Rented Accomodation: Insulation requirements'

rG-tom

rG-tom

rG-tom

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Morning,

Spurred on by the drug raid thread and talking about loft insulation etc, it reminded me to ask this question:

As a tenant in a rented property, is there a legal requirement for a minimum level of insulation etc? The house is double glazed but the old style with very small gaps, and you can see condensation inside it so im guessing the seals have gone?

When it is cold (below 4c, so most of the winter) the house will get very warm, perhaps overly so, when the heating is on. Within 2 hours, it will be freezing again, to the point where we have to fire up the gas fire.

The house was owned from new by an old lady before our landlord bought it a few years ago and I imagine insulation wasnt high up his list of things to sort on it! Obviously though, the less insulation the more I have to spend on heating, so it's obviously in my best interests for it to be done well, but the landlord probably wouldn't be interested in doing it out of the kindness of his heart!

Any advice folks?

Cheers

Tom.
 
There are no legal requirments on the landlord to insulate the property and your right he probably won't be interested in paying for anything allthough it wouldn't hurt to ask.

You could insulate the loft yourself for very little money which would certainly improve things.
 
Have you checked in the loft, also look in the pointing for tell tale signs that its been drilled for cavity wall insulation.

Having an old person owning it a few years ago is a good sign it will be well insulated as older folks get it all for free!
 
You can buy 200mm thick knauff space quilt for next to nothing at b&q. I got 18 rolls last week for £36 which was about 36m/2
 
LOAM said:
You can buy 200mm thick knauff space quilt for next to nothing at b&q. I got 18 rolls last week for £36 which was about 36m/2
Click to expand...

Never realised it was so cheap. im also in a rented house but this one has no double glazing Or central heating so it gets very very cold at winter, to the point of walking around with a coat on day & night. never ventured into the loft as the landing has a huuuuuge celiling to it and the ladder iv got is a steppie :D

will bring this up with the landlord next time he's down for his rent...
 
To be fair, I would talk to the landlord first, it's in their best interest to make the property a livable enviroment to keep the tenants there.

I lived in a house and discovered it needed a bit of work doing which was well within my capabilities, so I spoke to the landlord he bought the stuff needed and I did it myself, everyones happy.

Wouldn't have though loft insulation would be that hard to put in, so might be worth a compromise if they initially says no to installing it. Obviously, don't offer this right away, if they say they'll get someone in to do it then leave it at that. ;)
 
Cleeecooo said:
Insulation is dead cheap. The services are not
Click to expand...

It only really applies to mineral wool quilt as being cheap. Stuff like kingspan and more so tri iso super 10 is expensive. As mentioned though no requirements as it was only at the time of the house being built that any regulation would be applied. Extra insulation would be put in if the owner wanted to make it more rentable / sellable at minimal cost to themselves. But since you say the Windows have condensation within the units I'd doubt very much if the landlord would bother with it. They'll get their money regardless.
 
you don't want to put kingspan/celotex/quinn therm insulation in your loft though would you when quilt costs 1/10 of the amount and gets the same result (albeit by using a greater thickness)

With regards getting someone to fit it, if you are able bodied enough to get in your loft then you can do it yourself. disposable suit and some dust masks and 3 hours work is all that's needed.

Failing that if you are uber lazy you can get loft insulation fitted ( subsidised ) for about £200 inc insulation and fitting, through many of the energy companies websites. You don't even have to be a customer.
 
LOAM said:
you don't want to put kingspan/celotex/quinn therm insulation in your loft though would you when quilt costs 1/10 of the amount and gets the same result (albeit by using a greater thickness)
Click to expand...

Just depends really if theres sloping ceilings involved though which the OP hasn't mentioned ;) but eitherway it will rely on having a 50 mm airgap over the insulation so that any moisture / condensation doesn't affect the insulation and rot it rendering it useless and potentially causing spores in the loft space which can lead to a whole heap of other problems.
 
But that's assuming his loft is converted which tbh if that's the case he's doomed. You simply can't retrospectively insulate a sloping roof cheaply. It's a re-roofing job more often than not involving new rafters, breather membrane, insulation between then additional insulation underneath it.

I think it's safe to assume he wants to top up existing insulation that follows the ceiling joists. IE quilt.
 
get a ladder and go up in the loft and check yourself.

You can roll loft insulation out with some proper gloves and eye protectors for a few £ from the DIY store.

Dead easy.

If the house is over 30/40 years old then thats likely all you can do if its not got cavity walls.
 
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