My flatmate wants the heating on 24/7 and split the bill equally. Fair?
The complainant says
We moved in together in September. I work in an office four days a week and I'm out most evenings. My flatmate works from home full time and likes the flat warm, so the heating is basically on all day from October to March. I'm a hoodie and blanket person and would happily have it on for an hour in the morning and a few hours at night.
The winter bills have been brutal. I suggested that since they're home all day and want it much warmer, they should pay a larger share, maybe 60/40. They were really offended and said we agreed to split bills equally when we signed the contract.
The other side says the flatmate, as the complainant tells it
They say we did agree 50/50 and it isn't fair to change the deal because one person's routine is different. They point out I have long showers and use the tumble dryer a lot, and that they can't work properly when their hands are cold. They also feel that splitting by usage would turn every bill into an argument.
Jury discussion (6 comments)
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Working from home is a real cost and it shouldn't land on the person who isn't there. 60/40 is generous.
Agreed. My employer even pays a working from home allowance for exactly this reason.
But they agreed a deal at the start. You can't renegotiate every time the weather changes.
24/7 heating from October is wild to me. Put a jumper on.
The tumble dryer thing is a fair counterpoint. Energy splits get messy fast.
Smart thermostat, set hours, and they get a heated throw for the daytime. Everyone wins.