Money Moral Dilemma: Should my housemates pay more for heating?

Pound

MSE_Nick wrote: »

Most of my housemates want to turn the heating on but I don't think it's cold enough yet. I've suggested they wrap up or at least put the heating on a timer but they refuse. If we do leave it on, shouldn't some of them be paying more towards the bill?

Yes, just pay it. You're already using your neighbour's wifi for free, you kept a free £50 voucher that you weren't entitled to, you made your son get a part-time job so you didn't have to give him pocket money, you pocketed refunds meant for you ex-flatmates. I'm sure you can afford your share of the heating bill.

Cardew

gloriouslyhappy wrote: »

Originally posted by gloriouslyhappy



I stand by what I said about it being more efficient to leave your heating on low, .

With respect that is not what you said, you stated:

It's false economy keeping the heating off or too low, it has to work extra hard when it is turned on,

This thread has nothing to do with 'leaving heat on while you are away to prevent frost damage'.

I repeat, the lower you have the temperature in the house, the lower the bills. The urban myth is that a boiler working 'extra hard' to get the house back up to temperature cancels out the savings from the time the heating was low/off.

As the contributors in this thread are different to those who frequent the 'energy' sections of MSE it is worth stressing the above point.

crmism

I don't think you fully understand the concept of shared tenancies.

When you take one on, you can't opt out of services that are common to everyone, including your co-tenants. Just because you get too warm and would prefer the heating isn't on, isn't the point. If you took your interpretation to extremes, you'd rapidly find that you and the other occupants would be exchanging money every time one or other of you had, without intending to, some material advantage or disadvantage.

Life isn't fair - it never was and it never will be so, if you want to go through life without growing old before your time, cough up. Either that, or move out and go for single-occupation, which you will find is considerably more expensive.

1Muppet

I remember a friend at Uni who house shared years ago. The others always wanted the heating on so when we went to her room the windows were always wide open - even with snow outside.


Have you tried talking to your housemate to reach some sort of compromise?

Cardew

1Muppet wrote: »

I remember a friend at Uni who house shared years ago. The others always wanted the heating on so when we went to her room the windows were always wide open - even with snow outside.


Have you tried talking to your housemate to reach some sort of compromise?

Most of us 'house share' - in my case with wife and daughter!

They want the heating higher than I would prefer. So we compromise and they have it at exactly the temperature they want;)

gaving7095

No - it's all part and parcel of house-sharing.

phil1edinburgh

No - I guess if you go out for a drink with three mates you would prefer just to pay for your own to make sure you don't pay for one of your mates more expensive drink. Same with house share - maybe you use the house more than some , perhaps you sleep in more hours than others do - perhaps you should pay more for making more use - You knew the answer really anyway.

phil1edinburgh

All modern gas boilers have a frost setting for when you go on winter holidays - just use it.

carguy143

If your house has TRVs on the radiators, turn yours to a temperature you're happy with and leave it at that. Split the bills between all of you, equally.

ska_lover

Some people really suffer with the cold, it can make you feel depressed and ill if you are forced to be cold all the time. I would not live in a freezing cold house