Next doors Heating (or lack of)

control116b

Hi

This is a weird one. At the beginning of the week we noticed our next-door neighbour has headed off somewhere and left half the windows open in his property. We don't think he usually runs the central heating. The problem being, is that because we are semi-detached, as his property cools down (and lots at the moment) the party wall is getting REALLY cold. So for starters the warm air is condensing in our wardrobes that are against this wall. As there's no cavity, our heating is working overtime.

We know he runs a stove and we heard him sawing wood at the weekend, my partner went to knock just before 11PM but got no reply (to remind him to keep any noise down as we had an early start). We heard him leave in the morning but that's been it. No return. He's not the easiest of people to track down and discuss matters with.

We've had this problem of not heating next door before (leading to damp on our side). Does anyone have any suggestions ? Can we take action (legal, otherwise) to ensure he runs his central heating and maintains a reasonable temperature in the property when he's not there?

Thanks

K

leeruddecology

This is an interesting one. I can appreciate your points. Leaving windows open in this weather? Crazy stuff. Perhaps he is doing it to make a point if you have previously had run ins?

With regards to complaining. Noise is one thing but complaining about him not having his heating on, surely not.

If my flat neighbours didn't have their heating on I couldn't even imagine complaining. I would have no right too but of course I would ideally want them to have it really hot so it reduced my bills.

Andy_WSM

control116b wrote: »

We've had this problem of not heating next door before (leading to damp on our side). Does anyone have any suggestions ? Can we take action (legal, otherwise) to ensure he runs his central heating and maintains a reasonable temperature in the property when he's not there?

Thanks

K

No! Absolutely not. Some people don't heat their houses at all. You can't "make" someone have heating on.

If you are getting condensation on walls then part of the problem is too much moisture in the air in your house, so you need to open some windows to air the place out from time to time.

Having a solid party wall is no different to having a house built with solid walls and no cavity. My first house was designed in such a way and damp behind wardrobes was not unusual, but nothing a good airing out wouldn't put right. Thinking back, that house didn't even have heating, whereas next door did as it was owned by an association. I never caused my neighbours issues for not having mine heated and there was little I could do about it if I was!

globalds

insulate the wall from your side if you don't want his lack of heat affecting you.

I am really not sure you are being serious ?

Southend1

This has to be a wind up?

No heating - up to him, nothing to do with you

Knocking on neighbours door at 11pm - antisocial

Condensation- move wardrobes out from wall to allow air circulation and open windows to ventilate

control116b

We wondered whether it was to prove a point. We've had a couple of noise incidents but when we've been able to catch up he's been fine about it.

The cold/damp is frustrating. We've been keeping the wardrobe doors open and this helps a bit with damp build up. He'd talked about (sound) insulation on his side of the party wall, which would have improved heat insulation. But I don't think he's done this (at least upstairs).

My partner only knocked before 11PM as we heard sawing earlier and didn't want any more noise later on. We are early starters.

sidefx

globalds wrote: »

insulate the wall from your side if you don't want his lack of heat affecting you.

I am really not sure you are being serious ?

If they are, then they really need a reality check!!:eek:

Although I can see this thread going on and on!

For what it's worth OP, Do you really think your neighbour is obliged to heat their house just to suit you?:p

You really couldn't make it up :rotfl:

sidefx

control116b wrote: »

We wondered whether it was to prove a point. We've had a couple of noise incidents but when we've been able to catch up he's been fine about it.

The cold/damp is frustrating. We've been keeping the wardrobe doors open and this helps a bit with damp build up. He'd talked about (sound) insulation on his side of the party wall, which would have improved heat insulation. But I don't think he's done this (at least upstairs).

My partner only knocked before 11PM as we heard sawing earlier and didn't want any more noise later on. We are early starters.

:spam:

suse*

Do you have a dehumidifier that might be worth a try if you could see if a friend has one maybe? Then it is just basics like when drying clothes you need to do it somewhere ventalated etc etc.

You can't force someone else to have heating on though. You don't know their circumstances either, so unless you're going to pay for their heating too maybe they can't afford it right now.

control116b

We've had a dehumidifier on, it helps. It's not the lack of heating. It's the big temperature difference (heated to near outside ) on what's pretty much an internal wall.

pearl123

Whether you neighbour does or does not put his heating on is to be blunt none of your business. If you have issues in your house then it not up to your neighbour to fix them.