Central heating 'no longer a luxury'

Articles > Boiler and Plumbing News > Plumbing & Heating Products

While house prices are far higher than they were 50 years ago, features which were once considered a luxury - such as central heating systems - are now commonplace, it has been reported.

Commenting on research from Halifax which found property prices have risen at a rate of 2.7 per cent annually, compared to a two per cent yearly increase in earnings over 50 years, the Daily Mail states many previously luxurious amenities are now considered basic.

Indeed, in 1967, 22 per cent of all homes had no basic hot water supply, but by the 1990s, this, along with central heating, was present in almost all households.

This could be one reason why homes are less affordable now than they were in the aftermath of World War II.

Halifax housing economist Martin Ellis said: "No doubt, there will be further dramatic changes over the coming years, most likely including ways that we are currently unable to foresee."

While many properties now boast central heating, a significant proportion rely on an inefficient boiler.

The government is keen to rectify this and recently announced it would make £400 available to a limited number of households to put towards upgrading their old G-rated boiler to a new condensing boiler.

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