Problems in shared housing ...

liz545

One of the pains of living in shared housing is working out all the little niggly disagreements with your flatmates. Your flatmates have got used to the way things are, and I'm sure you can understand that as they see it, you're changing the way their house feels? However, it also sounds like the lounge door is a firedoor, with a swing hinge (like this: http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Images/DB_Detail/_68587__83947__.jpg) and they're meant to stay closed. I'd try politely asking your flatmates if it'd be ok to keep it closed during the evening when you're in - point out that it will be warmer, and it'll keep your bills down! Have a look at buying/making draft excluders as well, but most importantly, try and establish a relationship with your flatmates outside of arguments/disagreements. Try and get to know them - maybe suggest you all have a meal together, or go down the pub, or just watch something together once a week? You could get on well, but if you only see each other to talk about stuff like this, you'll never find out! Whatever else you do, avoid leaving each other angry notes on post-its - this will scupper your relationship forever! People can be quite negative about house-sharing, but I've had some fun experiences in houseshares and I've made some great friends; you just need to be relaxed, grown-up, and able to give and take sometimes. Good luck!

petshopgirlemma

After my OH became a designated fire safety person for his work and was made to do a course wih the fire brigade, he won't let me go out without closing all the doors to help prevent the spread of fire. Say it is to do with protecting you all from smoke inhalation!!!

clutton_2

""Say it is to do with protecting you all from smoke inhalation!!!" - that is EXACTLY what the clickey things are for !!!!!!!!!

melancholly

i guess i understand the position of being in a house and new people moving in and wanting to change things - but it's only a problem for 'big' things e.g. someone wanting the heating on an extra 5 hours a day, or someone moving in and constantly making a mess, or moving in their other half, or smoking in a non-smoking house............ i can't see that shutting a single door is anything that can be considered a problem - the house has to change to at least some degree when new people move it.

it's probably the door slamming that's annoying (my front door slams and it shakes my room, but everyone new always seem to let it shut on its own and at 3am that gets old quickly - it's just not realising and is one of the things that is helpful to mention early on and then it isn't a problem). just get the door closer adjusted and in the meantime, now you know that it may 'upset' people, just be careful.

TJ27

This is an extract from the HMO Management regulations, under the heading "Duties of Occupiers..." It states that EVERY occupier MUST:

(f) comply with the reasonable instructions of the manager in respect of any means of escape from fire, the prevention of fire and the use of fire equipment.

The manager should have informed you that fire doors must be closed. (Sometimes I see such advice given on notices in the hallway.) Fire doors would generally be classed as forming part of the means of escape. Even if he/she hasn't informed you of the above, it's common sense.

So in theory the TENANTS can be prosecuted if they've been told to shut doors and fail to do so. (In practice prosecution of tenants is fairly unlikely to happen but I've come very close to it!)

clutton_2

http://www.sedona.com/roomate.aspx

beecher

The joys of flatsharing, right enough. When I think of some of the petty fights I used to have with my flatmates over the years.....

It does sound very petty, but it sounds like you've come to a compromise so that's good. I would be wary about going down the 'I can do what I want as it is my house' as views can become really entrenched with those views - particularly if each of the 4 flatmates starts thinking that way

Whatever you do, don't use someone else's milk, or that last bit of pizza - that can cause war

Smiley_Mum

tbs624 wrote: »

Jen - if LL can't or won't adjust door closer, a person looking over my shoulder has advised these as a compromise:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Door-Slam-Stopper-2-Pk/dp/B000T7SHPO
Also available from nursery shops, apparently.

And your flatmates could always get you one of these...http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/selk-bags/index.html

That's just what I was going to suggest. Great minds think alike.

John51

I would prefer to get fried at some random point in the future than spend the rest of my life worrying about a possible fire. Everyone I know who has had those infuriating door closers has removed them.

tbs624

John51 wrote: »

I would prefer to get fried at some random point in the future than spend the rest of my life worrying about a possible fire. Everyone I know who has had those infuriating door closers has removed them.

Those "infuriating door closers" are there to give you valuable extra time to escape in the event of a fire. :wall: Anyone who removes them when they are there for fire safety reulatory purposes is IMO an idiot and in the event of someone being seriously injured or dying in a fire they would have some pretty serious questions to answer.