Depression because of cold

[katherine107]

I moved to retirement flat last month. I own it. Bought very cheap. My problem is the cold in flat. No sun comes in it and feels extremely cold all the time. I have electric heating which cannot afford to put on all day. It is warmer outside. Shouldn't need heating in June. I feel cold because of thyroid and other health issues. My pain has got much worse since moving. Husband is disabled and also cold here. I can't see me being here in winter but probably can't sell flat. Does anyone know who I can get advice from about this problem. We are both pensioners

[Hidden]

Contact the citizens advice beaureu,

They should be able to give you advice and help.

[katherine107 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou I will contact them

[Hidden]

citizensadvice.org.uk/

You should find the number on that link or an email.. Get in touch with them and hopefully they will help you out.

Take care.

[katherine107 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I have a house where the sun never reaches the living room so that is the coldest room in the house. When it's been very hot outside, like recently, it's the room I go to so that I can cool off. Normal people may not need the heating on in June but we Hypos aren't normal in that respect, we feel the cold. I actually have my heating on in the evening at the moment, I know what temperature I need the room to be when I'm sitting relaxing in the evening, so I set my thermostat to cater for that.

Surely when you looked round before buying it you realised that the sun didn't reach it and it would never be as warm as somewhere that the sun did reach.

I don't know what help is available where you live but check with your energy company's website, they may have a scheme to help people on low incomes. I think generally you may have to be on pension credit or something, I know Welsh Water (where I live) have a help scheme for low income people but you have to be on certain benefits so maybe your energy company has something similar.

[katherine107]

I didn't even think about sun when I looked. It's a very small 1 bed flat and thought it would be cosy and warm. The problem is there are garages underneath so no warmth rising. Will make enquiries tomorrow with cab. Thankyou. It's awful feeling cold all the time

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to katherine107]

I can see why it is cold if you’re u have a big space underneath you. . Sounds like you might need to think about insulating the floor then maybe a thick underlay and carpet on top. Maybe decorate your rooms with warm colours as well to give an illusion of warmth.

Perhaps you could get a grant of some sort to cover your insulation - the CAB should be able to help with that.

As for heating, the downstairs in our house can be really chilly - sometimes it is warmer in the garden - we’ve got concrete floors - I really feel the cold (in fact I also had the heating on earlier in the week) and I experimented and discovered that leaving the heating on all the time set at a lowish temperature doesn’t cost any more than having it on for a couple of hours in the morning and a few hours at night and the house getting really cold in between.

I used to pile on jumpers etc and sit with a hot water bottle and a rug on my lap and still never feel warm. With my new system I’m never cold like I was because there is a background heat and if I do need to turn the heating up the heating isn’t struggling to get a very cold room warm and yet it isn’t more expensive which seemed bizarre yet it’s there in black and white in my bills.

[katherine107 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thankyou for this. I have concrete floors insulating them would cost a fortune as cannot get grants. Havent any savings. I could try leaving heating on but it isn't central heating . It's electric which you turn off individually each one. No idea how much electric costs. No heating in bathroom and that's coldest room other than towel rail and stay boiling hot if left on. Will ring cab tomorrow for advice.

[Mallard2059 in reply to katherine107]

If you could manage a bank loan to spread out the cost then put in central heating with either modern electric heaters (they are very cheap to run and you could add a heater in the bathroom) or some other heating source. There are grants you can get for energy saving methods and you can invest in the best quality underlay and a good quality carpet. Its amazing the difference they make. Or you could sell it and buy another flat with a southern outlook that does get the sun. To be honest that's what I would do. I mean why stay where you're not happy?

[katherine107 in reply to Mallard2059]

Thankyou for this. Can you recommend electric heaters? Maybe sell and rent somewhere but these retirement flats difficult to sell

[Mallard2059 in reply to katherine107]

You can google it yourself. To be honest I don't know the best ones since I do not have electric heating but my brother got new heaters recently in Scotland and they are all electric. they're far more efficient than the old heaters. If I were you i'd google the cheapest and most efficient electric heaters out there. Easily done with a laptop or computer. If you don't have one library's do where you can access the internet for free.

[katherine107 in reply to Mallard2059]

Thanks

[SarahJLD]

Investigate floor insulation for under carpets.

Does the flat have damp problems as that will make it feel colder? If so I’d recommend a dehumidifier, we have one and can feel a difference in temperature when it’s been running for a few days.

[HashiFedUp]

I would contact either your local authority or and housing association as they can often advise on assistance. Sometimes you can get grants to help with such things.

[katherine107 in reply to HashiFedUp]

no damp but no insulation anywhere. no one can seem to help. i own flat not housing association.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to katherine107]

Are you the first tenant - I mean did you buy from the builder? If so perhaps you could get in touch with the planning officer about the lack of insulation in the building - and then start to apply force to get the builder to pay for proper insulation.

I think rhule’s advice is good, I was going to suggest Age Concern or you could maybe try that Ester Ranzen Charity thesilverline.org.uk they advise older people.

[katherine107 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

It is 40 years old

[katherine107]

i own flat and concrete floor and apparantly very expensive to put insulation in floors and disruption. husband and me both disabled

[holyshedballs]

Contact your local council. There are a number of grants for improving home insulation and heating available.

[Rhule]

Hi Katherine107

Try the age concern, I am sure they will point you in the right direction.

You could also approach the local authority and put your name on the housing register and if you explain your situation to your GP, he may be able to support your application with your local housing authority

Make sure you put all the information on the application

Also citizens advice as handyman as already advised

I wish you the best of luck

Jan x

[Katurajo1]

Have you thought about a few sunlight lamps? I have one for the winter here in Ny because it’s so dark and gloomy. It actually heats up the room quite a bit. I got it on amazon a few years ago. Just a thought

[Annoynomice]

I have this problem and I was bought a heated throw, which I put on and cover me when I'm cold (and the rest of the household isnt). Its cheaper than trying to warm up a whole house.

[katherine107 in reply to Annoynomice]

Sounds good

[Mistydeb01]

Have a look at infrared panel heaters, they are supposed to be very good at heat output and don’t take as long to warm the room up. I think they are more economical than a lot of other types of electric heaters because of their supposed efficiency. We looked at them for our extension, but decided to just extend the gas heating system.