the bedroom window to help with the condensation but honestly couldn't bear the cold coming in, the room is already like a fridge
Turnip can I just opt to be changed to an economy tariff and if so why isn't everyone on it ?? x

Sneezy, I'm not totally sure how it all works, but you would have to have a different meter put in which would show 2 tariffs. I would assume that the reason more people don't have it is because of something like the day rate is higher than a normal rate, so it's only worth it if you use more electricity at night. But don't hold me to that as I haven't looked into it.

Thanks turnip.....I'll get onto them tomorrow x

Spot on advice Turnip. That's what I do - my electricity bill more than halved.

Sounds like a good idea because I'm out at work all day so don't use much electric during the daytime, except at weekends x

I still live with my dad so I don't really know about actual rates but I work reading gas and electric meters for companies like EDF, scottish power and British gas and the people I have spoken to have all said the economy 7 has saved them a lot of money and that they use their washing machines, driers, dishwashers and heaters at night as it saves them a lot of money.