Student house of freezing teenagers - heating on? No

[Uneek]

My DD lives in a student rental with 5 others, with rent and bills split evenly between them. A couple of them are refusing to put the heating on. When my DD has suggested having it on with the thermostat set at a low temp, one of them said she should just put another jumper on. When DD said she would buy a plug in electric heater for her bedroom, the 'put another jumper on' student said she would not pay towards the electricity for the heater as it costs more than gas.

This has turned into a competition to see how long they can go with no heating. 'Another jumper on' student even suggested seeing if they can last until Christmas!

Has anyone else come across this issue? Suggestions on how to stop a war breaking out in this house and allow them to defrost...

I’m not sure how to change the mind of the most resistance ones but how are they drying their laundry?
Aren’t they worried about damp and mould?

University libraries are well heated.

What does their rental agreement say about heating? According to another thread there is often a clause about keeping the house at a minimum temperature?

Their rental contract may say that they have to keep the home heated and well looked after. If they cause damp in the house they will lose their deposit.

It is a tough one. One of my uni housemates had no money and was resistant to having the heating on much. I slept in a woolly jumper with a hot water bottle and used to go to the library to stay warm. Not very sustainable long term though.

If there are six of them and two are “refusing” to put the heating on they’re in a minority aren’t they and surely overruled? Shouldn’t they have a vote on it? Also I’m sure the LL wouldn’t be too happy if they knew the heating wasn’t being used at all - it’s going to lead to damp/mould. I’d just tell your dd to put the heating on and tell the others tough shit.

I agree with checking the contract re heating

Could you get her an electric blanket or heated throw which she uses in her bedroom and doesn't tell the others about?

I have an oodie a relative bought me. There are other, cheaper versions though, but its like walking around/sitting in a really comfy, toasty warm duvet. Not that I think she should panda to the other girls.

Are the others working and just really very concerned about finances? Or are they going out, spending money on frivolous things and THEN not allowing the heating on?

DDs huge student ten bedroom house was like this, for two years they lived there. The heating did not go on all winter. We nipped over Christmas one year to collect some stuff and the student on the second floor had left his window wide open, over Christmas, for two weeks and gone home!

she survived by smuggling an electric blanket in and spending a lot of time in bed.

These days she still doesn’t put it on in her own house unless it’s below freezing outside. It’s not good.

Could the ones who want the heating on pay the difference in bills?
So the heating is on and being paid for by the people who want it on?

And the none payers benefit by default… no

If she wants a heater for her room she can buy one. They don't get a say in that. Or put the heating on but turn all the radiators off apart from the one in her room.

Get her a plug in heated blanket and a heated blanket for the bed. Don’t tell the others they don’t need to know.

Small oil heater in her bedroom

That will only work if all the heat can be isolated to one room

Coventry Uni Library heating isn’t on! It’s fucking freezing in there all day.

We had this my housemate who had the smallest room that heated up quickest used to turn the heating off as soon as her room was warm because she was skint. Despite the rest of us being cold. Used to stay at my boyfriend who didn't have that problem.

Must be so much worse with the cost of bills now but is not fair expecting people to freeze they need to call a house meeting.

Agree with @reallyworriedjobhunter

People tend to build large buildings for libraries, with nice high ceilings. Looks amazing in glossy pictures, allows for lots of light and high shelves, terrible to heat.

Has she pointed out if the house gets mouldy they won't get their deposit back

Yep and a lock on her door , complete with a draft excluder
What on earth have we come to though?

It may well say that the heating needs to go on at some point in the contract.

And a freezing damp flat could make its inhabitants ill.

How about a calorgas heater? Not brilliant ! Would need car or taxi for refills

Is your DD young and in good health? If so, no harm will come to her either way.

If I were her I'd just buy an oil heater for my room though, never mind what the No Criac Jumper Patrol said, if it's really that chilly.

Times have changed, obviously... when I was a student I no student houses that I knew of put their heating on!

just put it on and F**k the others