Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I want to relax, owner controlling central heating remotely

184 replies

PaddingtonBearPumpkinstare · 26/10/2019 11:52

I am currently on a long weekend with DH and two DC. Whilst the cottage is lovely and we can’t fault it, the heating is controlled remotely via an app by the owner. It is set to 22 degrees and to come on at 6.30am to 10am and then 4pm to 10pm. If we want to alter the temperature or turn it on or off we have to text the owner and ask her to do it. Is this the norm?! I’ve never heard of this before.

We only arrived last night and have already had to text her twice. We arrived just as it was starting up at 4pm and as I was unpacking I was absolutely boiling and had to open all the windows upstairs. Our heating at home is never above 19, DH asked her to turn it down. She said she’d turn it down to 20 for the rest of our stay unless she heard otherwise.

During the night DS woke for a bottle at 3am and I was really cold and actually couldn’t get back to sleep for a while. Obviously we couldn’t text her at that time. If that had been at home I would have just put the heating on for an hour whilst he had his bottle. Then this morning at 6am, DS started whinging in his sleep and when I checked him his cheeks were really cold. So this morning DH has texted her again and asked her to put it on at 2am for an hour but she hasn’t yet responded.

I can only assume the reasoning for it is to stop people leaving the heating on all day when they go out. The weather is horrible today and I want to arrive back to a nice toasty cottage but that won’t happen if we arrive back before 4pm.

AIBU to want to relax on this short break and not be pissed off and feel like a child asking for the heating to be put on?

OP posts:
GettingPdOff · 26/10/2019 12:35

Our heating is always off at night as the creaking pipes and boards expanding and contracting wake me up!

EmperorBallpitine · 26/10/2019 12:36

This arrangement would drive me mad, we often rent places out of season and you regularly need to put the heating on before 4pm if you've been out on a chilly day. Please mention on the review.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 26/10/2019 12:40

I'd feel really awkward about having to text someone and ask them to put the heating on

Which is exactly what they're counting on. They justify it by saying "All you need to do is text", knowing full well that you'll feel awkward doing so or won't be able to during unsociable hours.

Imagine if they fixed up the lights or the cooker or shower to only work at certain times when they deemed you should be using them.

I see nothing wrong with them setting a default with the heating, to avoid people wasting energy for no reason whatsoever, but then also telling you to alter it whenever you need to and showing you where the manual override is (i.e. NOT in a locked cupboard). Then, they can revert back to the default once you've vacated.

Oldraver · 26/10/2019 12:42

If she insists on controlling the temp I so would of text her at 2am. Maybe she would realise how ridiculous she is being

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 26/10/2019 12:44

I would hate this! I actually feel really unwell when I get too cold, so I really wouldn’t have a good time. Definitely leave a review stating the issue, as I’d definitely want to be warned so I could avoid. (Sorry, I know that doesn’t help you just now.)

Violetparis · 26/10/2019 12:44

I would text and ask if there is any way that you can control the heating yourself as it is spoiling your holiday, I would also add if there isn't then I will be leaving a comment online to say this is making the stay awful.

Billben · 26/10/2019 12:44

This for me would be a dealbreaker. I hate being cold and when I’m paying somewhere to stay I expect to be comfortable. If I read in a review that I would have to text the owners to put the heating on I’d be avoiding renting the place.

HollowTalk · 26/10/2019 12:45

I would phone her and tell her that you want to be able to control the heating.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 26/10/2019 12:45

Wasn't there a thread recently where somebody was told that there was a washing machine available for use in their holiday let, but it turned out that you had to ask the owner to do it for you in her own attached house and she charged something like £20 per load for her 'water and electricity bills' (i.e. in return for doing one load of washing for you, you can end up paying my entire month's bills) ?!

How do people like this continue in business in these days of online reviews? You'd think they'd welcome return visitors and them recommending it to their friends.

JonSlow · 26/10/2019 12:46

if you can find the thermostat or similar, with a brand name on it, then download the app and try and take control yourself.

Bluerussian · 26/10/2019 12:48

That really is very unsatisfactory. Make sure your review reflects how ridiculous the arrangement for the heating is. Write a letter of complaint to the company through which you booked the cottage.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 26/10/2019 12:48

It's a daft thing for the owner to do. You said yourself the place was boiling and you had to open the windows.

How long does she think it will be before guests ask for max heating and use windows to regulate the temperature? Stupid!

It is controlling and I'd be leaving feedback about the temperature regulation; I'd certainly be grateful to you and would never book to stay there.

Billben · 26/10/2019 12:49

And whilst those hours of the heating coming on are reasonable it very much depends on how cold the house you are renting is. I live in an old cottage and certain rooms are uncomfortably cold when you don’t have the fires or the heating on.

sleepylittlebunnies · 26/10/2019 12:50

We’ve only just turned our central heating on. The thermostat is set to 18 degrees 24 hours a day so only comes on if it drops below that. If we need to we can turn it up.

Paythosebitchesnomind269 · 26/10/2019 12:51

We had this on last holiday but DH found the controls and changed it. It was way too hot for us during the day and freezing at night so we couldn't relax and get comfy.

Musicalmistress · 26/10/2019 12:54

I would’ve text her at 2am, waited a short time to see if heating came & if not I would’ve called her. Sitting up in the middle of the night feeding a cold grumpy baby is no ones idea of fun.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 26/10/2019 12:57

Hunt high and low for those controls as there will be a control panel; you have to have a “point of origin” to do a manual override should the app cease to work.

Whilst I get she’s probably let to people before who have let the heating run riot, it doesn’t give you license to then let but only with the holidaymaker having to check in multiple times, that’s horseshit.

You have to mention this in your review, it honestly would put me off.

I mean, it’s not easy to organise trips away with a young baby at the best of times never mind this shit.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 26/10/2019 12:57

I detest it when people happily take the market rate in exchange for providing goods or services and then treat you like you're being highly unreasonable for then wanting to have what you've paid for - and they see any 'concessions' they deign to make as a big, big favour for which you should be endlessly grateful.

Seriously, stopping people from keeping their accommodation warm enough overnight, especially when they have a baby - disgraceful.

Ginfordinner · 26/10/2019 12:57

If she insists on controlling the temp I so would of text her at 2am.

A bit pointless. I would sleep through a text.

if you can find the thermostat or similar, with a brand name on it, then download the app and try and take control yourself.

That doesn’t work with Hive as you need a log in and a password.

Findumdum1 · 26/10/2019 12:57

It'll be a Hive or a Nest and will have a manual override somewhere. You will also be able to see it on the wifi network which I would personally get onto and just kick off/on the thermostat as I needed

Negative feedback in the review is the way to go. I don't see why she has this stupid policy. She could just adjust it remotely whenever she saw it being left at 24 for ages, when noone was there or whatever and guests would be none the wiser.

Findumdum1 · 26/10/2019 12:59

That doesn’t work with Hive as you need a log in and a password.

or the barcode on the box - go and see if you can find it in the utility cupboard :)

If you have the wifi router passowrd you can easily enable/disbale it - but maybe not control the temperature.

Basilicaofthemind · 26/10/2019 13:05

I would HATE this. I find that holiday homes are quite often much less well insulated than my own house and I need to use the heating more. If you’re not living there you maybe don’t see the pint in good windows, thick curtains or whatever.

PullingMySocksUp · 26/10/2019 13:09

I’d ask for it to be 16 or similar all night I think.
But it would be hilarious if you can put hive on your own phone. Please try and do this.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 26/10/2019 13:12

That's so unreasonable. We like it quite chill so would hate having it set at 20 degrees. Contact her and ask her where the thermostat is.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 26/10/2019 13:14

That's awful.

I once went on a holiday to part of Italy with DH, and there was a similar system with the air con unit - the owner of the hotel had it timed to come on for a short period only. It was a fucking nightmare, to be frank - the room was boiling, we couldn't have the windows open without being massacred by mozzies and I ended up lying in a puddle of sweat every fucking night we were there. Wouldn't do it again.

Swipe left for the next trending thread