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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder how holiday home owners regulate power usage?

102 replies

Giggorata · 08/03/2022 20:16

Times is 'ard and it looks as though we might have to let out the Scottish cottage for the holiday/weekend trade.
We've only ever rented it out to friends/friends of friends/family before this, and by rented, I mean usually asking for contributions to electricity and council tax.
Now that both are going through the roof, this probably has to change.
So, I am wondering how we can ensure that an electric fire won't be left on for two months, for example, (looking at you, DS2).
Is there any way of doing something remotely? Via smart meter, Hive or something?
We live 4 hours away by car, and fuel is also rocketing…

OP posts:
Sh05 · 08/03/2022 20:26

We rented a holiday home in Wales where the bathroom lights were on timer so went off automatically after 25 minutes. The downstairs loo was set at 10 minutes. And plugged in lamps and other electricals had smart plugs so I'm assuming the owners could make sure things were off once the property was empty

TheHoptimist · 08/03/2022 20:30

The cleaner makes sure that a fire isnt let on for 2 months
The hardest part is getting a decent turn around cleaner.

DespairingHomeowner · 08/03/2022 20:39

Smart plugs or bulbs would be my answer : does the property have wifi?

Tarnation · 08/03/2022 20:46

Yes, most owners now have Hive/Nest (or a system especially designed for holiday lets such as Inspire Ignite). These allow full remote access to the settings, capping of temperature, and allow the setting of schedules such that e.g. every 3 hours the thermostat resets to 19 degrees, regardless of what temperature the guest has increased it to (guests can of course override it again, but it means if they head out for the day, the heating isn't continously running at 25 degrees).

Davros · 08/03/2022 20:47

Hive or similar and a weekly cleaner

Original poster
Giggorata · 08/03/2022 22:26

Thank you for the helpful replies. We haven't got wi fi but will look into it.

OP posts:
justanotherremainer · 08/03/2022 23:06

Honestly, you should consider selling your Scottish cottage to one of the many local people all across Scotland (and other scenic parts of the UK) who are priced out of the market by people who own holiday homes.

Holiday homes are pretty much immoral, in my opinion, and should be very tightly regulated.

I’m sure you’re not a bad person OP but holiday homes are destroying our communities. Please take some time to investigate what you are part of.

Pleatherandlace · 08/03/2022 23:22

I absolutely hate staying in a rental were the heating is limited to 19 degrees or whatever. Going away is expensive and supposed to
be a treat. Who wants to sit indoors with a sodding scarf on. If you can’t afford to let guests heat the house as they wish perhaps you can’t afford this cottage.

Original poster
Giggorata · 09/03/2022 09:12

Mmm, well these last two weren't what I was asking.
But since you have replied in this vein, we bought it originally to retire into, and I have been considering selling it, yes, especially since I may no longer be able to afford it.
The main heating is by wood burner, btw, so the electric heater is just for supplemental heat. Supposedly.

OP posts:
mocktail · 09/03/2022 09:19

It's not so much that it's limited @Pleatherandlace just that at the start of each time period it goes back to the scheduled temperature, but you're free to increase it as you wish in between. It just prevents the scenario where, eg, the op's son visits for a weekend and leaves it on 25c when he leaves.

If you have Hive you can also turn off the heating completely remotely, or get alerted when the eating is above or below a certain temperature.

mocktail · 09/03/2022 09:20

Hive's for central heating though, I'm not sure if there's something similar for electrical appliances.

FloraPostePosts · 09/03/2022 09:21

You will need a good, reliable, responsible cleaner as you are so far away, so that person will be in charge of making sure things are switched off when they clean at the end of each rental.

I wouldn’t rely on tech - it’s a real pain if something goes wrong and you can’t just pop round to reboot it.

Gladioli23 · 09/03/2022 09:22

I would be wary re main heating being by wood burner as well OP - maybe I am too pessimistic (and have only really ever had an open fire) but I would assume that people need to look after it, clear ashes out, keep it stoked and that if they didn't do that the wood burner would be unhappy or house could become pretty cold and uncomfortable - what plan would you have so if someone said they couldn't get it to light etc there was help available? It's all very well if it's just a nice to have, but if it's the main heating it's pretty high risk for the general public who may never have had an open fire or wood burner in their lives?

Saucery · 09/03/2022 09:23

One of the cottages we stay in has the heating set remotely but you can message the owner/manager to alter it if you want. Another one has instructions for the thermostat (WiFi) but the owner cleans as soon as you leave so she can turn it back down . I usually find cottages too hot and turn down the radiators.
Only use wood burners etc on the very coldest evenings and there’s usually only enough wood for one evening anyway - I’d never go out and buy more.

Lindy2 · 09/03/2022 09:28

I think paying guests would expect to be able to increase and decrease heating as they wish. Renting a cottage for a week or weekend usually isn't particularly cheap so it should be included in the price.

You're going to need a cleaner/maintenance person/emergency local contact so I think generally they would be responsible for resetting any heating.

I have stayed at a cottage where the meter readings were taken and a certain allowance for gas and electricity was permitted. Anything above the allowance was chargeable. I found that a bit annoying but it did mean we were more careful with leaving lights. We stayed within the allowance. I think I'd expect normal use to be included and only excessive use charged. Again though you need someone on site to deal with all that a check in and check out.

SpanishPapers · 09/03/2022 09:28

-Nest/Hive, set up so that you can tell the temperature in the room where the electric fire is (so if it's warm when no one is there, you will smell a rat)

  • someone local to check the house regularly
  • a polite note asking people to double check that things have been left correctly.
Seeline · 09/03/2022 09:29

I remember staying in holiday cottages as a kid where you had to take a pile of 50p coins with you to feed the meter......

SpanishPapers · 09/03/2022 09:29

To add, you should really allow your guests to control the heating while they are there and factor this into the price- don't use the Nest to keep your guests chilly.

seekinglondonlife · 09/03/2022 09:29

It's not unusual in Ireland for holiday cottages to bill you for electricity/oil after your stay. I didn't read the small print once and was caught out, would never stay in a property like this again.
Please don't ration electricity/heating for paying guests! That would be miserable.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/03/2022 09:30

If you are letting it out to paying guests then it will require cleaning in between from someone. That person will also ensure the heating is off/sockets off etc.

Onlyforcake · 09/03/2022 09:35

We have a second property that was left to us. We have managed only to keep it by renting it out long term at a slightly lower than market rate, which enables someone who would otherwise be priced out of the area to stay in their job. But. We are seriously struggling now, the small amount it costs us a year is now too much. We might have to sell up and the chances are someone far more wealthy than we can hope to be will buy it to leave it empty and on retirement we won't be able to buy in that area. Having to let go of our future is pretty painful, but necessary. Still if you can afford to rent out weekends only then maybe you could rent it out for s few years, you might be in a stronger position or nearer to retiring?

Georgiaa22 · 09/03/2022 10:11

As others have said you will need a weekly cleaner to come in between guests to change beds/ get the house ready for the next group and also they can turn off any electrics.

I would be more concerned when you say that the main heating is a wood burner - surely this is far more complicated for guests to use? You would have to ensure that it was emptied/cleaned regularly and you had a supply of logs etc, not to mention the fire dangers of random people having to light the burner for heat. Plus of course the dangers of children burning themselves/ carbon monoxside poisoning ete etc. I'm sure there is guidance available on best practice but to me this would be the biggest risk in letting a holiday home.

Wafflesnsniffles · 09/03/2022 10:27

justanotherremainer I 100% agree with you.

HELLITHURT · 09/03/2022 10:30

@justanotherremainer

Honestly, you should consider selling your Scottish cottage to one of the many local people all across Scotland (and other scenic parts of the UK) who are priced out of the market by people who own holiday homes.

Holiday homes are pretty much immoral, in my opinion, and should be very tightly regulated.

I’m sure you’re not a bad person OP but holiday homes are destroying our communities. Please take some time to investigate what you are part of.

I can't see where in the OPs posts she's asked anyone their opinion on holiday homes?

So your comments are ridiculous and unrequested.

As for immoral?? Get over yourself.

Lot of people are immoral if this website is anything to go by:-

www.holidaycottages.co.uk and that's just one of the many websites.

As others have said OP, use of smart plugs and hive/nest and I think a lot of people renting cottages will want WIFI, so you would probably be worth getting that installed anyway.

I have a holiday home (and I'm not immoral!), it works very well for us. We do let the guests have the ability to set the temperature, but only found one that had it very high.

sHREDDIES19 · 09/03/2022 10:41

@HELLITHURT totally agree, what an absolute nonsense and classic derailing post by the pp! Get a grip and a life. We too have a holiday home, mostly for us but we rent out during the warmer months. It's a three and a half hour trip down for us so we won't be using it for awhile as petrol costs would be insane. Hope you get the problem solved op!