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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Housemate and water

75 replies

EnidBlytonFan01 · 09/06/2019 09:37

I realize this thread is very similar to the other one trending right now on a lady saying her DH was turning off the hot water.

For several weeks, I've noticed the water to be icy cold in the shower yet when my housemate (I'll call him Tom) has a shower, it's always working fine. Then, I realized yesterday, he'd turned off the boiler in the evening (usually it's on but error light is flashing) so I turned it on to use it.

I get a barrage of rude abusive texts from him calling me an idiot and him stating he turns it off because another housemate likes to have showers past midnight (which disturbs his sleep) - he claims the landlord allows just him to change the settings of the boiler whenever he likes as he's discussed this matter with them. Previously, he took and hid the landing light bulb in his room because that other housemate was leaving it on all night so every act of revenge he does affects me just as much as it does her and it's really not fair as I follow all the rules etc.

Even this morning, he's used the bathroom, then presumably messed with the boiler settings and then I heard him running the taps hard to get rid of any remaining hot water and now he's left. The boiler isn't turned off this time but as often, the red error light is flashing and I can't get it fixed (tried clicking to reset, switching it on and off, etc. as there aren't many settings that can be changed with the boiler dials).

I've got a cold and now I'm stuck with no hot water because of him. The downstairs loo does have hot water (different water system) but there's a lot of us in the house so I don't always want to be using the downstairs one when technically I should be using the upstairs one.

I've obviously notified the landlord about this but usually he's fairly on the fence even with extreme stuff like this. :/

Anything else I can do?

OP posts:
Binting · 09/06/2019 09:38

Find somewhere else to live?

Treaclesweet · 09/06/2019 09:39

Turn it back on an ignore him. Then start looking for houses cos he crazy! If you're all bills inc. then the landlord may be interested about him wasting water like that.

Justbreathing · 09/06/2019 09:40

That’s proper crazy. You’ll run your self ragged thinking about this. Your only option is to leave.
What’s your tenant agreement like ?

BaronessBomburst · 09/06/2019 09:42

Have you googled the boiler for some instructions?
But ultimately I would move out. Your housemate is a complete nob.

Iamthewombat · 09/06/2019 09:43

He is a nutter. Move! Sorry you are dealing with this. In the meantime, switch the hot water on when you need it and ignore his ranting.

slipperywhensparticus · 09/06/2019 09:44

Tell your landlord housemate has BROKEN the boiler messing with it

Why does your shower work off the boiler? Mine has it's own heating element

Justbreathing · 09/06/2019 09:45

I mean you have to leave. But I would call the landlord/agent and get an emergency plumber out next time he fiddles with it.
The couple of hundred pounds that will cost will make sure that the landlord deals with the situation

TanyaChix · 09/06/2019 09:45

What an absolute dickhead he is. Move out and let this petty little boy live on his own.

TanyaChix · 09/06/2019 09:47

And yes, tell the landlord the call out charge for repair has been incurred by matey messing about with it constantly. Tell your flat mate he might end up paying the call outs if he is repeatedly responsible for the issues.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/06/2019 09:50

What they said! Stop trying to work out how to fix the boiler and report every intsance as Tom having broken the boiler. Your LL will have to do something..

And tell Tom he is being a twat! Maybe have the other flatmate around for that one, but you should be able to tell him he can't run the house for his own convenience, ruining it for everyone else.

IJustLostTheGame · 09/06/2019 09:53

Tell your landlord the boiler is broken and needs fixing because your housemate is messing with the boiler again.
Do this every time.
Do not engage with housemate. He sounds like a prick.
Use the downstairs one, apologise to other housemates and explain the boiler is broken and you've contacted the landlord. If they ask explain why.
Presumably it's now broken for boiler bellend housemate too?

paddington34 · 09/06/2019 09:56

That's so awful of him I would move out too but I would definitely plot some kind of revenge on him what a absolute arse. Can you jump in tomorrow ten minutes before he normally does and run the taps after you have finished?

pigsDOfly · 09/06/2019 09:56

Agree that you should speak to the LL and tell him that your housemate seems to have broken the boiler. You're entitled to have hot water, it's not for this person to control.

However, do not call in a boiler engineer. You can't just call someone in to do work and then charge it to the LL, you'll probably find you end up paying the bill yourself. Leave it to your LL to get it fixed it's his responsibility; if he then charges the housemate so much the better.

CitadelsofScience · 09/06/2019 09:56

slippery sounds like you have an electric shower so it heats its own water. Our power shower runs off the boiler for hot water.

Your housemate sounds like a deranged lunatic Op, I have nothing to add to what the others have said but I'm interested in the LL's response.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/06/2019 09:58

Why does your shower work off the boiler? Mine has it's own heating element Because that's what a boiler does? Not all showers are electric.

Original poster
EnidBlytonFan01 · 09/06/2019 10:01

Thanks a lot everyone so far.

  1. It seems partially broken in that the red light is flashing and when I reset it, wait 30 mins and then check it, the water is working but it's awful as by the time it's ready and I jump in the shower, no doubt that idiot will go down and turn it off. It's easier for him to do it to us than the other way around as he's always at home 90% of the time so can take a shower whenever he wants whereas I'm working full time so he knows exactly when I will be.

He moved into the house after me and in all other regards, I like the house so I really don't want to be moving out and letting bullies like him win.

OP posts:
MrsPlesWearsAFez · 09/06/2019 10:03

Running off the water sounds utterly deranged and vindictive of him.

Report to your landlord. He might be inclined to act if he realises he's going to start losing tenants.

NewYoiker · 09/06/2019 10:04

What a horrible controlling man. Why the fuck is behaving like this?! Christ some man are horrendous

thecatneuterer · 09/06/2019 10:07

slippery - most showers work off boilers. Electric ones don't, but they are less powerful and much less reliable than the mixer type.

And while I agree that it should be reported to the LL, that isn't going to help the OP much. Even if the LL does take it seriously he only recourse will be to issue a Section 21 notice. If the tenant is currently on a fixed term contract, that will involve waiting until the end of the fixed term. Otherwise it will be two months notice. Then, assuming the tenant doesn't leave then, it could be another six or eight months waiting for a court case and then a bailiff. Longer still if the tenant decides to fight it. So practically the OP should just move out.

And this is why Section 21 shouldn't be removed for house shares as the government proposes. In house shares you frequently get low level antisocial behaviour like this. It wouldn't meet the standard for evicting using a Section 8 and would be more or less impossible to prove in court. So LLs could potentially get stuck with tenants like this forever - that piss off all the other tenants and probably make them all move out. With Section 21, even though it can take a very long time, at least it can be done eventually.

Skittlesandbeer · 09/06/2019 10:07

I think your loony housemate has done you a favour by finally causing proper damage to the unit. Frankly, I’d have secretly helped him along weeks ago. Now it’s come to a head, and you can follow the strategy previous posters suggest- your LL will likely have to hop off the fence now that they’ve been forced to put their hand in their pocket.

Sorry for your cold, I have one too and a hot shower is my only solace. Let your grumpiness give you the motivation to drop your housemate right in the poo.

woollyheart · 09/06/2019 10:08

Have you told him to stop interfering with the boiler because you are entitled to use the shower as much as he is.

Otherwise report to the landlord- he is stopping you using the facilities in your home and appears to have broken the heating system.

adagio · 09/06/2019 10:14

If you contact the landlord every single time it’s off again (plead ignorance on how to ‘fix’ it) it might at least get Tom bollocked into behaving? You can’t live like this in a shared house! Tom is a knob.

Rainbunny · 09/06/2019 10:17

How many people live in the house? Do you all have separate individual rental agreements with the Landlord? You have a reasonable right to hot water that this man is sabotaging. How many housemates are affected by the lack of hot water? Has anyone else complained about this? My advice is to gather opinions from your housemates and then hold a household meeting to discuss the situation, have a clear plan about stating your complaint and how you would like it resolved. It's ridiculous that one person can dictate who uses hot water or can turn a light bulb on!

Gruzinkerbell1 · 09/06/2019 10:18

What adagio said. Every single time. Let the landlord feel your pain.

Eliza9919 · 09/06/2019 10:18

I read it as the boiler is only flashing up as broken because of the stupid settings this arse has set, and he can reset it so that he has water - it's not permanently broken now.

I'd speak to the other house mate and wage war on him until he moved. Consult the internet for ideas.