Old tech, new tech, its all the same if it needs buying and installing in the first place.... a coal fired back boiler would still be a "new" installation!
Anyway, enough semantics..... it sounds like you have a damp problem that needs sorting, and most likely comes from a failure in the drain outside. Moisture has penetrated the brick and caused the pointing to fail. That, added with the poor construction is the cause.
Dont even get me started on the storage heaters!!!!
Its shocking just how badly some of the housing stock in this country is, in terms of its energy efficiency and building quality!
Do you own the house?
If not, is the landlord amenable to improvements?
You would do well to investigate the Green Deal, whereby a complete survey of the property will result in an independant, professional report into the improvements possible, the costs likely to be incurred, and the savings generated as a result.
You then go through a process of evaulation of the measures, and obtaining quotes from recommended and assessed installers, and pay for the measures through the savings to the energy bills
PM me if you want more information
G