preventing use of electric heaters

[iffy100]

I have a problem which many others have (google search reveals!). However, I haven't managed to find a solution to the problem.
Basically my tenants rip the **** with electric heaters and we all know that those things cost an arm and a leg to run. Is there any device that can be implemented to the wiring that will not allow the use of electric heaters?
Please give me a solution that can be implemented electrically please, and not suggestions outside the remit of the question. Thank you in advance.

 

[mfarrow]

Do you mean:

- You have fixed convector electric heaters fitted which they're using too much
- You have storage heaters fitted but they're using the boost too much
- You have storage heaters fitted with no boost but they're just on too much for your liking
- You have no electric heating, but the tenants are plugging their own heaters into sockets?

 

[iffy100]

Sorry buddy, I should of have been clearer. I meant to say, portable heaters .

 

[phatboy]

You cannot stop them plugging in heaters into sockets.... Maybe make them pay the electricity bill then they will be more careful!

 

[iffy100]

thats not an option unfortunately.

 

[SimonH2]

In practical terms, making them pay for the lecky is the only option.

There isn't anything you can do that will prevent them using electric heaters - at least not without also preventing them using other electrical appliances. For example, you might consider downrating the MCBs so that heaters would make the circuit trip - but even a 6A MCB would allow a 1kW fan heater to run continuously, and probably support a 2kW heater for some time. But such a small MCB would trip when they tired to use (for example) a kettle.

Leaving the kitchen on a "full" supply while limiting the rest will simply mean that they run an extension lead from the kitchen to where they need the heat.

Whatever, anything you try and do to stop them will be at least as much work as separating their supply so it can be separately metered - even if it's a private meter rather than a separate supply.

 

[OwainDIYer]

Electrically you could replace all the sockets with ones with 1A circuit breakers. That limits them to 250 watts or so per socket. Supply a hard-wired kettle and hairdryer.

However the temptation will then be to over-ride the circuit breakers somehow. Getting bayonet adapters off ebay and running the heaters off the lighting circuit ....

If you can't manage the tenants by frequent room inspections and enforcing a no-heaters rule, you need to bill them.

Why are they using portable heaters? Do you not provide central heating? You could provide fixed heaters on time switches, press for 1 hour heat. At least that would stop them leaving heaters on continuously when they go out.

 

[xr4x4]

Coin meter?

We had one and I took it off, as we changed to key meter, I still have it.

Curious.. Why can't you charge them electric?

 

[mattylad]

I would look into why they are using electric heaters?

Do you not have gas central heating installed that works well?
There would be no need for electric heaters if you did.

 

[AndyPRK]

a 6A or 10A MCB on the sockets should limit things.

 

[SimonH2]

a 6A or 10A MCB on the sockets should limit things.

Probably not enough - I think you can run 3kW continuous on a 10A MCB, and probably 1 1/2 to 2kW on a 6A one. You then have the problem that they can't use a normal kettle etc.

 

[SimonH2]

And I notice the same OP has a thread related to restricting the use of a boiler over in the plumbing forum
http://www.diynot.com/forums/plumbing/odd-boiler-request.360529/

 

[Spark123]

Think he'll need to have a new contract drawn out, he has in effect given the tenants the right to use as much electricity and gas as they want by including it in the rent which I take it will be a set fee PCM.

 

[SimonH2]

Indeed. But that does assume (it's not been said yet) that he can arrange for the tenant to be separately metered. It's quite possible that if it's been a badly done house-flats conversion then he supplies weren't segregated.

Any attempt to physically restrict them is likely to have "unintended consequences".
It does bring to mind when I was any university <cough> years ago. Our rooms were all separately metered for the sockets and fixed electric heater - and portable heaters were absolutely banned.
I noted that we had some 2A sockets for lights - and lights weren't metered, so I think you can guess where this is headed for a cash strapped student. Needless to say, I ran most things off the 2A sockets, but being electrically knowledgeable never exceeded their rating - I even found a little 2A immersion kettle that would (slowly) boil a single cup of water.

Even just making them pay their own bills can backfire. Some previous tenants in my flat were a struggling young couple - but they so penny pinched on the heating that the combination of little heating and sealed up ventilation meant that the place quickly got damp and went mouldy - something no previous tenant had a problem with. Needless to say, they then complained to the council that I'd rented them a damp and mouldy property

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It's quite possible that if it's been a badly done house-flats conversion then he supplies weren't segregated.

Seems to be a badly done tenancy agreement, that's for sure.

iffy - did the professionals who advised you on the agreement not warn you about this problem?