Charging a lodger for use of expensive to run appliances

DPJames

you old Scrooge

bristol_pilot

I'm afraid you have made yourself look like a Scrooge by making a basic error when taking on a lodger. You should have assumed that your household bills will at least double and have factored that into the rent accordingly.

Salz

Take the fuse out, pretend it has broken down and say you can't afford to buy a new one

tbs624

Jowo wrote: »

If you think that someone is running a chinese laundry at your expense, then serve notice and set your house rules much more firmly with the next one.

Bit "passive aggressive" - get a monitor (available cheaply at Maplins, show the L the changes in elec bills and have a chat about it.

Jowo_2

tbs624 wrote: »

Bit "passive aggressive" - get a monitor (available cheaply at Maplins, show the L the changes in elec bills and have a chat about it.

Or assertive - This landlord is too timid to re-iterate a house rule and is just a mere bystander watching the abuse of the services offered. What's the point in the landlord getting a monitor, only to gaze in despair at it, and still not wanting to have a chat with the lodger?

I can understand a household with numerous children and constantly wet weather using a tumble drier on an almost daily basis but a single person? The OP doesn't mention if the lodger is using the washing machine too or is merely warming up their clothes or too lazy to iron dry clothes...

Perhaps they are not cut out for sharing their house or perhaps they are better off with a lodger who is a bit more clued up about energy usage and household skills.

neverdespairgirl

poppysarah wrote: »

Drying indoors (It rained on St Swithins day so we're doomed for a few more weeks) makes the place damp and insecure if you leave windows open. Running a dehumidifer also costs money.

I came across this recently, about St Swithin, who he was, and the weather legend:

http://www.webhistoryofengland.com/?p=218

ali-t

I think you have to put up with it.

The rent you are charging should take into account bills unless you charge extra for them. the charge I levy against my lodger covers rent and bills and I am often gritting my teeth as the tumble dryer is used on hot days when clothes would dry quicker outside but it is her perogative to use it if she wants.

The only way to prevent it being used is to get rid of the tumble dryer but if you do that be prepared for the house to be damp if your lodger dries clothes indoors without opening windows.

princess_loki

it is sunny outside today so i have turned the tumble dryer off and asked her to put the washing outside - 3 loads today.

like someone else said she must be doing someone elses washing.

that will be about 8 loads this week - crazy!!!

tumble dryer was put on late one night in the week and she went to bed - i have lived with a fireman and i know that leaving an old machine on is dangerous so i pointed out that that was why i had turned it off.

not only that but discovered yesterday that she is putting it on for the full 140 minutes - only takes 60 mins on hot to dry a load!!!!!!!!!

i think i had better get an electricity monitor and do some sums................

flossy_splodge

I feel sorry for you and I sympathise.
Until recently one of my DD's lived at home and my electricity bill went up and up - lights left on, computer left on, TV on, music player on -you get the picture!
The meter reader came a couple of days ago as the reading I had submitted was apparently so much lower than previously:rotfl: and they couldn't understand it so sent someone to check!
I said it had probably gone down again as the days are light so less need for lights and I actually bother to turn things off - he said yes it was now quite low!
So don't listen to those saying you're being mean, take some action.
I think so many are selfish and totally unthinking of others these days.
Maybe you should have factored in more for the use of the tumbler but what if a new lodger NEVER uses it? Would that be fair? Mine goes on now about once a quarter at most.
Hope you get it sorted if not maybe a new lodger might in fact be a better bet.
Good luck.

[Deleted User]

You should definitely get an energy monitor. Whether the clause is 'scrooge-like' or not (I don't think it is), it's in there and your lodger should be prepared to live by it or leave. 8 loads a week for one person is absolutely ridiculous. I live on my own and do one, at most two (small) washes ... per week! And half those things can't be tumble dried anyway, so if she's getting 8 loads of tumble-dryable clothes in one week, she must be getting it from elsewhere. More than a bit off!

Good luck1