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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:
Jack80 · 27/10/2019 19:56

Sounds weird you have to ask them about the heating

Twinkled · 27/10/2019 19:56

What a dreadful way to heat, an absolute pain. Leave an honest review and if you speak with them again let them know it was deal breaker and you will not return.

Merryweather80 · 27/10/2019 21:34

We’re in the midlands and no way has my heating been on yet. That said if someone were to complain of being chilly with a jumper and socks on I would put it on 18 during the day 14 at night. During your stay I think it’s only right you decide on heating to meet your comfort and needs.

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/10/2019 21:39

It's been really cold here today, I've had the heating on 3 or 4 times. If we had a baby it would have been on far more. I'd be leaving a bad review so other guests could know how annoying it has been. I'm grumpy enough to have text in the night though, perhaps then they'll realise how annoying the current arrangement is.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 27/10/2019 23:57

I don't know anyone who has their heating on at night,even with a baby on the house. Even my parents who have the house at 25-28 in the day don't have it on at night.

Badouchka1 · 28/10/2019 00:41

That’s crap! We stay in at least three cottages a year and have had it where owners have the ‘Hive’ app’, but we’re able to override it to suit our needs. Was it booked through a holiday company? If so I’d contact them as they need to be speaking to the owner!
How annoying!

HoneyandSpice · 28/10/2019 05:10

Morning OP. Hope you're ok. I have a feeling you are staying where I stayed for Easter week. Sounds frighteningly similar and was also in NYorks.

I also found it a bit odd, and the timings sort of worked for us, but would have been better if I could have had control. Especially as DDs room was very cold in the mornings.
If it is the same place, there were 2 or 3 cottages and we were in the one attached to their house. We booked with Sykes cottages and the reviews were amazing, but I can honestly say I found the owner and her husband a little bit weird. It was just a vibe I got even though I only spoke to them once or twice.
Enjoy the area anyway. It's a beautiful part of the country. Hope you wake up warm!

Her0utdoors · 28/10/2019 06:29

Text? I'd be ringing. Really bloody annoying.

RedHelenB · 28/10/2019 06:39

As far as I'm concerned you could have it on all day every day if you Renta holiday home just as you could tun as many baths as you like. She's a CF tbh and definitely say that she does this in any review you leave

Dollymixture22 · 28/10/2019 06:49

Mrs p when it is very cold i programme the heating or kick in for 15 minutes at about 3am. This stops me waking up during the night.

But only in the dead of winter.

This thread shows how we are all very different when it comes to heating.

If it’s a hive I assume it’s gas heating, so hot water should be available regardless of the radiators being on.

Nonetheless, you should be able to control your own temperature

Original poster
PaddingtonBearPumpkinstare · 28/10/2019 07:10

@MrsPellegrinoPetrichor I wouldn't normally either but this isn't normal it's a cottage in North Yorkshire that's not well insulated and my 11 week old DS was cold.

But the point is more it should be within our control, not for someone who isn't in the cottage to decide when the heating will be on. The weather is very changeable and sometimes is warmer. And if we were all downstairs with the fire lit I wouldn't have the heating on to heat the entire cottage

OP posts:
Original poster
PaddingtonBearPumpkinstare · 28/10/2019 07:12

@HoneyandSpice definitely not the same as the owners aren't next door, I definitely would have knocked at 3am the first night if they were!

Makes you wonder if this happens more often than you think though as a few people on this thread have said they've experienced this

OP posts:
Original poster
PaddingtonBearPumpkinstare · 28/10/2019 07:16

Thanks for everyone's comments, glad to know the majority think IANBU on my very first post in AIBU

This thread has just shown what a personal thing comfort is when it comes to ambient temperature.

I have just been reading the visitors book and not one person has mentioned the heating thing. It makes me wonder if it's a new thing or if they rip the pages out

I will post a review once we are on the way home and will also be emailing Hoseasons as we never would have booked here if we'd known. I will also mention in both about ideal temperature for babies is between 16 and 20 degrees

OP posts:
frillyfarmer · 28/10/2019 07:30

We have holiday cottages in Norfolk and rural retreats who we let through have a very strict policy on guests having free and uninterrupted use of any heating controls - you're not permitted to use remote control whilst it is let out which is absolutely correct.

We also live in an old, poorly insulated farmhouse - it is listed so with single glazing it does need a lot of heat chucking at it to stop it being unbearably cold and rotting from the inside out. People who are stating it is unreasonable to have the heating on during the night have evidently only lived/stayed in thermally efficient houses. If we didn't have some background heating on during the night, morning wake ups would be miserable. And I say that as a hard-as-nails Yorkshire farmers daughter/wife

Purplealienpuke · 28/10/2019 07:44

As a teenager I lived in an extension to somebody's home. They had control of the hot water and heating. It was rarely on. Even when we complained they didn't put it on. It was miserable. They wouldn't get away with it now (30 years ago).
Its disgraceful you've had to ask, especially with a small baby! Review the shit out of them and tell Hoseseasons too!! Tight wads are making enough money to cover heating bills I'm sure!!!

JonSlow · 28/10/2019 08:04

Re: the ripping pages out... I’ve added page numbers to the bottom before to stop them doing the same thing!

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 28/10/2019 08:22

I wouldn't normally either but this isn't normal it's a cottage in North Yorkshire that's not well insulated and my 11 week old DS was cold

Yeah,you're right, the point is you should be able to put it on when you like or have a fan heater in a cupboard.

Wheresthetimegone · 28/10/2019 10:15

I live in North Yorkshire with 3 young children, never once have I put the heating on overnight.
I understand that’s a personal preference.
I am utterly astonished at all this rage and talk of complaining and bad reviews.
You find it cold, you asked them to allow you to control the heating system yourself and they did which was reasonable. End of, why all the need for complaining??? Shocking - why do people always have to get all whipped up, I am quite sure that the owners never intentionally set out to piss you off by installing a heating system that you don’t like.
Give them a break, they did what you asked so surely that deserves a favourable review.

Disfordarkchocolate · 28/10/2019 10:22

If I knew this was the heating set up I would never rent a holiday home. Therefore definitely a suitable negative comment to put in any review. There is no way I want to interrupt my holiday to contact the owner several times a day; it's not relaxing its intrusive.

Lovemenorca · 28/10/2019 10:33

I’m baffled

You say that you want control
He immediately responds telling where thermostat is in order for you to have control

So I really can’t see what the problem is.

ginghamstarfish · 28/10/2019 11:01

Amazing to see just how different our preferences are, although of course a lot depends on the type of house. If you live in a modern house or flat the need for heating is completely different to that of an old house (like mine, old, solid stone walls, no interior insulation). Anyhow OP, let rip with your review, they sound like pair of sanctimonious twats.

FionaOgre · 28/10/2019 12:18

For those saying you live in that same area and don't need the heating on don't seem to realise that different buildings require different heating. I've lived in one cottage that was stone walls, detached and old. Heating had to be on 24/7 and just a bit less in the summer. It was freezing constantly, even on warm days because the type of building kept it cool and the towering trees beside it kept it shaded. I moved just a few minutes away, just down the road basically and my £1400 a year gas bill is less than a third now. We have neighbours keeping us cosy, better insulation and sunshine all day long. Even winter sun heats up the dark outside walls well. The only reason our gas is as much as it is is down to the fact I use loads of hot water (love topping up a bath so you can spend longer relaxing reading a book)

MIL lives on the next street in a semi. Our house is warmer and we have the heating on far less.

OP I would leave a negative review as such because you did ask and they complied immediately, however I would leave a very FACTUAL review. Maybe advise future guests as to where the controls are. I'd also mention how there was no recycling facilities which is a shame in this day and age. That's likely down to the council/area of course so may not be on the property owners.

That said, they shouldn't be quoting environmental impact to you when they own more than one property and it doesn't even have recycling facilities. Very hypocritical if you ask me.

FionaOgre · 28/10/2019 12:20

Sorry, I wouldn't leave a negative review. Neutral, maybe.

Original poster
PaddingtonBearPumpkinstare · 28/10/2019 12:28

Yes they did respond immediately but the point is why did we have even have to ask? And we arrived at 4pm and by 10am the next day we had already had to message them three times. And as I have said 22 degrees is far too hot for a baby (which then subsequently dropped dramatically overnight). Also DS was awake at 5am one day so the heating coming on at 6am wouldn't have worked for us

Anyway, I haven't done a review yet but it will be factual rather than negative per se as we wouldn't have booked if we'd known. They have also lost a booking as my Mum and her partner were debating booking after us but have now changed their minds

OP posts:
Lovemenorca · 28/10/2019 13:13

Yes they did respond immediately but the point is why did we have even have to ask?

Yes bit daft.
However given no reviews whatsoever mentioning this - i suppose they just carried on doing what has always worked.

If everything else ok, I certainly wouldn’t review negatively on this basis

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