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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why would you not want a heated blanket?

304 replies

Swanfairydust · 02/12/2021 00:38

I live with another person and they have been working from home all day. The heating has been turned up to 23/25 degrees (I can see from the app). I didn’t think it was partially cold today - between 8-10 degrees but I have been told my spare room can get cold.

The thermometer is usually kept in her room but it was in the living room for a few weeks (she was away, didn’t want it kept in her room).

As the radiators were turned down low the temperature didn’t increase in the living room and as a result her bedroom radiator has been on full power all day (there is no tmv).

I have told her to put the thermostat back in her room (third time of asking, so this time it was

outside her room and told h

OP posts:
AdobeWanKenobi · 02/12/2021 13:13

@mustlovegin

you need smart heating with TRV's on all radiators. You can control heat in every room then via an app

And who would be paying for this investment? The OP? Why should she?

Why should she?

1.It usually pays for itself in its first year.
2.It's more energy efficient for the future.
3.It gives her greater control within the house.
4.Tracks energy use as a whole.

Dozens of reasons. It's as much for her as the lodger.

TheGreenManIsFlashing · 02/12/2021 16:47

@OhGiveUp

Op AIBU? Yes Op. No I'm not. I can do what I like! 🤣
This comment was very tired the 1,000,000th time it was made, and wasn't particularly funny the first time.

I happen to think that tthe OP is perfectly reasonable here. And going to check that a radiator is working is hardly "snooping".

The OP is also being very civil in the face of an incredible number of unpleasant and personal comments.

Skyll · 02/12/2021 16:57

The op shouldn’t be going into her lodgers room when the lodger isn’t there.

Kanaloa · 02/12/2021 17:01

She obviously wasn’t going in to check the radiator was working. She was going in to snoop around for the blanket, otherwise how is she so sure there isn’t one?

And it’s the whole attitude of ‘it’s my house, I don’t need to compromise, my house my rules, she has no rights’ as if she’s doing the lodger a massive favour by charging her to work there.

Kanaloa · 02/12/2021 17:01

Live there, sorry.

GetTheFlockOutOfHere · 02/12/2021 17:44

@Lavenderosemary

We have the heating between 15 and 17 depending on the room. Some rooms are unheated with the doors closed. At night the heating is set at 12. Not because we're martyrs, but because it's an old house and the potential bills are terrifying. We have electric blankets for both us and the pets, plus heated throws and dress sensibly.

What's the point if having a lodger if they add most of the money they pay you onto the heating bill? Gas and electricity prices are terrifying now.

You know switching off radiators - in some rooms - doesn't save any gas right? (Not when it comes to gas central heating.)
knittingaddict · 02/12/2021 18:03

@Snugglybuggly

It's a cold night... heating needs to be on
No it doesn't. We never have the heating on past 10pm and last night had bedroom windows open and overhead fan on the lowest setting. Generally a cooler temperature is better for a good nights sleep.
Almostmenopausal · 02/12/2021 18:26

@Swanfairydust You have ZERO right to go into her room! She pays to live there! Just like my Landlord has no legal right to enter my property whilst I live here!!! If they did, they could end up in court!

You sound like a horrendous Landlord

TokyoDreaming · 02/12/2021 18:40

[quote Almostmenopausal]@Swanfairydust You have ZERO right to go into her room! She pays to live there! Just like my Landlord has no legal right to enter my property whilst I live here!!! If they did, they could end up in court!

You sound like a horrendous Landlord[/quote]
She's not a landlord.

daisypond · 02/12/2021 18:44

@Almostmenopausal
It’s a completely different situation. It’s not the same as a landlord letting a property.

Original poster
Swanfairydust · 02/12/2021 18:46

@GetTheFlockOutOfHere that’s interesting. Why not?

OP posts:
daisypond · 02/12/2021 18:56

There’s a lot of misinformation on this thread about lodgers and their rights. There are different types. Eg: From Citizens Advice:

“You’ll probably have an excluded licence if your agreement doesn’t give you exclusive access to any area in the property and your landlord can go wherever they like.”

AppleJane · 02/12/2021 19:11

@Swanfairydust how much is it for a month?

A month away from the family, no cleaning and cooking. Sounds great! You can go in my room whenever you want and I promise not to leave knickers on the floor. And 16 to 20c sounds heaven to my hot flushes.

But only for a month mind. Just long enough for my clan to miss and appreciate me Grin

FluffyBooBoo · 02/12/2021 19:15

She's not a landlord

What is she then? A landlady? Are you getting gender-specific here? Because I don't know anyone that uses that term any more.

She says it's her house and she rents out a room to a lodger. That makes her a resident landlord.

Original poster
Swanfairydust · 02/12/2021 19:21

@FluffyBooBoo

She's not a landlord

What is she then? A landlady? Are you getting gender-specific here? Because I don't know anyone that uses that term any more.

She says it's her house and she rents out a room to a lodger. That makes her a resident landlord.

It makes anyone staying with me a guest and has lodger laws..
OP posts:
GetTheFlockOutOfHere · 02/12/2021 20:11

[quote Swanfairydust]@GetTheFlockOutOfHere that’s interesting. Why not?[/quote]
@Swanfairydust

If (for example) you have 10 rooms, and you have a radiator in each one, and you switch 5 of them off, you are still using the same amount of gas.. Switching any radiators off to save money doesn't work. Not with gas central heating.

If you have just 5 radiators switched on out of the 10, you will end up using MORE gas, as the heating will need to work harder to heat up the 5 colder rooms... (Because only 5 radiators are switched on.)

As 5 of the rooms will be quite cold, you will find yourself cranking up the thermostat a couple of degrees as the other rooms (with the radiators on,) will be that much colder, because the cold from the other rooms (with the radiators off,) will start to filter through.

Far better to leave all the radiators on, and leave your thermostat at 18-ish... (Works for us anyway in a modest sized 3 bed home!) Smile

QuestionableMouse · 02/12/2021 20:12

You rent out accommodation. That makes you a landlord (landlady)

Why would you not want a heated blanket?
EnidFrighten · 02/12/2021 20:22

@QuestionableMouse

You rent out accommodation. That makes you a landlord (landlady)
The distinction between a tenant and a lodger is the important one, it doesn't matter that much what you call the person who owns a house.

If you take money from someone who lives in your house with you, different laws apply than if you didn't live there.

Qwertykeys · 02/12/2021 20:35

Do you declare the income for your property for tax purposes?

Wrenna · 02/12/2021 20:48

I wouldn’t touch a heated blanket with a barge pole. I had one as a young child and developed lymphoma as a young adult - was this the cause - maybe, as there was some association between electric blankets and leukemia a while back. A quick google search also said pregnant women should not use electric blankets because of the risk of miscarriage.

daisypond · 02/12/2021 21:02

@Qwertykeys

Do you declare the income for your property for tax purposes?
It’s tax free, as long as the income isn’t above £7,500.
MrsGatsby99 · 02/12/2021 22:32

A propos the question regarding if the homeowner is allowed in the lodger's room, Citizens Advice say this:

"You’ll probably have an excluded licence if your agreement doesn’t give you exclusive access to any area in the property and your landlord can go wherever they like.

You’ll have an excluded tenancy if you have exclusive use of your own room that your landlord isn’t allowed to enter. You’ll still share other living space with them. Find out more about your rights if you have an excluded tenancy."

So it seems it depends on what they have agreed between them. Lodgers seem to have very few rights really.

Original poster
Swanfairydust · 03/12/2021 09:19

@Qwertykeys

Do you declare the income for your property for tax purposes?
No

It’s called an allowance of so much a year not reportable

OP posts:
motherofcatsandbears · 03/12/2021 09:31

If she’s WFH all day in her room, why not get her one of those low energy electric heaters? There are loads on Amazon for about £25.
She may well have purchased a blanket online so of course she wouldn’t be bringing it back home with her.
I do think you’re being a CF by going into her room though - I know it’s your house, but if she’s paying you for her room, you should respect her privacy.
I think there’s more going on behind the scenes that you’ve not mentioned.

FinallyHere · 03/12/2021 12:46

@GetTheFlockOutOfHere

If (for example) you have 10 rooms, and you have a radiator in each one, and you switch 5 of them off, you are still using the same amount of gas.. Switching any radiators off to save money doesn't work. Not with gas central heating.

This statement lacks any mention of the location of the thermostat, which controls the boiler. It is at best, incomplete if not just wrong.

If the thermostat is in a room with the radiator switched on, it will indeed cause the boiler to switch off when the set temperature is reached, in that room or area.

If the thermostat is anywhere else, it will keep the boiler on until ... the area the thermostat is in reaches the set temperature and may indeed increase the efforts required by the boiler.

Simples.

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