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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be tired of neighbour controlling the temp of my radiators?

143 replies

BibiBlocksberg · 05/01/2022 22:41

Background, I live in a town house that is divided into two flats by addition of a fire door in the hallway.

Everything else is just like it would be in a normal house.

Including heating which has hot water tank & programme panel upstairs in my part & boiler downstairs in neighbours part.

Problem lies with downstairs neighbour turning the temperature on the boiler down to one she is comfortable with.

Which results in my radiators running lukewarm at best. No issues w (bleeding, sludge, rust etc as confirmed by a professional & boiler temp adjustment has been confirmed by neighbour previously.

Each time i report this to LL she has a word w downstairs & temps improve for one or two nights then back to lukewarm radiators.

Nearly 11pm & I’m freezing, wandering around in thermal long sleeve top, jumper, leggings under trousers & scarf & still not warm.

AIBU to be annoyed at my home temperature being subject to my neighbours heating preferences & how would you go about solving this once & for all?

Surely this does not constitute ‘reliable’ heating under LL responsibilities?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 06/01/2022 07:38

Have you actually talked to the neighbour about it?

Fralla · 06/01/2022 07:39

www.gov.uk/guidance/heat-networks

HunterHearstHelmsley · 06/01/2022 07:44

@GrannytoaUnicorn I'm amazed that so many people appear to have missed the sarcasm in your post GrinGrin

shouldistop · 06/01/2022 07:51

Strange set up and I'm not sure if it's legal.

Anyway, I understand you're cold but why should your neighbour be too hot?

DisforDarkChocolate · 06/01/2022 07:51

I'm with those who are wondering if this is legal for an independent housing unit ie flat. I'd be getting some advice from Shelter before I speak to the landlord again.

ifonly4 · 06/01/2022 07:56

This is something your landlord needs to sort, either you have independent heating control or hopefully they'll supply an extra heater (doubt you'd get a few given they'll argue you have radiators). If you're still not comfortable, then I think you're going to have to move. Your neighbour has every right to have the temperature at a level comfortable to them - given the bills are included, it sounds like they're chosing a temperature totally suitable for them as they could have it higher with no extra cost.

charles12xyz · 06/01/2022 08:01

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

lisaandalan · 06/01/2022 08:05

I'd go and knock and say can you keep the heating on at whatever degrees you are happy with yourself and say if you don't keep it at that I will not only go to the landlord, I will take legal advice. I would knock at night every time she does it and hopefully she will get fed up. I would not wait until the morning, you need to disrupt her life. X

inheritancetrack · 06/01/2022 08:08

Are they turning it down to save on heating costs?

stairgates · 06/01/2022 08:30

@ThreeLittleDots

If all bills are included I'd buy cheap electric heaters and run them high all day long. If LL doesn't like it they can install a separate boiler in your flat!
This sounds ideal!
RedLipClass · 06/01/2022 08:45

I would really get on neighbours case about this, she's being so selfish. Of course she has the right to have her house at a comfortable temperature but she has the option of switching her radiators off or opening the windows to cool things down. What can I say OP do?

In the mean time, do as PP's have said and get some plug in heaters. I'm sure LL will be quick to resolve this once they see the heating bill going through the roof.

AgentJohnson · 06/01/2022 09:07

This is a LL problem. If your neighbour turning down the boiler temp impacts health safety, then they need to be shown how to control the heating safely and the boiler needs to be off limits to them. However, it sounds like their current behaviour is saving your LL a shit ton of money and that probably explains why the LL has been so ineffective.

Badger the LL and hammer the health and safety concerns home to them.

Fatgalslim · 06/01/2022 09:09

Ridiculous arrangement but your neighbour isn't being unreasonable, she's entitled to have the temp how she wants as are you.

GrandmasterGlitchsMoustache · 06/01/2022 09:14

Since you're not paying for bills then buy some oil filled radiators and plug them in for as long as you want. We have them on overnight in our coldest rooms in winter they really work to keep the rooms warm enough so kids don't wake up. They won't quickly heat a large room though, better for gentle ambient heat.

2022success · 06/01/2022 09:21

A friend of mine had this set up and a similar problem. In her case, neighbour had GCH timer in her flat and would have it on for half an hour twice a day, leaving friend, who was housebound, freezing cold.

When her LL repeatedly failed to address it, she got herself a couple of electric fan heaters which absolutely knock the heat out. When LL saw and queried electric bill (which he paid) he soon changed his mind about speaking to neighbour about GCH timer being left on all day when it was icy cold.

Could you do that OP?

WhosThatBehindTheFlask · 06/01/2022 09:27

Oil filled radiators, for sure.

As horrible as it is for you, I also don't think the alternatie is for your neighbour to be too hot or to have no heating on at all (i.e. radiators on higher than they'd like or off). It's a rubbish set up for you both.

SofiaSoFar · 06/01/2022 09:28

@PriamFarrl

You wear TWO layers of clothing, INDOORS?!?!?! What on earth for? Have you never heard of heating?!

Have you ever heard of the environment?
Honestly. I’m always amazed at people who are in little strappy tops in their houses in the middle of winter. You should be in jumpers.

Completely agree.

Some people think global warming is everyone else's fault (and problem) not theirs, unfortunately.

Esspee · 06/01/2022 09:28

We had something similar in the tropics with air conditioning controlled from the neighbouring flat. Bloody annoying.
Ask your neighbour to turn off/down her radiators but keep the boiler on high. Every time you are too cold go and knock on her door asking her to put the settings back. Do this often enough and she will be the one to leave.

Gonnagetgoing · 06/01/2022 09:36

In my own cottage (Victorian but not brilliantly insulated) it gets cold even with radiators on but to save costs I also have electric heaters on where I work.

Radiators are good plus a boiler because you can time when they come on and off and what heat.

This woman does sound annoying but you have to be careful in case it turns into a neighbour dispute, she may even be relishing 'having power' in being able to control the radiators.

FreeFrenchHens · 06/01/2022 09:45

Get yourself a cheap thermometer and measure the temp at different times of day.

It'll be much quicker and easier than trying to convince them without any data.

Leftbutcameback · 06/01/2022 09:57

Yeah, that would drive me mad too. It's the one thing I'm happy to spend money on - being warm!

The oil filled radiator I have for my cold for er office is brilliant. You can get them with timers and thermostats, and they are safe, so that's the obvious option. Mine was about £80 with a five year guarantee. Would heat a much bigger room.

Leftbutcameback · 06/01/2022 09:58

And the clear answer for both of you is thermostatic controls on your radiators! That way you can both control it to your liking. Simple.

beautifullymad · 06/01/2022 10:44

It's not going to change. This is your landlords choice. He's cut corners and this is the result.

If you can afford to do so get some electric (oil filled) heaters and plug them in. You are entitled to be warm. But only do this if bills are included. You don't want to be paying out for warmth if it's already paid for.

It electric bills aren't included id be emailing the landlord every single time it goes below a goes below a comfortable threshold. This is his problem to sort out. He should be commissioning plumbers to install a new heating system and providing you with electric heaters in the meantime.

Maybe suggest in the interim that he provides electric oil filled heaters whist he looks into getting the system replaced. Even him getting modern radiators with individual valves fitted would be a better and less expensive fix for him. Still not suitable long term though. What a poor conversion!

Ps, I'm a landlord and wouldn't under any circumstances condone this substandard plumbing arrangement.

BoredZelda · 06/01/2022 10:58

This isn’t your neighbour’s fault. You and your landlord have agreed that someone else can control the temperature in your flat. I wouldn’t want to overheat in my own home so would turn the temperature down. Your agreement with the landlord wouldn’t be my problem.

I’m struggling to see how this passed building control even ten years ago.

ThinWomansBrain · 06/01/2022 10:58

Bizarre set up - but if you're happy living there apart from the heating issue, I'd look at getting oil filled radiators as PP has suggested.
they are quite safe and effective - I have a large flat with very high ceilings, but have one that I use occasionally if the central heating's not come on when I first get in.
They're about £30 - and I've had mine for years.

As it's a constant problem, maybe ask if your LL can supply as back up heating?