My landlady won't allow me to turn the heating up, what can I do

harriettpan527

Hey Everyone, I recently had a blazing argument with my land lady that the house was too cold. Its been going on for a few months now and Im not too sure where I stand. The house doesnt have double glazing and is freezing this time of year. She has a room in the house but does not live there technically but drops by nearly everyday. The heating is only on for 2/3 hours a day and it gets frezing at night. If a try and turn the heating on longer she goes mental. I pay for a room but not utilities. I put an elctric heater in my room,b ut she walked in one day and found it, so thats gone. Does any one have any legal advice on this? It is rented privtaely and not through an agency

Thanks for any advice

Bark01

See this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1390979

Doesn't appear there is any legal structure you can use.

You could offer to pay for the utilities yourself? Failing that move out.

HappyMJ

harriettpan527 wrote: »

Hey Everyone, I recently had a blazing argument with my land lady that the house was too cold. Its been going on for a few months now and Im not too sure where I stand. The house doesnt have double glazing and is freezing this time of year. She has a room in the house but does not live there technically but drops by nearly everyday. The heating is only on for 2/3 hours a day and it gets frezing at night. If a try and turn the heating on longer she goes mental. I pay for a room but not utilities. I put an elctric heater in my room,b ut she walked in one day and found it, so thats gone. Does any one have any legal advice on this? It is rented privtaely and not through an agency

Thanks for any advice

Move out...If you live with the landlord (it doesn't sound like you do but I'm sure she'll find some loophole as she comes to the property every day) you are a lodger and are not required to give any notice....apart from the rent you have already paid.

Then rent somewhere by yourself or find another room to rent.

The legal....or more a guideline is that your bedroom should be heated to 18 and the living areas in the property heated to 21 degrees....but not necessarily for 24 hours of the day...only when required.

harriettpan527

Thanks for the speedy replies

Guess moving out would be my only option then. Its so hard to find a place to rent where I live though, would be a shame to move away from the village, or maybe I could hang on till summer. Ive offered to pay extra for utilities before but she just swept it under the carpet. Shes a bit of and odd ball to be honest. Shes even opened my letters in the past and she goes in my room all the time without asking. It's hard not knowing where you stand and your afraid of getting kicked out if you speak up.

oldskoo1

Is this cash in hand then?

I assume you didn't sign a short term tenancy agreement?

Unfortunately she can do what she likes as she is paying the bills. Under proper contract a landlord has to provide a reasonable level of comfort. For a few scrooge landlords that pay the bills they deem 2 - 3 hours a day acceptable, it isn't. But it's a grey area trying to fight it.

Thing is, your best option are fan heaters. If you are renting a room she shouldn't have to right to enter and confiscate it, especially if it was your property.

I would plan to move if i were you. You are in a good position of not having your name on the bills but you need to find a more reasonable landlord when out of your room and use a fan heater in your room.

undaunted

She is either "dropping by" for a long time or can have no real idea what you do after she leaves!

However, I'd agree that you need to either clarify what it is you are paying for, offer to pay a little more for utilities / a heated room or move out.

As to entering your room unless it's agreed she cleans it, repairs are needed or you share it with other lodgers I don't think she can do that without your consent. Have a look at

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/housing_w/housing_renting_a_home_e/common_problems_with_renting.htm


http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/renting_and_leasehold/sharing_and_subletting/lodgers

oldskoo1

harriettpan527 wrote: »

Thanks for the speedy replies

Guess moving out would be my only option then. Its so hard to find a place to rent where I live though, would be a shame to move away from the village, or maybe I could hang on till summer. Ive offered to pay extra for utilities before but she just swept it under the carpet. Shes a bit of and odd ball to be honest. Shes even opened my letters in the past and she goes in my room all the time without asking. It's hard not knowing where you stand and your afraid of getting kicked out if you speak up.

i think you are dealing with it very well i would have had a right go at her before now. She sounds very weird.

A lot of people have done much worse in re-talitaltion to that kind of behaviour from a landlord.

southcoastrgi

harriettpan527 wrote: »

Shes even opened my letters in the past and she goes in my room all the time without asking. It's hard not knowing where you stand and your afraid of getting kicked out if you speak up.

she def wouldn't like me living there then

HappyMJ

harriettpan527 wrote: »

Thanks for the speedy replies

Guess moving out would be my only option then. Its so hard to find a place to rent where I live though, would be a shame to move away from the village, or maybe I could hang on till summer. Ive offered to pay extra for utilities before but she just swept it under the carpet. Shes a bit of and odd ball to be honest. Shes even opened my letters in the past and she goes in my room all the time without asking. It's hard not knowing where you stand and your afraid of getting kicked out if you speak up.

In the meantime sneak an electric blanket in. Keep it on max and it shouldn't make a huge difference to the bills (as they are usually only rated 100W) but it will keep a little chill off the room and you can sleep in comfort.

Redirect your mail somewhere else. Personally I don't have time for oddball landlords..I would move out ASAP.

harriettpan527

I like the electric blanket idea! If she decided to "drop in" to my room im sure she wont see that, unless she decided to look under my sheets! (wouldnt suprise me though). The only agrrement I signed was a little contract she drew up herself oh her PC basically saying I will pay so so so amount on the last fridaay of each month. I dont know if this carries much legal clout.

Now I think about it, I have been very patient with her. Guess it is time to leave. My friends have often said they wouldnt take this type of treatment. Time to start lookign for a new place then, and invest in a electric blanket which I will invoice her for when I leave ha ha

Dunroamin

What do you pay and how does it compare to the going rate for your area?