I finding myself really worked up about this issue. What would you do? Housemate is almost always home as they do not work. They always use the aircon and I am panicking about the bills during summmer. I would rarely turn it on, only if it's really hot. We are probably affected by the heat differently. I am way too shy to ask if I can pay less but I don't think it's fair.
Aircon use in houseshare
LSilly-sausage88 on 21/11/2019 - 17:26
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You have to talk to your housemate. You're probably nervous and anxious about it. Just don't get upset or anything when you're talking to them. Try and explain how the aircon gets very expensive if on all the time and if they can either only use it when necessary or if they really want it on that much then come up with a fairer way to split the bill. You won't know until you get the bill anyway. So maybe wait until that happens and judge it accordingly (try compare the last bill and see what the difference is to show them). Had those issues in the past, even gave them a fan I had for their room so aircon wasn't needed all the time.
Is there a physical plug you can I stall a power use monitor?
I work from home and during winter I just pay an extra 50 bucks per bill for the heater. Last bill was 300 for me 200 for flattie, he was happy with that.
Once had the opposite issue with flatmates who used the oil heater to heat the whole house all the time in winter to the point where they wore singlets. The cheaper electric heat was an option though chose not to use. $700 monthly bill later and I worked out how to tamper with it. Problem solved.
1: Get out of this "crap" situation… nothing but trouble and a nightmare.
In the old days, no one would own up to phone bills, your food is stolen, and if someone does a runner, you are stuck with paying extra rent.Sit down with this inconsiderate person and tell them how you feel. Either you disconnect the device, or they accept to pay extra toward the bill (which they would dispute anyway).
It is only going to get worse over summer.
Work out the electricity usage per hour of that time of day, and have them pay this extra amount.
If they do not agree, tell them to LEAVE.
Usually all homes have smart meter these days. Which means the usage is recorded for every 30 Min. Check your usage from your distributers website by creating an account. Download the data and then negotiate with your flat mate using real numbers. Numbers don't lie.
One thing to check - is this really aircon or is it an evaporative cooler? Running costs are drastically different.
Housemate is almost always home as they do not work.
They (housemate) do that because they are filthy rich, drowning in cash and wealth? Or unable to find paid work?
Interesting difference and most people here "assume" is unemployed.
Forgetting some people do not need to work to have money.If I was filthy rich, drowning in cash and wealth, I wouldn't be renting.
Or house sharing..
Or house sharing
Well yes.
I wouldn't but some would.Being rich doesn't mean being popular nor social.
Also those knowing you are "wealthy" will be friends to your money not to you.So house sharing in a good suburb and in a good dwelling with good facilities answers the need for discrete endless socializing as you are "just one more renter there".
Also if Mum&Dad are the source of your wealth sharing a superb comfortable house with a pool and a thousand and one facilities is far better than owning (Mum&Dad mortgagee) a property that needs maintenance and care. Although you can then rent to others, that brings responsibility and supervision. None of that when you are just "another renter".
Sharing a house with the right people and in the right place makes a hell of a lot of sense (although I insist, not for me).
I wouldn't be renting
You wouldn't but our hypothetical housemate could :-)
Owning property is not for everyone. Think "bankrupt" individuals …
I worked with a guy who spent a few months of the year earning a great income and then the rest of the year working on his music in a share house with really low costs or travelling the world. He could get away with not working much because he had low expenses. Some people I guess just like the low cost lifestyle and company, vs working non-stop and living in a big house they never see.
It wouldn't suit me or a lot of people, but I can see the attraction. There are still lots of people out there not working because they don't need to who don't look like they have lots of money outwardly.
"Ay bro since you using the AC more you gotta pay more on the electricity bill, aight?"
Talk and come to an agreement fast. Else you will suffer inside :)
Long ago used to live in a place where the utilities were divided by # of rooms instead of # of people which I found ridiculous. Ended up moving out to different place.My housemate is currently studying from home and is therefore home during the day. She doesn't have a lot of money. We pay 50% each for bills. I'm at work all day in the air con, which is awesome. We are friends first and I have told her to use the air con as much as she likes, because I don't want her to be uncomfortable. She in turn uses it minimally and tries to use other methods of cooling the house as much as possible, using curtains and shutters, letting cool air in while it's cold outside and keeping it shut out when it's hot as much as possible. This means on hot days the house is often not too unbearable when I get home and we use less air con of an evening too.
If possible work with your housemate not against them, it makes life easier. You could try suggesting ways for keeping the house cooler naturally or using fans on days when it's not particularly hot. If you do decide to confront them, consider first if there are any bills that are more expensive because of your activities.
You sound like a genuinely reasonable person. Good on you.
You seem like a wonderful friend. As long as they seem to be doing thr best to avoid using ac then i dont mind paying esp if she is studying rather than sleeping kr gaming.
I agree, every share house is different. I was in one once where the other housemate did like it warm in winter and cool in summer - the A/C got used more than I ordinarily would. I didn't complain and paid half the bill, as yes whilst she got home and used it first in the arvo, it meant the house is warm when I get home. Sometimes she would cook also and offer food which I didn't pay for (obviously), so somethings things aren't so black and white.
Additionally when I moved in, she had a lot of the communal things already - fridge, tv, etc so I didnt have to fork out for these.
Is arguing an extra $30 or $50 in electricity a quarter worth losing an otherwise reasonable housemate??
Secondly, this time it might be a bit of power use, but would you rather a housemate that didn't use much power, but had poor hygiene, leave dirty dishes, dirty house?
Or a smoker that every time they come inside reek out the house?
With house sharing, sometimes you have to make some compromises if everything otherwise is fairly okay.
A wise and mature response. Good post!
When U bring up the issue you need to also account for the things U cost him.
What if you take some leave and stay at home will you then change the cost split
Some air cons have apps that will keep a running tally of power used so you could accurately calculate what it actually costs per day. Or check the meter box reading when you leave and return each day then compare that to other periods. Argue with facts, not assumptions!
Get your own place. If this issue works you up you’re not suited to sharehousing.
Don't be shy. Just asked to sit down and have a chat about something that "been on your mind". Just say how you feel it "might be fair not to pay the same amount".
Bonus points if you look into your electricity rate and calculate exactly how much it costs. Don't be aggressive, just ask "how would you feel about paying a little more?"
Communication is king.
Mine some cryptocurrency using sharehouse electricity. Use that to pay your portion of the electricity bill. Job done!
Options:
Encourage housemate to get a job, which will increase their disposable income, while also decreasing utility bills.
Take a meter reading as you leave for work every day, and again when you return. All usage while you are away can be paid by housemate. All other usage will be split evenly.
Sabotage the aircon.
Start washing clothes every night after work, and then using the dryer to dry them. Eventually housemate will notice an obscene waste of energy. This may trigger self-reflection and self-correction without confrontation.
Steal money from housemate's wallet as compensation.
Booby-trap the aircon remote Home Alone style.
Hide rotted fish in the house, so housemate will leave during the day.
Have a friendly chat with housemate and raise your concerns.
just noticed - another OP that is not seen again (so far) a couple of days later
so now I'm wondering about a random fandom problem generator - you know - like those journalists that invent a meme or phrase just to see how quickly and how far their words will travel around the world
do we have a random 'niggling problem' generator here ?
Get some quotes for solar panels and then show them to your housemate and tell him if he must have the air con all the time he can pay half the solar installation
And if that doesn't work hit him on the nose with a rolled up newspaper and say NO! and maybe when the bill comes in rub his nose in it
Wait until you get the bill. Compare with the last bill then ask why it's so high. If your housemate is honest I think you can come to an understanding about them paying for their share due to the AC. No need to confront them about it before the bill comes in.
OP hasn't replied since; a lot questions asked already, like how the bill is currently managed. If you manage and just give a number, well, just give a higher number. Conversely if they manage it then when they name a high number to you then you can say least raise the issue on why the number is so much higher (no guarantee of any progress but at least you'll know if it's time to start looking a new place if they're a dick about it ..)
If all else other work out, get rid of the housemate. One difficult conversation and it is solve. Not point dragging this out.
If you can't even communicate with your housemate then you've got the wrong kind of housemate or not mature enough to be in a shared rental.
Sharehouses are good experiences for personal growth (and learning about all the morons in the world).
Is your name on the lease?
How exactly does your houseshare agreement work? Can you just leave and find another place or boot the other person out?
Hey Sally, you need to talk to them eventually.
I suggest you count your blessings. In this way hopefully you will become less worked up.
<I am way too shy to ask if I can pay less but I don't think it's fair. Ok then, thread closed. Nothing you can do if you don't want to raise the issue.At least OP can have a mental win
Eat their food during the night like that other guy said
How much money are we talking about here? What's the difference between an autumn month where no heating or A/C was used, vs a summer month with your flatmate's typical A/C usage?
If it bugs you so much you have no choice but to mention it to your flatmate and see if he/she will turn it on less.
Reading between the lines, it may also be time to find a new flatmate or move to another home yourself.
I hate these threads where the op never replies
Maybe it works out better during Winter when the OP uses the heater…
I don't think in a sharehouse you can split bills like this. It's too hard to calculate / too petty. It's just a downside of living in a share house. The upside is you pay half internet bill etc.
However - it is important for you to have a conversation with your housemate about how expensive AC is during the day and to not have it on too low (e.g. 25 is fine if it's 30+ outside). Also close window blinds etc on hot days, open the windows at night to let the cool in beforehand, etc.
To be honest I think the education on how to manage the AC is more condescending than talking about the price impact.
Definitely agree though that you need to take into account the full situation, at the end of the day maybe the housemate has other redeeming contributions to the house that make keeping quiet worth it.
Personally I'd be more than happy to pay based on excess usage, but I guess that's coming from a situation where I already pay 100%…
Same happened to me, where my flatmate lost his job and would stay at home whole day using aircon.
I told him I will continue to pay what I was paying last summer and he pays the difference since he using most of it. He agreed.
Sometimes he used to forgot to switch off Aircon at night in common area (rooms didnt have one), so I put timer for it switch off automatically @ 11pm.
Talking resolved most issues or tell him you might lose your job too…
OP Missing since last Thursday.
Either OP froze due to the air con being on too much; or
housemate pays for the internet, and has since restricted internet use of OP in exchange for air con usage.
Plot twist: OP's share house is an old building running an evaporate air conditioner.
Start bitcoin mining.
Some of you never lived in a shared house
You win some and lose some, its all about finding the balance
Yes you be frugal on this matter paying more with aircon, but now you have just started a war where everything is now going to scrutinized. Eg water, tv usages, cooking etc whats next ?
Find a happy medium because this housemate might be very pleasent to live with and to find someone else is going to change dynamics, they might be worse etc
Check your recent electricity bill and see if there is much difference with the next bill and increased usage. Sit down and have the discussion "Look mate, I'm happy for you to use the aircon, but I can't afford to pay more than I currently am because you can't handle <Insert temp here>. So if you want to run it however often more than usual, you will need to cover the excess cost/pay more of the electricity bill." Find a way to measure the usage of your AC and then calculate the usage by hours used per system.
Try the following
A) Glue yourself to the air conditioner in protest. Obviously that worked for those Extinction Rebellion morons in achieving their goals. NOT!
B) DO a Greta and be like "How Dare You…" and keep on ranting about climate emergencies, pregancies, privilege until your house mate is that verbally tortured that they will turn off the Air Conditioner to shut you up.
C) Suggest the nearest shopping centre that has air conditioning. That is where all the frugal pensioners who own three plus houses loiter around so they can save on their power bills.
How do you know he actually uses it all day. Get the landlord to disconnect it.
As someone who is about to finally stop living in share houses (19-25) I am jealous this is the worst thing you thought warranted a post.
Agree. Op’s prob a tigharse and a nightmare to share a house with
If you are too shy to say something you have to pay the bill. Simple.
I has simmilar case years ago. A couple made the share house sauna with AC everyday and I asked the landlord make them pay more. The thousands-dollars bill shocked all share-house members even the landlord. The couple paid more but not enough. All members shared the bill.I've been there before. Started by bringing it up, but quickly resorted to the petty and passive aggressive measures some have mentioned here like turning it off at the first box etc. It was a big ducted system running through the whole house that they'd crank just to cool a single bedroom…
But what did actually work was after commination properly we came up with a jar system. I calculated an estimated cost for running the aircon (find the power in kW, multiple that by the electricity cost in c/kWh, which gives you c/h) for us it was somewhere around $1-2/hr. If you wanted to use the aircon, especially if Boone else benefited, you'd chuck the cash in the jar and then at the end of the quarter the contents of the jar were subtracted from the bill before splitting it.
Worked fairly well land I think it's quite am equitable solution…
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Unless it is ducted A/C, there is no way a room A/C would use this much. No where near it.