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I guess most people's experience of living in London is because they lived in shitty rented accommodation. Most houses in London were built before the 1970s. Be

I guess most people's experience of living in London is because they lived in shitty rented accommodation. Most houses in London were built before the 1970s. Being rented would mean they they would be less likely to have double-glazing retro-fitted or insulation improved because the landlord wouldn't give a shit.

i_like_to_post 6y ago
There are two kinds of accommodation in London. As you say, shitty rented accommodation. And then accommodation that's really property-turned-bank deposit for the rich. No one lives in those.
Symbiote 6y ago
I think it's that most rented accommodation in areas desirable for people like software developers or foreigners new to the city is as you describe. Further out, or in less trendy areas, there may well be a different mix of old/new council/private-built buildings. I lived in a wonderful 1930s apartment block (good double glazing, shared building heating system etc) and a decent 1970s council-built house. I also lived in a crappy 1960s council flat (single glazed aluminium framed windows) and an 1900-ish house-illegally-turned-into-flats (single glazed, wooden sash windows).
jedberg 6y ago
I don't know what the rules are in London, but in Chicago landlords are responsible for paying for heating. An interesting side effect is that even crappy old buildings have triple paned windows and super efficient heaters.
- sn_master 6y ago
  Strange, I never heard of any place where the renter doesn't pay for the heating. Doesn't seem fair to make the landlord pay for it.
  - jedberg 6y ago
    It's probably not fair, but the side effect of it is that people don't freeze in their homes, and heating can be more efficient because they can use whole building systems. And at the end of the day, the tenants basically pay for it anyway as part of their rent. It's just spread out more.
    - sn_master 6y ago
      yes, but people's preferences can vary. e.g. I can't stand it being less than 77 F inside, while others will be happy with 64 F. I know my electricity/heat bill is always significantly higher than others in the Winter.
waivej 6y ago
Coldest winter of my life was near London. Heater was wired to cheap middle of the night electricity so you had to plan a day ahead to have hot water or heat. Friends had to go to hardware store to get tokens to feed their rental heaters. Ran out at night? Put on a extra blanket and get there early the next day.
fnbr 6y ago
Oh, definitely. I lived in university accommodations that were awful. The residents the year after me sued the university as the residence wasn’t inhabitable (black mold).

i_like_to_post 6y ago

There are two kinds of accommodation in London. As you say, shitty rented accommodation. And then accommodation that's really property-turned-bank deposit for the rich. No one lives in those.

Symbiote 6y ago

I think it's that most rented accommodation in areas desirable for people like software developers or foreigners new to the city is as you describe. Further out, or in less trendy areas, there may well be a different mix of old/new council/private-built buildings. I lived in a wonderful 1930s apartment block (good double glazing, shared building heating system etc) and a decent 1970s council-built house. I also lived in a crappy 1960s council flat (single glazed aluminium framed windows) and an 1900-ish house-illegally-turned-into-flats (single glazed, wooden sash windows).

jedberg 6y ago

I don't know what the rules are in London, but in Chicago landlords are responsible for paying for heating. An interesting side effect is that even crappy old buildings have triple paned windows and super efficient heaters.

sn_master 6y ago
Strange, I never heard of any place where the renter doesn't pay for the heating. Doesn't seem fair to make the landlord pay for it.
- jedberg 6y ago
  It's probably not fair, but the side effect of it is that people don't freeze in their homes, and heating can be more efficient because they can use whole building systems. And at the end of the day, the tenants basically pay for it anyway as part of their rent. It's just spread out more.
  - sn_master 6y ago
    yes, but people's preferences can vary. e.g. I can't stand it being less than 77 F inside, while others will be happy with 64 F. I know my electricity/heat bill is always significantly higher than others in the Winter.

waivej 6y ago

Coldest winter of my life was near London. Heater was wired to cheap middle of the night electricity so you had to plan a day ahead to have hot water or heat. Friends had to go to hardware store to get tokens to feed their rental heaters. Ran out at night? Put on a extra blanket and get there early the next day.

fnbr 6y ago

Oh, definitely. I lived in university accommodations that were awful. The residents the year after me sued the university as the residence wasn’t inhabitable (black mold).