To wonder about the heating bills for WFH?

[CheetasOnFajitas]

It’s occurred to me, now that colder weather has set in and it looks like those who can do so will be WFH for the next 6 months- the heating bills are going to be through the roof!

Has anyone’s employer acknowledged that home-based employees are going to have to bear this cost? I know for some it will be offset by no commuting costs, but not for all: my husband and I cycle to work normally.

I do acknowledge that I am personally lucky to (a) have a job that can be done from home and (b) have a job at all.

Can't see employers stumping up for that! They will just tell you to put a jumper on or heat one room only.

Couldn’t you just heat one room in the day time?

I know it's only a small amount but you can claim back some money
www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

Apologies if you're already aware.

Like @HariboLectar said, ours aren’t covering expenses but are suggesting we apply for tax relief.

I think DH and I will start having arguments over this. I've always worked from home and put a hoody on when I'm cold. He starts talking about putting the heating on when he's got a shirt on and I have to say "put a jumper on first".

I suspect he will insist on having the heating on when I wouldn't. However, we're saving about £350+ a month on his season ticket.

You can claim some tax back as PP linked to if you can be bothered.

I am quids in WFH so more than happy to cover the extra heating.

Well, there are two of us working from two rooms for a start, and it’s two more rooms than we would normally have to heat. Plus am not sure if there is much of a saving turning off individual radiators in a standard wet central heating system.

My DH is working from home. He’s looking into getting an oil-filled radiator to plug in to just heat his little room. We are on LPG gas and it’s astronomically expensive, so don’t want to heat the whole house when he’s the only person home.

@HariboLectar

I know it's only a small amount but you can claim back some money www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

Apologies if you're already aware.

No I wasn’t actually, thanks!

Guess you'll just have to claim for it from the government then.

I’m also hoping the money we’ve saved not commuting/get lunch out etc will help balance the increased bills.

You can claim £6 a week from HMRC:

www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

@Sparklesocks

I’m also hoping the money we’ve saved not commuting/get lunch out etc will help balance the increased bills.

See, we both have a subsidised canteen so eating lunch at home is also more expensive.

I think that with everything. Been working from home since March and have extra electricity Bill's from running laptop all day,charging phone more as I'm on conference calls on it a lot, watch the TV at lunch. Then the heating in the winter. It's all adding up. Saying that I think I'd rather be at home

My company is paying £75 a month to each employee to cover expenses from wfh

Assuming your saving on travel does that not offset the additional cost of heating?

@CheetasOnFajitas individual space heaters are still likely cheaper than running heat for the entire house though right? Even if you turned on the heat during lunch to warm up a bit in the kitchen or dining room, that’s still cheaper than running the heat for 7 hours straight.

I have always worked from home and I just have a small 0.5kw heater in my office. Heating costs are minimal - 8p per hour and I don’t need the heater on all day even in deep midwinter.

@Flynn999

Assuming your saving on travel does that not offset the additional cost of heating?

I explained that in the OP!

@Flynn999

Assuming your saving on travel does that not offset the additional cost of heating?

No because she said right there in her OP that both her and her husband biked to work, so they’re not saving on transportation costs.

[quote JingsMahBucket]@CheetasOnFajitas individual space heaters are still likely cheaper than running heat for the entire house though right? Even if you turned on the heat during lunch to warm up a bit in the kitchen or dining room, that’s still cheaper than running the heat for 7 hours straight.[/quote]
Would need to buy the heaters first though.

The other half works from home and generally for cold days either does it in front of the fire in the snug or in front of the Rayburn.

Our landlord controls the heat in our house and it doesn't get switched on until the end of October and then off in March (freezing cold high ceilings, no double glazing or insulation, etc). I've got a whole system to keep warm at my desk on cold days - electric blanket across my knees, big blanket scarves, thermals under tops AND trousers, flannel-lined jeans, stand up at least once an hour to move around or you really get cold. I have been known to wear a hat at my desk.

The only thing I haven't solved is my hands getting cold while typing. Wrist warmers don't cover my fingers, and I can't type in gloves.

You are saving on travel / commuring expenses. Use that !

commuting