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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to be allowed heating on in winter.

33 replies

SundayNightLights · 19/09/2017 06:26

My sister is living in shares accommodation. She has just sent me a screen cap of text messages from the live in landlady saying that the tennants can not touch the heating or the boiler. I know it's only September but it's going to get a lot colder. I'm worried as my sister is a very meek person and finds it hard to stand up for herself. Is this allowed?

I should mention though the the land lady lives there she is only there once every few months for a night or so at a time.

OP posts:
Cailleach666 · 19/09/2017 06:29

Maybe the heating is on a thermostat?

Idrinkandiknowstuff · 19/09/2017 06:32

Can't she buy herself a calor gas heater or electric heater for her room?

Roomba · 19/09/2017 06:32

TBF the text doesn't say 'no one is allowed to have the heating on this winter'. So I imagine it is perfectly possible that the heating is automatically set to come on when it gets cold, or on a certain date? If this is the case, maybe the landlord doesn't want people fiddling with the boiler or changing settings, then other tenants ringing them complaining it is too hot/too cold/the pilot light has gone out etc. If they own several or many properties I can see how that may create a lot of work for them. My uncle rented just one shared house out to students and they were constantly on the phone about the heating - all simple stuff like the thermostat needed turning up a degree or someone had pressed random buttons on the boiler, it had gone off, and they didn't know how to turn it back on.

I would ask her to text the landlord back and clarify exactly what the message means, and ask them confirm that there will indeed be some heating this winter.

Farahilda · 19/09/2017 06:35

In shared accommodation, there are always rows about what is a suitable temperature. Who gets involved does depend on who pays the bill.

I think your DSis definitely needs to stop anticipating difficulty that has not yet arisen. Whether you have your heating on in September is totally unrelated to what happens in December, Februaru or whenever it!/ actually cold.

And I suggest she stays in a different place for the couple of nights a month she stays there, of takes a hot-water bottle with her.

OnionKnight · 19/09/2017 06:36

Maybe the heating comes on automatically and she doesn't want anybody messing with it?

blueskyinmarch · 19/09/2017 06:37

I agree that it probably means the landlady doesn't want anyone fiddling with the heating controls not that there will be no heating on. Your sister needs to message her landlady to get clarification on this.

Dystopiandreaming · 19/09/2017 06:53

Get your sister to clarify when the heating will be put on - in terms of temperature, not dates - and for what hours during the day. I wouldn't have the heating on until it was pretty cold because that is how I am comfortable, but for most people an internal room temperature of 16/17 degrees is about as low as they will want to go.

OliviaStabler · 19/09/2017 06:55

I lived in a bedsit where the heating only came on at certain times. I bought a small electric fan heater for when it was cold and the heat was off and used a hot water bottle.

Pennysnow · 19/09/2017 07:02

I would definitely be buying a little convector heater for my room if I was her.

Something like this.

<

They are about £20.

To expect to be allowed heating on in winter.
AnnieAnoniMouse · 19/09/2017 09:41

Yes, it's allowed. She owns the house, she lives there. She's allowed to tell people not to touch the boiler or heating controls.

You & your sister are catastrophising.

It's a HUGE leap from being asked not to touch the boiler or heating, to it not being on all winter. All she needs to do is wait & see. If it's not coming on & she's cold she can contact the owner then & ask when it will be put on. Or if she's going to worry about it until then, why not just do the obvious and ask the owner when the heating will be on.

disinheritingyourchildren · 19/09/2017 09:42

It's probably on a timer. Tell your sister to buy herself an oil heater for her bedroom.

ShatnersWig · 19/09/2017 09:42

It's not winter yet anyway. Not until December.

existentialmoment · 19/09/2017 09:45

If the landlady spends one night there every few months she does not live there and is probably breaking multiple rules. I would find out exactly what those are and having them ready.

expatinscotland · 19/09/2017 09:47

If it's an issue I'd buy her an oil filled heater for her room.

TableMirror · 19/09/2017 09:54

Check the terms of the tenancy as many state you cannot have electric heaters in your room, it's a fairly common clause as they can be costly and dangerous.

BoysofMelody · 19/09/2017 10:00

I imagine there's been rows in the past with tenants disagreeing about when the heat goes on and who should pay the bill etc. Seems a pretty reasonable compromise to me, especially as it is also her residence too.

It isn't even close to needing the heating on and I live in Scotland. People work in offices where they have no control over when the heating comes on, doesn't seem to be an issue. Put a jumper on if it's cold.

Fluffy40 · 19/09/2017 10:06

Convector heaters will heat a room well, but they are expensive to run.

Assuming on for eight hours a day would cost around 2.40 per day.

Slimthistime · 19/09/2017 10:18

Surely first step is ask landlady to clarify!

Elendon · 19/09/2017 10:18

An oil heater in a bedroom? Not sure about that!

I have heating on constant in the summer and then during winter (October to March) on a timer. It has not yet come on in the summer - if it's cold then I either raise the temperature or put a jumper on.

I like the ambient heat to be no more than 20C.

BarbaraofSevillle · 19/09/2017 10:20

Is the heating on a thermostat? Ours is 'on' all year round and if it's cold, it comes on and if it's not, it doesn't. Rarely needs to be touched.

Of course if there's no thermostat and the Landlady has buggered off until December, that is unreasonable, as is sticking rigidly to the calendar when putting the heating on. If it's warm in October, no need for heating. If it's cold in August, it comes on.

SpareChangeDownTheSofa · 19/09/2017 10:22

Reminds me of growing up and my parents not allowing the heating on until December! Grin We all bundled up in jumpers and housecoats.

I would recommend a convection heater for sure.

Motoko · 19/09/2017 10:30

Hmm, sounds like the landlady is avoiding HMO rules by "living" there. The tenants will only be lodgers, so won't have the protections afforded to tenants with an AST, like deposit protection and notice.

Sounds very dodgy. I suggest your sister contacts Shelter, and I'm sure the council would be interested to know about this set up.

However, I agree with the others, the text doesn't actually say there will be no heating, so your sister needs to get clarification of that.

expatinscotland · 19/09/2017 10:32

'An oil heater in a bedroom? Not sure about that!'

Why on Earth not? It's not an open coal fire.

MrsOverTheRoad · 19/09/2017 10:40

I have oil heaters in about three rooms in my house! I live in Oz with no central heating. It's fine as long as they're not near other things.

KungFuEric · 19/09/2017 10:45

Do you know how the electric bills are paid? I wouldn't appreciate having to split the electric bills with someone who has a plug in heater in their room.

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