Waiting until people go to have the heating on?

[HannahHut]

Bit of a weird one. My housemates are going on holiday for a week and they over heard me telling my mate I'm going to put £20 on the meter and have the heating/fire on as much as I like (I'm freezing).

One of my housemates said it's selfish for me to wait until they're away to pay for the heating.

Basically, they never put the heating on because they don't want to pay to put gas in the meter. But if I put money in the meter they'll use it even when I'm not there, as a result I stopped doing it.

Aibu to put money in the meter and have the heating on as much as I want when they're away to treat myself?

Oh, and enjoy your nice warm staycation.

I once lived in a house share with prepayment meters. It was hell as a the others didn’t like contributing. It sounds so much worse with a couple. I expect if you’re not allowed candles, you won’t be allowed a calor gas heater. The only caveat to cranking up the heating whilst they’re away is that you’ll be heating their rooms too and I imagine you can’t access their rooms to turn their rads off unfortunately.

Time to find a new place. I’d inform the ll why first. See what they think. They may not care their house isn’t being heated but they might very much.

wow they are tight don't they work?

No it isn't unreasonable for you to do that. But perhaps saying it out loud is if you usually only contribute the bare minimum. There's not enough context here to give you a definitive answer but they must be annoyed for a reason?

If you were all at uni together maybe you had a bills inclusive arrangement before? Or maybe they are naive or just thick. dD has shared with the same house mates your three years at uni. Now they are all working and in a professional let. They are all horrified that they have to now pay council tax and its band E. DD told them it was before they signed for the house and she was outvoted because they a) didn't understand the implications and b) were going to be "young professionals" so deserved it!

She's moving out next year.

Just buy an electric heater. They have stolen your money before, sod them. And look for somewhere new to live too. The female one will be sulking about you being warm in your room when she's cold, they will end up agreeing with you. Cheeky sods.

I’d leave. Living with a couple is the pits, even if they’re really considerate, because the living room and kitchen is always occupied. Somehow cooking for a couple takes twice as long as a singleton (I’m not bitter at all...)

If you moved in July then hopefully you have a break clause at six months in January? You’ll need to give notice now - 2 months is normal.

I hate the cold. They probably have a heater in their room.

They are being completely unreasonable. He will benefit from heating even if he doesn't feel the cold. They sound like twerps tbh.

Just get an electric fan heater and have it on in your room - they have thermostats so turn off when it warms up.

I was going to suggest this, too - especially if you share the leccy bill - it will help you recoup the costs you've already expended warming these tight buggers up!

Anyway - if they think you should share your warmth with them, why haven't they paid to share their holiday with you? Seems only fair.

I couldn't stand living with people like this. Tight arseholes.

I can't have an electric heater in my room because I'd be using the electric more than I pay so I'd be as bad as them.

And when they complain that will be your opportunity to post out how unreasonable they are being expecting you to subside their use of the gas.

(Just out of interest - how do you know the they don't have a little oil-filled radiator in their shared room that you are paying for?)

Are you sure the hot water isn’t gas and electric? (Our boiler needs both).

Either way I’d ask for split of bills across the board and explain exactly why.

I can't have an electric heater in my room because I'd be using the electric more than I pay so I'd be as bad as them

^ this a nonsensical. Unless you know who switches on the lights more, who uses the tv most etc you don’t actually know who uses the most!

The problem with not heating the house ever will be that all three of you will be responsible for any damp issues that occur during your tenancy caused by you not reducing condensation by never having low background heating on. Your poor landlord.

Being constantly cold is so miserable - and it can lower your resistance to a lot of chronic illnesses.

I'll bet they have their own heater! When they are gone - have a quick look in their shared room (normally I wouldn't suggest anything like this, and I certainly don't advocate that you dig through wardrobes etc to look for a one, but just take a glance to see if there's one in sight, so to speak.

Plus, you will find it very difficult to sleep if you are cold all night - they are in the same bed and can cuddle up like a couple of puppies - you can't. You'll never get a decent night's sleep if you are freezing!

If you have a gas boiler then the water will be heated by it too- otherwise, how does the water heat up?

If they aren't contributing to the gas then you will be paying for all the hot water as well as the heating!

Oh my god this is why I got my own single-rent flat after living in a flat share. The flatmates who never took out bins (just changed the bag and left the full one sitting in the kitchen) and the girl who refused to allow the heating to be on cos it aggravated her asthma.

I moved out and ended up with proper flu a few weeks later, in my warm flat which was miserable enough but I can't imagine how much worse I would have been still in that freezing horrible flat.

A few months after I moved out of there a pipe burst and soaked into what had been my room. So I would have been the one totally suffering for someone else's stubbornness.

Would never, ever flatshare ever again.

They are taking the utter piss suggesting 50/50 split. Just say "oh I'm sorry, I didn't realise that you being a couple meant you are now half people. Maybe you could try that one on with the landlord with your rent."

The house and all belongings will become damp and mouldy if the house is not heated and aired adequately.

Winter will be awful when the windows are covered in moisture and all behind the furniture has black mould. You might end up throwing things away because they get ruined.

It's not just about keeping you warm.
I wish they taught this in school/University.

I hope you can resolve this and agree that you could do with turning the radiators off in their rooms if you can.

I've been through this. Unfortunately you're only option is to move out.

Best option is to move , it will only get worse

They are taking the utter piss suggesting 50/50 split. Just say "oh I'm sorry, I didn't realise that you being a couple meant you are now half people. Maybe you could try that one on with the landlord with your rent."

Excellent suggestion!

Are they back yet?
What has been decided. Anything less that 1/3 each is ubfair to you.
Still think you need to move

Are they back?
Did you buy a heater?