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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off with bizarre centrall heating arrangements in holiday cottage?.

63 replies

CocktailQueen · 12/08/2014 21:01

Gah! Staying in Skye thus week in lovely holiday cottage 15 feet from the sea. House advertised central heating and wood burner.

It has been pissing down for 48 hours on and off, and so we have got boots, waterproofs, clothes to dry - the outside line won't do it!! Searched for thermostat for heating and couldn't find it. Eventually asked owner who lives next door. It's in the garage - which we have no access to. The owner switched on the heating, grudgingly, but we were surprised when it went off again after an hour. Not enough to dry anything! We don't need the heating for long, and the cottage is not cold, but we do need it to dry clothes!

Went back to owner. He said he'd put it on for longer. But it didn't come on at all today - got back at 6 and it came on for an hour then went off. Dh went to ask owner to out it on again. Owner came round to say that the heating had been in for ages - no, it hadn't. And asked us to use the wood burner to dry clothes. Well, we tried that last night and it dried diddly squat. So I asked him politely and firmly to switch it on for longer. One hour a day of heating!! So he said he would, but clearly didn't want to.

So, am I being unreasonable to want central heating in a holiday cottage when I want it, not when the owner wants it??

Gah. Am pissed off enough about the weather without arguing about frigging heating.

OP posts:
HannerHet · 12/08/2014 21:48

Sounds awful, keep complaining until they leave it on

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 12/08/2014 21:56

Well, it's still on. Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
NinjaPanda34 · 12/08/2014 21:57

www.hostelskye.co.uk/facilities.shtml

Get your clothes dried here when you're in Portree. It's not that cold, so I think you're being a wee bit U tbh. Or ask the owner for an airer / clothes horse?

HibiscusIsland · 12/08/2014 22:01

The op shouldn't have to visit a launderette. It's a waste of her holiday, which she is also wasting by having to keep negotiating with the owner. She should be able to enjoy her holiday with everything working like clockwork.

spiderswilldescend · 12/08/2014 22:01

It is freezing in Scotland just now - I'm in a holiday cottage too and we've had the heating on the whole time. I'd leave a Trip Advisor review anyway as he's been very unreasonable, even if he 'lets' you have it on for the rest of the holiday.

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 12/08/2014 22:13

Jeez, thanks, ninja panda - I like to go on holiday to relax, not visit a bloody launderette. Portree is half an hour away. We've had two days of pissing rain and the forecast is ok for tomorrow. Would like to do something nice with the dc, not wash clothes!! Jeez. That's why we've paid to stay in a cottage, not a tent!!

To give you an idea of cold - to go for our walk today the dc wore warm trousers, waterproof trousers, thermal socks, hiking boots, 2 layers and winter coat!! This is summer in Skye we're talking about....

OP posts:
Original poster
CocktailQueen · 12/08/2014 22:14

And ninja, if you rtft, I said we had an airer but clothes didn't dry on it by the wood burner. It's by the radiator now with a wash on it.

OP posts:
KnittedJimmyChoos · 12/08/2014 22:19

Cockatail you do not need to justify the cold to us or indeed how wet your clothes are.

You have paid for the use of that cottage as your home, you have paid for it, what is advertised, if you want the heating on full time, that is your right.

Had the owner not been on site, this is what you would have had.

Another reason never to book with owners on site.

nancy75 · 12/08/2014 22:19

Blimey, i may be a soft southerner but at 12 degrees i would be bloody freezing and would want the heating on the whole time i was in the house.

I do think they are on dodgy ground advertising as with central heating if you have no control over it

asmallandnoisymonkey · 12/08/2014 22:20

Ninja - she's not being unreasonable at all. It's cold here and she's paid for a cottage with central heating. She's completely entitled to use it if she deems it necessary for the comfort of her family

AggressiveBunting · 12/08/2014 22:20

YANBU. The owner needs to suck it up. It's hardly tropical and you need a way to dry clothes- be in radiators or tumble dryer.

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 12/08/2014 22:21

Oh, marvellous, the bloody heating has gone off now, with everything half dried. Owner said it isn't switched on during the day...

OP posts:
KnittedJimmyChoos · 12/08/2014 22:21

ninja

perhaps op is particularly sensitive to the cold which is why she booked a cottage with suitable heating.

Perhaps she would be shivering the sahara, its no ones business but hers and if she is cold and wants the heating on its no ones business but hers to do other than facilitate her request.

she is this mans customer he should be saying how high, when she says JUMP.

nancy75 · 12/08/2014 22:23

Tell him you have paid for house with heating you expect heating as and when you want it or a partial refund on your rental payment as you are not getting what you booked

KnittedJimmyChoos · 12/08/2014 22:23

Cockataoo I have become rather ruthless in my dealings with this sort of thing now and I would not want to waste holiday time on this.

Tell him you want the heating on or your leaving and want a refund and you will leave a nasty review on his website!

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 12/08/2014 22:26

Didn't know the owners were on site until we got the booking confirmation., they run a campsite next door with about 20 caravans and tents, and that wasn't mentioned in blurb or in photos either. Gah.

OP posts:
Original poster
CocktailQueen · 12/08/2014 22:28

Thanks all! I do like the cottage but the weather and now this are putting me right off. Paid £800 for the week - plus £20 for wifi. Huh.

OP posts:
KnittedJimmyChoos · 12/08/2014 22:28

Yes I know small but I am pointing out what anyone else including owner hates putting on at this time of year is irrelevant to op, as its her home for the week.

asmallandnoisymonkey · 12/08/2014 22:32

Knitted - I know that - my comment wasn't directed at the OP - it was directed at someone else upthread (perhaps I should have made that clearer). I'm agreeing with you, and the OP.

PopcornFrenzy · 12/08/2014 22:44

YANBU I'd be bloody furious and be demanding the heating on. I hate the cold and like to be warm, I would be telling the owner I want a refund as he's not providing the service I'm pating for.

MerryMarigold · 12/08/2014 22:48

You need a fan heater so it can just heat the one room where the clothes are.

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 12/08/2014 22:53

Merry - a fan heater won't dry two pairs of soaking hiking boots and two pairs of wet wellies, thanks.... Not to mention 4 jackets, trousers, socks...

OP posts:
KnittedJimmyChoos · 12/08/2014 22:53

Sorry asmall I didn't see you were replying and I am agreeing with you also assmall Grin and I nearly had my heating on today and I am South [shocked].

Yes you could really put the cat among the pigeons and tell him if he does not get the heating on you will be buying an electric one and deducting it from bill.

MerryMarigold · 12/08/2014 22:55

My point is that you only need to heat one room, by whatever means, not the whole house. And I think it probably would dry them, but may not be very safe left on all night!

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 12/08/2014 23:36

Well, merry, a fan heater isn't an option, esp. if not safe to be left on at night!!

OP posts: