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AIBU?

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Original poster

neighbour on at me to keep my heating on

166 replies

clovissa · 16/03/2012 22:06

We've just rented a house, been in a couple of weeks. We have the main house and the back half of the basement. The front half of the basement is a one-bed flat. The night we moved in the switch tripped and we found out the switches are in the other flat, but there is a key over the connecting door, so we're to knock, then let ourselves in if there's no reply. He's an oldish guy, seems nice.

Now it turns out we share all utilities with him. This was never mentioned before, they apply a ratio.

He has been up twice now because we haven't got the heating on and he's cold. He wants us to put it on and then turn down all our radiators if we don't need them on. It's a bit of a jig as we have four floors and are in all day.

He also said our tumble drier was going to run the bills up and he's very careful. I've told him not to worry, we will make sure his bills don't go up but arch.

Also, someone I know nothing about has a key to enter our house. Isn't that a bit weird Hmm?

OP posts:
lisaro · 17/03/2012 03:27

It sounds as if the property hasn't been legally converted into two. I think you need to contact your local authority and ask them, explaining about the heating, etc. It all sounds very very dodgy. I have a hunch the landlord may not be declaring both sets of rental income either. Make sure your bond is in a deposit scheme.

HillyWallaby · 17/03/2012 04:33

This sounds like a nightmare and I am amazed it was not mentioned before you took the flat on. You need to speak to the landlord and/or the agent who showed you the flat as it is a very unusual arrangement, not something you could have been expected to anticipate, and therefore unacceptable to not advise you of this beforehand. I'd be livid. Are you sure it wasn't in the small print and you just didn't read the contract properly?

thelittlestkiwi · 17/03/2012 06:20

I would not be happy at all with this set up. If it wasn't mentioned in your lease I bet what the landlord has done is illegal. You've probably spent quite a bit of money to move. Have you seen a gas and electric certificates for the property?

I would not agree to a stranger having a key to my home. I wonder how this would affect your insurance?

ObviouslyOblivious · 17/03/2012 06:36

This sounds like it's almost certainly going to be a contravention of the Housing Act 2004. Environmental Health should be interested. That poor man :(

NickNacks · 17/03/2012 06:43

You'll be able to tell if it's been legally changed in to two separate dwellings by the postal service. Does he have a seperate door number and post box and does his post all go direct to his flat. Or does it all come to your house?

skybluepearl · 17/03/2012 06:48

I'm amazed that you didn't know before you moved in. Go to citizans advice as I'm sure it's not lawful.

The land lord needs to set up two seperate systems so you can both pay the right amount.

skybluepearl · 17/03/2012 06:50

Can you ring the landlord and ask hiom to make the system seperate

theincredibequeenofwands · 17/03/2012 06:52

I think you first need to change the locks, you're right, you don't know him. He's a stranger with a key to your home and children. Also net legal as you're not getting 'quiet enjoyment of the property and may well invalidate your contents insuranceif you were burgaled (can't spell burgaled someone help me )!

It is a sad situation for the man but it is up to you how often/much you heat your home. I didn't know you could turn radiators down Blush . I think you need to heat your home as you see fit and the other guy can discuss heating with the LL and get it sorted properly.

I second visiting CAB for a smidgen of advice.

mrswoodentop · 17/03/2012 07:08

Your house contents insurance is definately invalid because he has a key to your house ,probably his as well .I expect that poor girl in Bristol thought her neighbour was "fine" too.He is a stranger .How can you allow your teen to sleep a room that a stranger has a key to?

tyler80 · 17/03/2012 07:13

Is each property billed for council tax separately?

Nagoo · 17/03/2012 07:15

I am not getting hysterical about the 'perv' factor, Hmm surely insurance not invalidated by someone having a key? My mum has a key to my house. Does that affect my insurance?

theincredibequeenofwands · 17/03/2012 07:17

No, not your mum.

But a stranger has a key and they will ask who has access.

Original poster
clovissa · 17/03/2012 07:53

The landlord wants to do separate out the flat and utilities but he inherited the house along with his sister (they grew up there) and she doesn't want to spend the money. I do think it was v. cheeky of him not to tell the letting agency.

We don't have any contents insurance, so that's not a worry.

I'm going to check if neighbour does have a key, because it occurs to me now Blush that although we have a key over the connecting door in case we need access, I don't know if he has ours. Sorry if I have misled.

The bit that bothers me most is he makes me feel bad for having the tumble drier on - we do use it a lot - and also that I have to be responsible for someone else. I got two children in one year so have had my fill of responsibility.

I would never leave him cold or allow his bills to rise on account of us.

OP posts:
Original poster
clovissa · 17/03/2012 07:55

God if he took our teen he would soon bring him back Grin. Seriously, he is not at all physically threatening, very spindly and gentle.

Billed independently for council tax.

OP posts:
mrswoodentop · 17/03/2012 07:58

The insurance company should be informed that a non related party has unrestricted access.,that will affect your premium,I think you will find that for most policies you have to say if another person has a key.You should check your policy details at the very least.

Do you have separate telephone lines,who pays line rental,I think this is a minefield to be honest and there could be real implications .

If you are happy I suppose that's fine personally I really couldn't cope with the idea that a stranger could walk
In at any moment or could be entering my house when I am away or not in.Theoretically he could just turn down your thermostat without you knowing or turn off your tumble drier.

I am sure he is not a "perv" as you so charmingly put it but he is a stranger and you really have no idea who he is

Original poster
clovissa · 17/03/2012 07:58

Sorry, just catching up with your posts (DS slept till 7 for the first time in ages) yes, he has his own front door.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 17/03/2012 08:01

it all sounds very bizarre to be honest..

how do you work out the heating bills?

bigTillyMint · 17/03/2012 08:02

Yes, I was wondering that, squeaky.

ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 17/03/2012 08:04

You could easily solve the 'access' issue by putting a bolt on your side of the door, he doesn't need access to your part of the house.

I would get the landlord to buy a couple of (timer) oil heaters for the little basement flat - a far more practical way of heating that small area.

Why not see how much he has been paying over the last 12 month, add on say 15% for price rises and simply charge him that for the electric - then you can do as you please without worrying (ie using the dryer).

Flisspaps · 17/03/2012 08:06

Why would you not have contents insurance? Confused

Original poster
clovissa · 17/03/2012 08:07

It is bizarre isn't it. The thing is, we love the house so much and already feel completely at home. I think it's much worse for him. He knows LL would like him to leave but he doesn't want to go.

Also, I have been asking DP to set the timer on the heating since we moved in but he still hasn't done it and now it's a matter of principle.

The heating bills are worked out by some lady who does his admin. I have her email. But apparently it's never been let to a family before (weird, it's a family type place) so we will probably put a strain on whatever system they have in place.

He is very pleasant when he comes up, just says can we please put the heating on (and turn our radiators off) because he's cold. Roll on springtime.

OP posts:
deleting · 17/03/2012 08:14

Sounds ridiculous. You're basically responsible for the welfare of an old man. What happens if you go on holiday and he needs to have the heating on? Presumably he can let himself into your house and turn it on? Is it him who has the key or the landlord.

Original poster
clovissa · 17/03/2012 08:19

Deleting, if we go on holiday I assume we leave the heating on but the radiators all switched off.

Actually I realise now if we have the key to his door, then he logically has the key to ours. I hadn't really put much thought to the situation till yesterday.

I thought it was a bit bizarre but not absolutely awful or anything.

OP posts:
Iggly · 17/03/2012 08:19

The bit that bothers me most is he makes me feel bad for having the tumble drier on - we do use it a lot

That's the thing that bothers you most?!

Iggly · 17/03/2012 08:20

Is the rent on a par with other houses? Id ask for a reduction quite frankly.