Different attitudes towards reasonable room temperature at home

Pandilex

I lived as a lodger in someone's house. The reason for them having a lodger was to help pay the mortgage as money was short. They kept the property unreasonably cold, and often warned me about things like having long showers, leaving the tap running while brushing teeth, and told me they almost never have the heating on because it's too expensive.

It was a bit ridiculous so I bought a fan heater. Probably cost them more than if they'd just put the heating on. But I was tired of being freezing cold all the time.

I'd suggest finding a compromise in case they do the same as I did.

Miss_Marple_2

I think that thermostats are different for each house. The one at my mum's used to get set about 17 and that meant the house was pretty hot. In mine, it gets set at about 19.5 to give the same kind of heat - but I have never been in any house where 25 would not make the whole house boiling hot.

Plus my heating is not on during the day unless it is freezing outside. I add a cardigan and woolly socks. However, that's because I pay the bill. If I was paying someone rent that included heating, I probably would not expect to need a cardigan.

Having said all that, if I had a lodger that wanted the thermostat set at 25, I'd be talking to them based on a 2 people living in the same house wanting different temperatures should come to a compromise - his want of 25 should not over-ride your want of 20, irrespective of the cost, it's not something your are comfortable with and surely his needs should not outweigh yours ? I'd be asking for a compromise of 21 or 22 as the highest for a couple of weeks to see how you both get on.

If he still insists on a higher temperature - could he be provided with an energy efficient radiator type thing for his room ?

katejo

It doesn't help that his previous landlady charged him a very low rent (only £200 a month). He had to move out as she needed the room for family but he already thinks my rent is the absolute maximum he is willing to pay. However if he looks for a new place, he is unlikely to find anywhere which will allow him to pay less than I charge and have permanent heating.

Mojisola

Miss_Marple wrote: »

Having said all that, if I had a lodger that wanted the thermostat set at 25, I'd be talking to them based on a 2 people living in the same house wanting different temperatures should come to a compromise - his want of 25 should not over-ride your want of 20, irrespective of the cost, it's not something your are comfortable with and surely his needs should not outweigh yours ? I'd be asking for a compromise of 21 or 22 as the highest for a couple of weeks to see how you both get on.

If they are family members or renting the place together, yes, but this is a lodger living in someone else's house.

The lodger is paying the LL for a service. If the service provided, in this case the warmth in the house, doesn't suit the lodger, he should be looking elsewhere. It's a business arrangement, not a family/friend issue.

If he was going to have an extra heater in his room, the rent should increase to pay for the extra electricity he would be using.

DRP

20degC would be the maximum temperature for me.

Anything more would be uncomfortable and who knows, possibly unhealthy? (bacteria, insects, fungi love warm, humid houses).

Recommended air temp for newborns is 18degC (16-20) and that is good enough for me.

katejo

Miss_Marple wrote: »

If I was paying someone rent that included heating, I probably would not expect to need a cardigan.

Why not? In the current situation of high energy prices, your inclusive rent is unlikely to cover the cost of heating, particularly if you refuse to wear a jumper. I am not talking about wrapping up in 3 layers with gloves and a duvet wrapped round you. I just mean a thin pullover.
I first noticed that my lodger had put the thermostat up because I was baking hot.

nidO

My answer would be that the thermostat is staying at 20, like it or leave at the end of your current rental month thanks very much.
This whole issue of people talking about not expecting to have to put on jumpers is a total sideline - Yes, it would be unreasonable to keep the house at 14 degrees all winter and require several layers and gloves about the house, but 18 degrees is perfectly adequate t-shirt temp for any normal human being, and 20 is positively warm.
If your lodger can't deal with having a thin pullover on at that temperature, let alone just wearing a t-shirt as I most certainly would be, they should probably be seeking an appointment with their GP as well as a new place to live.

room512

Miss_Marple wrote: »

but I have never been in any house where 25 would not make the whole house boiling hot.

In our last house the thermostat was upstairs next to the airing cupboard where the boiler was (silly place to put it!). In order to get the downstairs warm we had to have the thermostat set to 35. Our heating bills were large but I hate being cold. In our new house we have it set between 18-20. I hate wearing jumpers inside.

If I was a lodger I wouldn't dream of turning up the thermostat without asking first.

Catti

Gosh - how attitudes vary! If I am cold, I layer up! Grew up without central heating and had to then I suppose. But even now, my OH and I 'heat up' differently. He is always cold when I am baking. So he wears more and I wear less. Simples!!

Idiophreak

Mojisola wrote: »

The lodger is paying the LL for a service. If the service provided, in this case the warmth in the house, doesn't suit the lodger, he should be looking elsewhere. It's a business arrangement, not a family/friend issue.

...but the lodger is *already* paying for a service, which he'd argue the OP isn't providing.

If I was paying for a warm, dry house I'd be no more tolerant of having to wear a jumper inside because it's "just a bit cold" than I would be having to wear a mac inside because it's "just a bit wet".