Guest turning the heating on

[2petrabbits]

Just to be clear I’m not upset about this. To me it’s a bit audacious as I would never do this in someone else’s home and now I’m wondering if I’m the oddball. I’m more amused than upset.

We have our heating on a timer. It can only be changed at the boiler, which is in the utility room, which I do not give guests a tour of.

Last night guest is in bed and we’re getting ready for bed when my husband realises the heating is on outside the schedule. He investigates and sure enough it has been set to “always on”.

It could only have been the guest but I’m kind of surprise:

1. they didn’t just ask
2. they found the boiler
3. they felt brave enough to move it off someone else’s timed setting
4. they didn’t turn it off before bed

our heating bills are really high because my husband works from home and feels the cold easily, so I’m not worried about a scary bill but the guest doesn’t know that?

also, sleeping with the heating on is my pet hate!

Well it must have been cold, and when you have guests it's polite to be mindful of their comfort.

But they should have asked first.

It’s a bit odd of them to do that I agree, but maybe your house was cold and they were freezing but didn’t want to say that and sound rude?! They probably thought it would go off again when the house reached a certain temperature. I also don’t like the heating on at night!

Depends on the guest as well I think, if it’s your mum / sibling I don’t think it’s cheeky of them. If it’s just a friend then maybe a bit cheeky!

As you say. It's audacious. I'd never do that in someone's house. I'd more likely shut up and put up. And being sweaty in bed is no fun so I'm with you on that. My other half WFH most of the time and he's always really warm. I'm often a little chilly when he's exclaiming that he's roasting hot. I just chuck an extra layer on. Happy medium. Your guest was a bit rude tbh. As you also say, why not just mention it/ask?

Totally unacceptable behaviour from the guest. You need to talk to them.

I've put it on before. I was baby sitting and once the heating went off it was bloody freezing! I was sitting watching tv in my coat when I had enough and went hunting for the controls. I don't care if they thought me rude (I did babysit for them again).

I think that’s rude. And expensive ( at least in our house). But if a guest told me they were cold, or looked uncomfortable, I would have offered some form of heating - heated throw for the bed for example.

Speak to them and explain tell them that the heating is set how you want it, and please don't change it. Offer them an extra blanket for the bed or a hot water bottle.

Perfectly reasonable for a guest to ask for the heating on for an extra hour, or ask for another blanket/ hot water bottle etc.

Completely unacceptable to take the decision upon themselves that they were going to lump you with a bill for 8/10 hours worth of gas!

Presuming they’re not a paying guest I do think it’sa bit rude / odd. Were you out at all or were they at home alone for a bit? And maybe thought they’d just turn it on for a short while. If you were altogether and they just popped down and put it on it’s odd!

If they’re a paying guest I think it’s a bit different…..

Put the heating on for guests, it's horrible to be cold.

That’s weird, why don’t you have a thermostat?

I think you put on the heating whenever there are guests so they're not cold when trying to sleep. But since you didn't, they should have asked.

@2petrabbits dont invite them to stay again!!!

Was the guest actually in bed asleep or in the bedroom chilling? Maybe they were planning to go and switch it back off.

Also, a utility room must be quite a common place for a boiler to be located? It's one of the first places I'd look. So it's not really that surprising they found it.

How dare they without asking 😁

You should have checked your guest was warm enough and did they need anything.

bad hosting.

I would never touch someone else's heating controls. However my husband's 4 siblings have houses that are so cold we only visit between April and the beginning of September. After that not a chance

Trouble is you can't be absolutely sure it was the guest. If the boiler is playing up or had some sort of issue it's feasible it could reset itself.

I'm with your guest here although they should have asked, but it's awful being in a cold house.
My in-laws kept their house at 14 degrees and it was fucking freezing, but they refused to turn it up as it was too hot.
We used to sleep with our clothes o under our PJ'S.

What is the relationship of the guest?

I would never do that and I’d be shocked at a guest doing that as we can’t afford that

my mil has been given permission to turn off and on as she wishes and she doesn’t know it costs us dearly but she really needs the heat

if you can’t afford it let them know

I am sure she would have had the guest asked and also she would have known to tun it off at night. Rude of the guest.

You aren’t the oddball, OP. I would always ask a host unless I’d been told it was okay to do so without asking.

The ins and outs of whether your house was too cold for your guest or for the average person is irrelevant. Guests should not incur additional expenses on your behalf without your approval, it’s exceptionally rude. Nor should they seek to change an environmental factor for the whole house to suit their personal preference.

It's rude especially to set it to on overnight!

Why didn't they just ask if it could be left on a little later or if you had a hot water bottle they could use?

I would address it with them.

It's ridiculous to have the heating on overnight.

Does the radiator in their room need bleeding? Did you give them an extra blanket?