Problems with electricty usage in shared accommodation

shopndrop

Not sure if this is the correct place to post, but feel free to move if it would be better elsewhere.

My son is in shared professional accommodation but has found out that one of the guys is using a fan heater in his room. They share the bills equally and he is refusing to switch his heater off (it is one of those with a thermostat) so is on and off throughout the evening.

They have discussed this and he said he would not use the fan but obviously still is (my son is taking daily meter readings and if he is not there, their usage is much lower). They have made him aware that they know he is still using the heater but he doesn't care.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best way to handle this issue - they have already had one large bill which they paid, and is the reason why they are now aware that he is using the fan heater.

Also the central heating thermostat (set to about 21) is in his room. The house feels quite cold even with the central heating on. If he is using the fan heater in his room, would this be enough to knock the central heating off in the rest of the house?

Umski

shopndrop wrote: »

Also the central heating thermostat (set to about 21) is in his room. The house feels quite cold even with the central heating on. If he is using the fan heater in his room, would this be enough to knock the central heating off in the rest of the house?

Yes it would - the thermostat would kick in sooner because of the extra heat from the fan heater. This happens to us when cooking in the kitchen due to the heat from the hob etc.

Sorry can't advise on the orginal problem - seems a bit petty for a professional, I could understand if it was students! Can they not boot the guy out?

Magentasue

Easy to say when it's not you, but I think life is too short for such squabbles. If I was your son, I'd be looking for somewhere else to live. Not saying that's fair but preferable to living with resentment - not one for confrontation, me!

Cardew

Yes the fan heater in his room would mean that the CH might not even come on at all. The thermometer senses temperature and it doesn't matter what generates the heat.

On the days when he is not in his room the CH should work correctly.

Presumably the 'culprit's' room is one of the living rooms - as that is where the thermometer is located.

If the other rooms were originally bedrooms, they will usually be colder as the CH system in most houses is designed so that the bedrooms are a couple of degrees cooler than living rooms.

If the house has thermostatic radiator valves(TRV) then the solution is to turn the thermostat up really high and control the temperature in the rooms with the TRV.

The social side of dealing with someone who causes high bills is one of the penalties of communal living; some people want warmer rooms than others! It is always a problem in student digs - as lots of post on MSE demonstrate.

libra10

Would the person using the fan heater be agreeable to paying an extra percentage of the fuel bills? That would be the easiest solution.

Good luck

shopndrop

Thanks for the above replies.

Unfortunately the tenancy agreement for them all is until Sept 09, so my son can't afford to leave yet. These are ex students who have shared property previously whilst at uni with no problems until now.

Libra 10 - they have asked him to make an extra contribution but he is not agreeable to this.

janaltus

The guy has rendered the CH system inoperable by running his fan heater in the same room as the CH thermostat is sited. Thus he has made a unilateral decision that the only effective heating system in the house will be via electric fan heater, not central heating.

If, as you say, your son is obliged to stay with the guy until September and does not want to freeze, I believe he has three options.
a) forfeit the guy's electric fan heater - with the promise that he'll get it back later in the year. (However, this risks direct confrontation.)
b) go out and buy a fan heater himself. (However, this means he must bear the cost of his own fan heater) or,
c) get an estimate for the cost of transferring the thermostat from the guy's room to the hall way - which is where it should be anyway! (The landlord may meet the cost of this minor adjustment. In fact, the original thermostat can remain in place but be "cut off" and a new one located somewhere convenient and near the existing cable. It shouldn't cost much).

Your son could also try another approach. He could repeatedly purchase old woolen jumpers from charity shops and jumble sales (for 50p or so) and keep giving them to the guy to wear. This might shift the guy from his recalcitrant position.:cool:

They have finished university . . . but maybe their education (in the school of hard knocks) is just beginning!

Good luck!

Fire_Fox

Has this guy given any reasons why he won't either turn the fan heater off or pay extra on the bill? Would he be willing to switch bedrooms to a warmer room, or try an Owl monitor to prove the expense? Alternatively the other housemates must all gang up on him and cut the plug off the electric heater. Or just remove the fuse if he isn't very technical!

Premier_2

Tell your son he's a big boy now and should learn to sort out his own problems, or at least propose some solutions.

Mummy can't be expected to sort out all his problems for ever.

Perhaps he could ask his employer if he could go on a problem solving course - sounds like he could do with some such training and it'll probably help his employer too (poor devils)

Fire_Fox

Premier wrote: »

Tell your son he's a big boy now and should learn to sort out his own problems, or at least propose some solutions.

Mummy can't be expected to sort out all his problems for ever.

Perhaps he could ask his employer if he could go on a problem solving course - sounds like he could do with some such training and it'll probably help his employer too (poor devils)

No need for those comments.

shopndrop

Fire Fox - he has gone and bought an OWL monitor to prove the usage. The other guy is just being an absolute pain, not just with the fan heater but other things too. Unfortunately they are stuck with him for quite a few months yet.

Premier - The reason I am trying to help him is that I have the time, he doesn't. If you can't help your own family then who can you help?

I was always taught that if you haven't got something nice to say then don't say anything. I really don't feel there is any need for your comments about a problem solving course.