Different attitudes towards reasonable room temperature at home

katejo

Idiophreak wrote: »

I don't pay high fuel bills, see above. I spend 90% of the year trying to cool down.

Even if it were expensive, though...would I rather pay more to be able to get out of bed and go and get some breakfast without wrapping myself up like an eskimo...would I rather pay more to be able to warm up after a cold run without standing in the shower shivering...would I rather pay more to just wear the same clothes I wear in the car, in shops, at the office etc in my own house...err, yeah.

As tvstudent says, being continually cold is just miserable. Putting a jumper on doesn't magic the cold away....especially for those of us that have poor circulation.

There is a big difference between slipping a jumper on and wrapping yourself up like an Eskimo. I often wear a jumper at work.

Mallotum_X

Idiophreak wrote: »

I don't pay high fuel bills, see above. I spend 90% of the year trying to cool down.

Even if it were expensive, though...would I rather pay more to be able to get out of bed and go and get some breakfast without wrapping myself up like an eskimo...would I rather pay more to be able to warm up after a cold run without standing in the shower shivering...would I rather pay more to just wear the same clothes I wear in the car, in shops, at the office etc in my own house...err, yeah.

As tvstudent says, being continually cold is just miserable. Putting a jumper on doesn't magic the cold away....especially for those of us that have poor circulation.

Just out of interest do you actually think the Lodger is being reasonable and Landlord unreasonable, or do you just like arguing for the sake of it?

Idiophreak

Mallotum_X wrote: »

Just out of interest do you actually think the Lodger is being reasonable and Landlord unreasonable, or do you just like arguing for the sake of it?

Well, we've only got the contents of this thread to go on....but what we know is that the OP has what I'd call a miserly "wear a jumper indoors" attitude to heating and that the lodger feels so cold they're compelled to crank the heating up.

I doubt the lodger expects the place to be maintained at 25 degrees..I think they were probably just trying *to be warm* and cranked the thermostat with that ambition.

I don't agree that the lodger *should* tinker with the thermostat without OPs sayso...but neither do I think they should have to.

I do think it's reasonable for the lodger to expect to heat his room until he's comfortable. I don't think it's reasonable for the whole house to be heated as per his requirement. I don't think it's reasonable for the OP to charge him more for heating his room to a comfortable temperature.

So, honestly, I can't really see much the lodger has done that constitutes unreasonableness, short of tinkering with the thermostat in a desperate attempt to get warm.

People on this thread however (not necessarily the OP) would have him live in a constant state of being cold, charge him more if he wanted to be warm or even evict him for the audacity of wishing to live comfortably. These attitudes, I'd view as being unreasonable.

I expect a "reasonable" outcome would be for the OP to set the heating up so the lodger's room is a bit warmer than the rest of the house. Yes, this may cost some money, but the reason you charge the lodger rent is because your bills may increase with them living there, so I really don't see this as a counterargument.

DaftyDuck

Idiophreak wrote: »

Well, we've only got the contents of this thread to go on....but what we know is that the OP has what I'd call a miserly "wear a jumper indoors" attitude to heating and that the lodger feels so cold they're compelled to crank the heating up.

I doubt the lodger expects the place to be maintained at 25 degrees..I think they were probably just trying *to be warm* and cranked the thermostat with that ambition.

I don't agree that the lodger *should* tinker with the thermostat without OPs sayso...but neither do I think they should have to.

I do think it's reasonable for the lodger to expect to heat his room until he's comfortable. I don't think it's reasonable for the whole house to be heated as per his requirement. I don't think it's reasonable for the OP to charge him more for heating his room to a comfortable temperature.

So, honestly, I can't really see much the lodger has done that constitutes unreasonableness, short of tinkering with the thermostat in a desperate attempt to get warm.

People on this thread however (not necessarily the OP) would have him live in a constant state of being cold, charge him more if he wanted to be warm or even evict him for the audacity of wishing to live comfortably. These attitudes, I'd view as being unreasonable.

I expect a "reasonable" outcome would be for the OP to set the heating up so the lodger's room is a bit warmer than the rest of the house. Yes, this may cost some money, but the reason you charge the lodger rent is because your bills may increase with them living there, so I really don't see this as a counterargument.

... or lodger could just put a jumper on...

DRP

Idiophreak wrote: »

People on this thread however (not necessarily the OP) would have him live in a constant state of being cold, charge him more if he wanted to be warm or even evict him for the audacity of wishing to live comfortably. These attitudes, I'd view as being unreasonable.

No one wants this.

I just think most posters don't see any need for the OP to consider adjust the ambient temperature until the lodger has at least made an attempt at dressing suitably for the (mild, not cold) environment...

That is surely the sensible (free) first step...? :money:

Newly_retired

It seems likely that the lodger is an "excluded occupier" which means he has very few rights as a tenancy.
Common courtesy would suggest that he should not control the temperature in the LL's home. A jumper is an obvious first step in keeping warm, not a ridiculous idea, merely the norm in UK.
If some compromise is needed, maybe on very cold days the thermostat could go up a couple of degrees.
There is no reason why the LL should be uncomfortably hot in her own home.
It seems to me that if the lodger is not satisfied, he should find somewhere else to live. No guarantees that it will be hotter!
Maybe next time, the LL should set a higher rent from the start, or charge separately for heating. If the lodger's room had its own meter he would soon realise just how much it costs to heat to his requirements.
If a compromise cannot be reached amicably, the LL can give him notice to quit. He cannot refuse, or she can get the bailiffs to evict him.

warehouse

Six pages long already? How come?

The solution:
Turn the heating temperature to what is comfortable for YOU. They accept it or leave.

adouglasmhor

Idiophreak wrote: »

Sadly you're not lord and master of the universe.

Different people are different. I hate wearing a jumper indoors. You love it. Great. Go you.

You're not better than me because you love jumpers so. Stop acting like it.

No but the landlord of a house has a final say over the temprature not the lodger. If the lodger doesn't like it they can leave. It doesn't have to be a jumper either, just another layer, a shirt, a sweatshirt, a fleece.
We are talking about the whole house here not just the lodgers bedroom which you seem to have suggested earlier.

adouglasmhor

tvstudent wrote: »

IThe official guidelines are there for a reason. Otherwise where do you draw the line?

The OP's house is well within the guidlines and in fact at the top end of them.

Miss_Marple_2

warehouse wrote: »

Six pages long already? How come?

The solution:
Turn the heating temperature to what is comfortable for YOU. They accept it or leave.

But maybe, the lodger is a good one who the OP gets on with and this is the one issue that they differ on.

So - given that they both have differeing views - maybe try a compromise ?

I don't think that it is as black & white as that- although, yes, ultimately the OP needs to do what is best for her. But maybe the best for her is not to start looking for a new lodger & the hassle that brings, but to up the thermostat one degree and see how they go.