New house build - Luxembourg
Discussion
Enovos sent me the new bi-monthly DD amount for our electricy bill, having recovered in 2015 from 2014's mahoosive remaining debt to them.
In 2015 I paid ~€420 every 2 months. For 2016 it's now "only" €320 every 2 months.
"Energy efficient" doesn't mean "cheap to run". I feel robbed.
In 2015 I paid ~€420 every 2 months. For 2016 it's now "only" €320 every 2 months.
"Energy efficient" doesn't mean "cheap to run". I feel robbed.
Are all (or most of) the houses the same design but they only get built when individuals buy the plot? Or do you buy the plot then decide which of the developers designs you want built on it?
In contrast to the UK where developer buys the land, the houses are built in whatever mixture they feel best then sold?
In contrast to the UK where developer buys the land, the houses are built in whatever mixture they feel best then sold?
In this zone there were 2 developers. They're all A rated eco-boxes.
At the entrance to the zone there are 2 rows of 4 beige terraced houses, built by 1 developer, and the rest are of a similar design, painted dark grey and white, as shown in the pics. That said, there are small differences to each block of 2 or 4 houses built.
Given the land and building costs, the promoter releases maybe 4 houses at a time, but they'll only start building when 2 are signed/agreed as sold.
At the rate they're going, I think we'll have lived there 5 or 6 years before the zone's completed.... just about long enough for the kids to have flown the nest to Uni and for me to sell up and buy something else!
At the entrance to the zone there are 2 rows of 4 beige terraced houses, built by 1 developer, and the rest are of a similar design, painted dark grey and white, as shown in the pics. That said, there are small differences to each block of 2 or 4 houses built.
Given the land and building costs, the promoter releases maybe 4 houses at a time, but they'll only start building when 2 are signed/agreed as sold.
At the rate they're going, I think we'll have lived there 5 or 6 years before the zone's completed.... just about long enough for the kids to have flown the nest to Uni and for me to sell up and buy something else!
5potTurbo said:
A bit of a shock on our return from holiday this weekend ... the first year's electricity bill.
Having paid almost €1,000 during 2014 by DD, I've been hit with another bill for €1,500 for the difference vs. estimation in the 1st year.
I called the local leccy provider, Enovos, and a very helpful guy broke the bad news to me about heat pumps and air circulation systems .... they use a s
tload more leccy than you'd ever imagine.
The guy at Enovos likened it to the new BMW i8 ... promises very low consumption, but the reality's very different, and they've seen that a lot with these new "low energy" consumption houses with heat pumps/air systems in the last 2 years.
Usual house elctricity would be ~5000KWh/p.a. The heat pump/air system's added >10,000KWh to that!
It's far, far from the numbers we'd been quoted before signing on the dotted line, but I should have done more research.
As a result my DD will be increased from €175/2 months to €428/ 2months.
You live and learn but the high cost hurts, a LOT.
got the same here in January Having paid almost €1,000 during 2014 by DD, I've been hit with another bill for €1,500 for the difference vs. estimation in the 1st year.
I called the local leccy provider, Enovos, and a very helpful guy broke the bad news to me about heat pumps and air circulation systems .... they use a s
tload more leccy than you'd ever imagine. The guy at Enovos likened it to the new BMW i8 ... promises very low consumption, but the reality's very different, and they've seen that a lot with these new "low energy" consumption houses with heat pumps/air systems in the last 2 years.
Usual house elctricity would be ~5000KWh/p.a. The heat pump/air system's added >10,000KWh to that!
It's far, far from the numbers we'd been quoted before signing on the dotted line, but I should have done more research.
As a result my DD will be increased from €175/2 months to €428/ 2months.
You live and learn but the high cost hurts, a LOT.
its no way to start the new year thats for sure! not open to spreading the payment either, they just want the lump or they'll cut off within 2 weeks it sounds allot, in the summer we're running AC on all 3 houses and 3 x hot tubs + all your normal house duties at about 750 a qtr and there no way ours are 'A' rated, single house off season in winter is about a 1/3 but then we burn wood for heating and the hot water tank is 3 phase (which is allot more economical according to Sparky
ps - incredibly clean lines and modern, so so different to ours but I still like the design
Edited by Pvapour on Wednesday 24th February 19:54
pvapour: Yours sounds cheap, running AC too. Thanks for the nice comments!
kapitain: That's only electric; there's no gas! I think we managed to reduce 2015 consumption quite a lot from not running the air circulation system during the summer months, but we've still a lot to learn to make it the most efficient.
roo: Thanks. They're a bit different to UK stuff, certainly.
kapitain: That's only electric; there's no gas! I think we managed to reduce 2015 consumption quite a lot from not running the air circulation system during the summer months, but we've still a lot to learn to make it the most efficient.
roo: Thanks. They're a bit different to UK stuff, certainly.
Quick update.
Change of user name for me, in case people hadn't already realised. "5PotTurbo" had to go as the 2.5T S-Max went 2 1/2 year ago, so it's now my number plate: initials and birthday.
Anyway, no more scary bills on the horizon. Aside from keeping the garden tidy, weekends can be a bit dull as I don't have any maintenance issues to take care of, but that's also quite nice actually.
The main constructor/promoter have all but disappeared from the site. Unless they sell the 4 largest houses they've released plans and prices for (ranging from €1.1m-1.35m), and those 4 plots have notices of planning consent on them, I fear that construction will stop for some time, even though there are maybe ~40 plots still to develop.
How long will we live on an undeveloped building site?
Doesn't bode too well for future sales, although we're not in a hurry to sell. Probably just as well!
Change of user name for me, in case people hadn't already realised. "5PotTurbo" had to go as the 2.5T S-Max went 2 1/2 year ago, so it's now my number plate: initials and birthday.
Anyway, no more scary bills on the horizon. Aside from keeping the garden tidy, weekends can be a bit dull as I don't have any maintenance issues to take care of, but that's also quite nice actually.
The main constructor/promoter have all but disappeared from the site. Unless they sell the 4 largest houses they've released plans and prices for (ranging from €1.1m-1.35m), and those 4 plots have notices of planning consent on them, I fear that construction will stop for some time, even though there are maybe ~40 plots still to develop.
How long will we live on an undeveloped building site?
Doesn't bode too well for future sales, although we're not in a hurry to sell. Probably just as well!
For months, well, almost 3 years actually ... I've put off looking at why a few of the great ZEP1 LEDs I purchased from ecoledlight.co.uk didn't fit snugly in their carefully cut apertures - 2 in the kitchen, 1 in our en-suite, 1 in the bathroom.
I finally got my arse up a stepladder last Monday to find that the required ~100mm depth needed to clear the LED housing and cable is, in fact, only 90mm on those 3 holes! bkS! That, to be honest, is a royal pain in the arse. I paid a lot of money to have suspended ceilings on alu frames put in those 3 rooms specifically for these lights, and the space needed isn't there.
It seems my well used old masonry chisel will be out on Sat to create the +10mm depth needed in the cast concrete ceiling above.
Oh, joy.
I've put off looking at why a few of the great ZEP1 LEDs I purchased from ecoledlight.co.uk didn't fit snugly in their carefully cut apertures - 2 in the kitchen, 1 in our en-suite, 1 in the bathroom.I finally got my arse up a stepladder last Monday to find that the required ~100mm depth needed to clear the LED housing and cable is, in fact, only 90mm on those 3 holes! b
kS! That, to be honest, is a royal pain in the arse. I paid a lot of money to have suspended ceilings on alu frames put in those 3 rooms specifically for these lights, and the space needed isn't there.It seems my well used old masonry chisel will be out on Sat to create the +10mm depth needed in the cast concrete ceiling above.
Oh, joy.
First post, and I've enjoyed reading your story 5potTurbo/RC1807. I'm currently building a SIPS house with a few eco-toys, possibly including a heat pump, so I was interested in what you had to say about that. My builder/plumber are encouraging me to go for a heat pump, but I'm 50/50 at present.
As an aside, a mate down the road has had a heat pump for about 10 years and was not impressed with his bills. My plumber paid him a visit and said that he had it set to a mode that was constantly causing a high burst of heating (something about preventing legionnaires' disease bacteria in the system - don't ask me) and that it needed to be set to a more normal mode. Once that was done, he got lower bills. Just curious to know if your pump is set at optimal settings, or is it just the high cost of electricity in Luxembourg? How much do they change per kilowatt/hr there?
Anyway great thread. Hope you are warm...at an acceptable cost!
As an aside, a mate down the road has had a heat pump for about 10 years and was not impressed with his bills. My plumber paid him a visit and said that he had it set to a mode that was constantly causing a high burst of heating (something about preventing legionnaires' disease bacteria in the system - don't ask me) and that it needed to be set to a more normal mode. Once that was done, he got lower bills. Just curious to know if your pump is set at optimal settings, or is it just the high cost of electricity in Luxembourg? How much do they change per kilowatt/hr there?
Anyway great thread. Hope you are warm...at an acceptable cost!
Edited by Pete993 on Saturday 11th February 19:01
ETA: UPDATE on the light fitments - took me a long time, but I did manage to gain the ~10mm depth on a few holes int he cast concrete ceilings to gain the clearance needed. ZEP1 now all cleanly seated.
TBH, I'm not sure if it is set to the optimum levels. The system was serviced a week ago under contract, and the filters, etc., were all changed. The chap who serviced the mnachines told my wife, "nothing unusual noted", and wrote as such on the service record, plus what he'd done.
New Lux Govt guidelines now also require that the system's sanitised, which I think is anti-Legionnaires, and the Govt also placed a fix price tariff for that so heating companies don't take the piss, as they often do here.
I've never done a KwH price comparison, but now you mention it, I will do so. We did make a significant difference last Spring/Summer by switching the air circulation *in* off from May-Sep, and reducing the cirulation *out* flow speed at the same time. It seemed pointless to have that running whilst the windows and patio doors are open! Bi-monthly DD is €344, and I've not checked the bills vs. estimates, so will need to review that soon, too.
The house internal temp's always 22C-24C
- ** THEN ****
TBH, I'm not sure if it is set to the optimum levels. The system was serviced a week ago under contract, and the filters, etc., were all changed. The chap who serviced the mnachines told my wife, "nothing unusual noted", and wrote as such on the service record, plus what he'd done.
New Lux Govt guidelines now also require that the system's sanitised, which I think is anti-Legionnaires, and the Govt also placed a fix price tariff for that so heating companies don't take the piss, as they often do here.
I've never done a KwH price comparison, but now you mention it, I will do so. We did make a significant difference last Spring/Summer by switching the air circulation *in* off from May-Sep, and reducing the cirulation *out* flow speed at the same time. It seemed pointless to have that running whilst the windows and patio doors are open! Bi-monthly DD is €344, and I've not checked the bills vs. estimates, so will need to review that soon, too.
The house internal temp's always 22C-24C
Edited by RC1807 on Monday 13th February 14:35
Quick update on our electricity consumption: I've just received the 2016 year-end invoice.
I *only* owe €220 for the year. 2016's consumption was down on 2015 & 2014, so it seems Enovos did a good job with the overall estimate for the last year. (I've been paying by DD every 2 months.)
Also, the heating and ventilation system was serviced and new filters fitted a couple of weeks ago.
That's €415 under contract.
Now for winter to FRO and we can get back to sorting the lawn out for the Summer, although I may have some more front/side garden remodelling plans in my head.
I *only* owe €220 for the year. 2016's consumption was down on 2015 & 2014, so it seems Enovos did a good job with the overall estimate for the last year. (I've been paying by DD every 2 months.)
Also, the heating and ventilation system was serviced and new filters fitted a couple of weeks ago.
That's €415 under contract.
Now for winter to FRO and we can get back to sorting the lawn out for the Summer, although I may have some more front/side garden remodelling plans in my head.
I've not updated this for almost a year!
4 years in: what's it like?
Warm in winter (on the whole, see below!), comfortable in Summer, despite temps hitting 40C in the garden in 2017.
Ventilation tends to be set towards more extraction than incoming air as we do like to have the windows open for REAL airflow, not living in a sealed box.
HVAC was serviced in early December under contract. €430 inlucing parts.
Engineer managed to break some collection tray in one of the units, and we're still waiting for that part to come and be fitted.
Oddly, from above, in the last week our UFH isn't functioning properly - well, at all. House itnernal temps remain at 22C, but with concrete floors and cermaic tiles, it still feels cold. Engineer's coming out today to have a look as this is a "fooked if I know" kind of thing. System instrucitons, even in English, make bugger all sense to me!
Looking at having the house redecorated internally this year, so during year 5 of habitation. It's been a very light grey on all painted walls from day 1. Daughters, particularly, want some colour now - they're both "art students" now
Some construction's underway with a few more places in the €1.1-1.3m mark around the corner - bigger than ours, and completely detached. They're "AAA" rated. Planning signs/authorisations are also up on 4 more plots across from us, so we expect more building action soon.
Immediate neighbours were renting and moved out late last Summer. They bought land and built somewhere near the Moselle River. New neighbours are Polish. Their spoken English is excellent, and "Mum" just gave birth to dort #3. Very nice family.
Overall, we're a happy family in a quiet, well insulated home.
Nothing exciting. Sorry!
4 years in: what's it like?
Warm in winter (on the whole, see below!), comfortable in Summer, despite temps hitting 40C in the garden in 2017.
Ventilation tends to be set towards more extraction than incoming air as we do like to have the windows open for REAL airflow, not living in a sealed box.
HVAC was serviced in early December under contract. €430 inlucing parts.
Engineer managed to break some collection tray in one of the units, and we're still waiting for that part to come and be fitted.
Oddly, from above, in the last week our UFH isn't functioning properly - well, at all. House itnernal temps remain at 22C, but with concrete floors and cermaic tiles, it still feels cold. Engineer's coming out today to have a look as this is a "fooked if I know" kind of thing. System instrucitons, even in English, make bugger all sense to me!
Looking at having the house redecorated internally this year, so during year 5 of habitation. It's been a very light grey on all painted walls from day 1. Daughters, particularly, want some colour now - they're both "art students" now
Some construction's underway with a few more places in the €1.1-1.3m mark around the corner - bigger than ours, and completely detached. They're "AAA" rated. Planning signs/authorisations are also up on 4 more plots across from us, so we expect more building action soon.
Immediate neighbours were renting and moved out late last Summer. They bought land and built somewhere near the Moselle River. New neighbours are Polish. Their spoken English is excellent, and "Mum" just gave birth to dort #3. Very nice family.
Overall, we're a happy family in a quiet, well insulated home.
Nothing exciting. Sorry!
Heating repaired on Friday.
2 men were here for 4 /12 hours, then 1 stayed for another 1 1/2h to finish off. Part is more than €1,000 - expect total bill somewhere in the €2k region.
bks.
I will take that up with the contracted company, who installed all the water/hearing stuff in the house, and have serviced under contract since we moved in.
Let's see!
Anyway, house is warmer as the floors are no longer freezing cold!
2 men were here for 4 /12 hours, then 1 stayed for another 1 1/2h to finish off. Part is more than €1,000 - expect total bill somewhere in the €2k region.
b
ks.I will take that up with the contracted company, who installed all the water/hearing stuff in the house, and have serviced under contract since we moved in.
Let's see!
Anyway, house is warmer as the floors are no longer freezing cold!
Oh, utter bks.
€3,500 invoice in the post yesterday.
FFS.
Going to ask the company to refer to the manufacturer for a warranty/goodwill claim. Failing that, the heating company can complete an insurance claim form for me as any ELECTRICAL faults are covered on my home insurance.
Oh, and the cheeky fkers billed me for time/transport/labour on a part's replacement (but not the part itself) that their engineer broke when he serviced the machine a month or so before.
They can F.R.O for that €160 as well!
ks.€3,500 invoice in the post yesterday.
FFS.
Going to ask the company to refer to the manufacturer for a warranty/goodwill claim. Failing that, the heating company can complete an insurance claim form for me as any ELECTRICAL faults are covered on my home insurance.
Oh, and the cheeky f
kers billed me for time/transport/labour on a part's replacement (but not the part itself) that their engineer broke when he serviced the machine a month or so before. They can F.R.O for that €160 as well!
For the €3,500 heating repair bill, I've written to the contracted company, requesting a guarantee claim be made to the manufacturer, or a goodwill offer.
If neither option's available, I provided them with my insurance comapny's claim form to complete.
(I copied the 'after sales service' guy at the contruction company too, as perhaps the system they specified isn't fit for purpose...)
On a related note, electricity bill came in yesterday.
I'd paid €1,500 in 2017 via 6 x DD payments, based on the prior 3 years' bills/outcomes, and I now owe another €500.
Increased DD in 2018 - like 2015 all over again.
Roof needs some repairs following a recent storm - few tiles damaged and dislodged. Insurance company paid out on the basis of the quote! Work's being done next week.
If neither option's available, I provided them with my insurance comapny's claim form to complete.
(I copied the 'after sales service' guy at the contruction company too, as perhaps the system they specified isn't fit for purpose...)
On a related note, electricity bill came in yesterday.
I'd paid €1,500 in 2017 via 6 x DD payments, based on the prior 3 years' bills/outcomes, and I now owe another €500.
Increased DD in 2018 - like 2015 all over again.
Roof needs some repairs following a recent storm - few tiles damaged and dislodged. Insurance company paid out on the basis of the quote! Work's being done next week.
Ouch, indeed...
We can claim if it's from electrical/circuit failures, not purely mechanical... if the heating company word it on the form as "compressor failed due to a short circuit", for example, then it's covered
My insurance broker schooled me on that, and said, "they'll know what to put on the form for you!" Fingers are crossed, else that's the summer holiday fund hit.
We can claim if it's from electrical/circuit failures, not purely mechanical... if the heating company word it on the form as "compressor failed due to a short circuit", for example, then it's covered
My insurance broker schooled me on that, and said, "they'll know what to put on the form for you!" Fingers are crossed, else that's the summer holiday fund hit.
Update for anyone still reading... 
Roof was repaired 2 weeks aho. Invoice paid.
Of course, the roofing comapny found another "issue", which I will refer to the constructor, the house being only 4 and a bit years old, else that's another €1,500 odd.
Heating repair
Nothing heard back from the supplying/repairing company yet, to my letter a couple of weeks ago.
Today, however, since I sent a copy of that letter to the contstruction company's "after sales service" contact, he emailed my letter to the supplying/repairing company's contact, cc'd to me, effectively saying,
"The machine's 4 years old. We expect the manufacturer to cover this repair cost in full.", so response to that's awaited!
Roof was repaired 2 weeks aho. Invoice paid.
Of course, the roofing comapny found another "issue", which I will refer to the constructor, the house being only 4 and a bit years old, else that's another €1,500 odd.
Heating repair
Nothing heard back from the supplying/repairing company yet, to my letter a couple of weeks ago.
Today, however, since I sent a copy of that letter to the contstruction company's "after sales service" contact, he emailed my letter to the supplying/repairing company's contact, cc'd to me, effectively saying,
"The machine's 4 years old. We expect the manufacturer to cover this repair cost in full.", so response to that's awaited!
Edited by RC1807 on Tuesday 20th March 15:45
Just re-read this whole thread as we're one year in to our min. three year rental and are thinking about what to do 'after'. Such a cracking build and after seeing how they plan, spec & build houses here it's a crying shame the UK is still locked into building flimsy, twee little crapboxes.
Don't think I'll let Mrs LLA read it though, it will scare her off building here!
Don't think I'll let Mrs LLA read it though, it will scare her off building here!
Thanks Loudlash.... Sorry for the delay in replying.... I was "busy" at Le Mans this weekend
Funnily enough, one of my mates I was at LM with is a land director for a major house builder, and he said similarly of our development when he first saw it.
There are a row of 4 houses going up in front of ours now, one is almost water tight, and the largest houses on the development are also being marketed - one's almost completed with a base cost of (stupidly!) €1.35m. Ours wasn't anything like that amount!
I have to say, the guys at Felix Giorgetti were excellent at project managing and I'd use them again if I had to. Maybe when we downsize when the kids bugger off.
We've still not heard back from the heating company about the disputed compressor failure, so there's a €3k odd bill pending so far, which is a bit of a bummer, but that's life, huh.
Funnily enough, one of my mates I was at LM with is a land director for a major house builder, and he said similarly of our development when he first saw it.
There are a row of 4 houses going up in front of ours now, one is almost water tight, and the largest houses on the development are also being marketed - one's almost completed with a base cost of (stupidly!) €1.35m. Ours wasn't anything like that amount!
I have to say, the guys at Felix Giorgetti were excellent at project managing and I'd use them again if I had to. Maybe when we downsize when the kids bugger off.
We've still not heard back from the heating company about the disputed compressor failure, so there's a €3k odd bill pending so far, which is a bit of a bummer, but that's life, huh.
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