Advice on how to handle- dds housemates at uni want to out heating on overnight

[Thethingswedoforlove]

How can we convince them that it really isn’t cheaper to keep the house at a constant temperature?! They want to have it on at a ‘low’ temp of 17 degrees! It’s a huge house with 6 people and most students don’t even have it on during the day let alone at night. I’m at my wits end. How can we afford that bill? I told her that she should say that those that want it on overnight need to pay and she won’t pay a share of that but clearly that is a bit confrontational and doesn’t lend itself to harmonious living. How can we convince them?! It is utterly nuts. Some are saying things like my dad knows about heating bills and it is def cheaper etc.’

This isn’t in IABU and if you had read the thread I have admitted that I wasn’t in full possession of the facts and that what I assumed was true wasn’t necessarily true. And my dd has decided to act accordingly.

It’s time for this to end I think as some posters now are not reading anything I have written on the thread! Grateful to all those who kindly helped me to learn much more and to guide and advise my dd.

all bills are included in the rent up to a cap. Dd was concerned re busting through the cap. But we can see now this might not even happen…. She plans to review the data from the smartmeter to find out. And recognises she needs to share all the bills no matter what. That’s the deal when you move in with people.

Umm it’s January and it’s freezing?! The heater needs to be on, it’s selfish of you to suggest otherwise

Her DD asked for advice.
Have you not read her updates?

I'm sorry that posters who haven't read your updates or don't have DC at university are having a pop at you.

What kind of monster turns the heating off completely overnight when it's below freezing outside? I trust you want these students to be well rested, not shivering under the duvet?

Many of us here didn’t have central heating in our student accommodation. We did not perish.

That’s quite a harsh comment. Neither me nor my dd nor anyone of the people on this thread who hadn’t even thought of having the heating on overnight are monsters. People have different approaches. None are wrong. None are right. No one is a monster.

Thank you. Really appreciated.

Thanks.

OP your DD sounds like a sensible, considerate housemate. I’m sure they’ll be able to work something out that everyone is happy with.

You might not have had heating but surely there was heating? I remember being quite warm as a student due to gas fires in every room.

Heating was variable, but definitely no heating overnight.

Our heating is on at 18 degrees constantly as recommended by our heating engineer. To be honest the heating bills are actually cheaper now than when we had timed heating.

I can remember being a student and some of my house mates refused to have the heating on at night. It was absolutely freezing and no amount of hot water bottles really helped. I could see my breathe in my room and got ill as a result. Best thing was that are bills were all inclusive!

Me, it there a prize?

I've never had the heating on over night, I didn't realise that was monsterous

But note, even people saying they have the heating on overnight are saying that their thermostats are set at 16 or 17 so in practice it won't go on unless it's really cold.
My DDs Uni house had this debate and it lead to a big falling out, and those who were too cold to study ended up using electric heaters in their own rooms so it probs didn't save any money.
I suggest you pass on the sensible energy saving tips supplied by @NZDreaming , plus the suggestjon they work in the Uni library as much as poss (with rads at home turned off) to reduce the overall bills

I didn't put my gas fire on at night but I don't really know what other people in my house did. If it was as cold as this week they may have done.

Thank you. Yes I have passed on the tips. V helpful.

I have the heating on all night every night. It's to hot for me but the kids are always freezing. I have a window open!

I have tried both in different houses and it depends on the level of insulation. If the house is well insulated it won't cost them more to leave on all the time, especially set to 17°. Intact, I'd be encouraging 18° - that is the legal minimum in the work place and, hopefully, they are studying at home a good chunk of the time!

I've never had the heating on at night, I did try having it kick in when it dropped below 15 but the heat in bed woke me up. The rest of the time that I'm in the house it's set to 18.

Which would be a bit terrifying if you think about it, safety wise!

I don’t advocate letting them freeze at night btw, just that my generation survived it.

Is anyone else finding the "in my day" comments rather irritating?

It's becoming a race to the bottom.