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Landload turning off internet

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  • 05-04-2013 3:43am
    #1
    gumkeyrock
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭


    Hi,

    Half of the days over the last week, the owner of the house I live in has been turning off the internet router when they go to bed.

    I rent a room in an owner lived in property. There is another person who rents a room here too.

    The monthly rent includes all utilities (light, heat, rubbish, TV, internet, etc...) and has always been paid in full and on time.

    I know they're conscious of electricity usage and the electricity bill has been higher recently. I haven't seen the bill, I don't know what it normally costs or how much it cost recently. I'm not aware of there being any internet usage issue (i.e. hitting the ISP's cap).
    I have a feeling that the owner may be associating internet usage with higher electricity bills (from using a computer more).

    Any thoughts on how to handle this type of situation?


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    #2
    jamie72
    Registered Users Posts: 877 ✭✭✭jamie72


    The few watts from the router would be nothing to his bill.

    I'd imagine it's either for fear of fire, or that he has it connected to something else he also turns off at night.


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    #3
    Zambia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,333 ✭✭✭Zambia


    Ask landlord to leave the net on when they go to bed.

    Or when it turns off bang on the wall.

    "Dude Im like watching porn here, turn that Sh%t back on"


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    #4
    StillWaters
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,799 ✭✭✭StillWaters


    Have you asked the Landlord not to turn the router off?


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    #5
    djimi
    Registered Users Posts: 13,237 ✭✭✭✭djimi


    If you haven't spoken to the landlord about this yet then there is little point doing anything else until you do.


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    #6
    NIMAN
    Registered Users Posts: 33,618 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    Maybe he assumes no-one will be using the internet when its bedtime;)

    The fool.


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    #7
    makeorbrake
    Registered Users Posts: 4,664 ✭✭✭makeorbrake


    May have concerns about the usage cap ..


    OR....


    are you watching online video content - and the audio from that keeping others in the house up?


    Anyways - simply ask him. I think it's fairly straightforward for it to be left on without any inconvenience to him.


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    #8
    MissFlitworth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,057 ✭✭✭MissFlitworth


    When my Mam goes to bed she goes around the house and unplugs things as part of her night time routine, she doesn't mean to knock off the net, it's just one of her plugs. Same with TV/Kettle/those weird light up ornament display unit things full of ainsley plates. Your landlord mightn't realise what they're doing, best just to say 'Hey, you know you're knocking off the net at night?' to see if they actually realise they're doing it. Also, if they do knock off the internet I'd have no qualms in turning the router back on/plugging it back in


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    #9
    frag420
    Registered Users Posts: 6,158 ✭✭✭frag420


    I know a lot of people that do this yet they always forget to turn of the fridge and freezer!!

    Odd eh!!

    Just speak to your landlord OP!!


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    #10
    gumkeyrock
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭gumkeyrock


    jamie72 wrote: »
    The few watts from the router would be nothing to his bill.

    I'd imagine it's either for fear of fire, or that he has it connected to something else he also turns off at night.

    That's not the issue. I've been here over half a year and this is a new thing.
    I'm thinking that the landlords train of though is "they're still awake and using electricity, so if they can't use the internet they'll go to bed". I mightn't be correct, but that's what I'm guessing

    No, I don't go to bed when the landlord does.
    Zambia wrote: »
    Ask landlord to leave the net on when they go to bed.
    So that's the obvious first step. I assume legally they don't have a leg to stand on here.

    When the electricity stuff was brought up about a week ago, they were interested in having me contribute towards the bill. We didn't really talk about it much, the current position is I'm not paying anything additional (It wasn't a defensive or aggressive conversation, I'm willing to talk about it, just not willing to pay.)
    makeorbrake wrote: »
    May have concerns about the usage cap ..


    OR....


    are you watching online video content - and the audio from that keeping others in the house up?

    No mention has been made of a usage cap, and my usage is generally unchanged. I use headphones all the time so no sound.

    I'm assuming that the obvious route of commenting to them about turning off the router the the way to go. The then most probably leads to a renewed discussion of costs.


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    #11
    gumkeyrock
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭gumkeyrock


    MissFlitworth wrote: »
    Your landlord mightn't realise what they're doing, best just to say 'Hey, you know you're knocking off the net at night?' to see if they actually realise they're doing it.

    I've been here over 6+ months. This is a new thing. They are turning it off by pressing the off switch on the router. They know what they're doing.
    MissFlitworth wrote: »
    Also, if they do knock off the internet I'd have no qualms in turning the router back on/plugging it back in
    I've needed to do that once already


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    #12
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    gumkeyrock wrote: »
    So that's the obvious first step. I assume legally they don't have a leg to stand on here.
    Legally it's his house and he can do what he likes. If you're not happy you can leave. That's the legal position when you rent a room in someone's house.

    If you're having a disagreement with the landlord about contributing further towards electricity, then it looks like he's passive-aggressively implementing a work-to-rule and switching off the internet because he's the one who pays for it and is entitled to switch it off when he doesn't need it.

    You can ask him to leave it on, and he will probably ask you to contribute more for electricity. It's a case of pay up or move on, really.


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    #13
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    This is so ridiculous.

    Just tell him you use the internet at night so please don't turn off the router.


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    #14
    convert
    Registered Users Posts: 9,338 ✭✭✭convert


    As has been mentioned above, you need to speak with your landlord about this. Tell them you use the internet at night, and ask them if it's possible for them to leave it on overnight. It sounds like they're using this as a means of getting you to pay additional costs to the bills. That's a whole other issue, as you'll have to weigh up whether or not you think that paying extra towards bills will work out cheaper than moving into a more normal house share where everyone pays an equal share towards bills.

    You mention that there is another person renting a room in the house, also. Are they being impacted by the router being turned off at night? Have you chatted with them about it? It might be worthwhile doing so to see where they're coming from before you go to the landlord.


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    #15
    im invisible
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,372 ✭✭✭im invisible


    say nothing to him, leave a few passive agressive post-it notes on all the switches/ sockets that you might need to use after he has gone to bed...


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    #16
    Qualitymark
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    I'd ask him about it in a calm, friendly way.

    It may be that he's worried about wireless signals beaming around the house throughout the night - there have been various articles about how you shouldn't sleep with your head next to your mobile phone, for instance. Or it might be a money-saving thing.

    If the internet is absolutely necessary to you overnight, and your landlord isn't willing to leave the router on (or to allow you to switch it off when you're going to sleep yourself), maybe you should negotiate a reduction in the price you pay for the broadband - after all, if it's not available to you for eight hours of the day, why should you be paying for those eight hours?


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    #17
    the_syco
    Registered Users Posts: 37,300 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    gumkeyrock wrote: »
    So that's the obvious first step. I assume legally they don't have a leg to stand on here.
    Legally, you have little or no tenant rights, if the landlord lives there.
    gumkeyrock wrote: »
    When the electricity stuff was brought up about a week ago, they were interested in having me contribute towards the bill. We didn't really talk about it much, the current position is I'm not paying anything additional (It wasn't a defensive or aggressive conversation, I'm willing to talk about it, just not willing to pay.)
    Not willing to pay for any extra bills? Extra bills including the internets? Hrm... I'm gonna call "tough sh|t" here.

    I'm thinking he's worked out that it's costing more than he thought to have an extra body in the house, and is now trying to claw back some of what he's losing out on.

    Unfair? Yes.
    It all comes down to what is written on the renting agreement. Do you have one?


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    #18
    Cushie Butterfield
    Registered Users Posts: 1,861 ✭✭✭Cushie Butterfield


    You may be overthinking this issue.

    If it's in your lease/agreement that internet is included, unless it specifically states times of day/night, well then he can't dictate when you use it.

    If he didn't want you to use it at night then he would probably either tell you, or bring the modem/router to his bedroom when going to bed.

    When people aren't specifically contributing towards utility bills you'd be surprised how many lights/heaters/equipment are left on unnecessarily.

    Sounds as if he's just unplugging things for safety/austerity last thing at night, & the possibility is that all that's needed is for you to ask him not to unplug the router.


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    #19
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    the_syco wrote: »
    It all comes down to what is written on the renting agreement. Do you have one?
    Not worth the paper it's written on, if he does.

    What's he going to do? Take the landlord to court for switching off the router?

    The PRTB will not intervene in a rent-a-room arrangement.

    Like I say, as a tenant rather than a lessee, you basically have no rights. His house, his rules. Put up or shut up.

    It's the risk you take when you move into an owner-occupied rental.


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    #20
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    im invisible wrote: »
    say nothing to him, leave a few passive agressive post-it notes on all the switches/ sockets that you might need to use after he has gone to bed...

    OP I notice you thanked this post.

    Please don't do this. This is what crazy people do.


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    #21
    Pawwed Rig
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 22,379 CMod ✭✭✭✭Pawwed Rig


    People are misunderstanding what it means to rent a room in a persons house. The OP has virtually no rights and he is there at the forbearance of the landlord. If the landlord feels like it he could change the locks this evening and tell the OP to move on. His house = His rules.


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    #22
    Mezcita
    Registered Users Posts: 2,328 ✭✭✭Mezcita


    Pawwed Rig wrote: »
    People are misunderstanding what it means to rent a room in a persons house. The OP has virtually no rights and he is there at the forbearance of the landlord. If the landlord feels like it he could change the locks this evening and tell the OP to move on. His house = His rules.

    People are also ignoring the fact that most resident landlords want people to live in their houses who they actually get on with.

    I think the key thing here is to just have a rational chat with the landlord. If the router being plugged in during the night is a huge issue the OP should just move on. Simple as that really.


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    #23
    Pawwed Rig
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 22,379 CMod ✭✭✭✭Pawwed Rig


    Mezcita wrote: »
    People are also ignoring the fact that most resident landlords want people to live in their houses who they actually get on with.
    Agreed. The fact that there seems to be some tension about bills and now the tenant seemingly unable to talk to the landlord face to face I would think the OP needs to clear some air in the house or be prepared for the worst.


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    #24
    Agent Smith
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 21,503 Mod ✭✭✭✭Agent Smith


    the_syco wrote: »
    Legally, you have little or no tenant rights, if the landlord lives there.


    Not willing to pay for any extra bills? Extra bills including the internets? Hrm... I'm gonna call "tough sh|t" here.

    I'm thinking he's worked out that it's costing more than he thought to have an extra body in the house, and is now trying to claw back some of what he's losing out on.

    Unfair? Yes.
    It all comes down to what is written on the renting agreement. Do you have one?

    The average wireless router is 3.4 watts per hour power consumption

    3.4 * 24 hours = 81.6 watts in a 24 hr period.
    81.6 * 365 days = 29784 watt for a one year period running 24/7
    29784 / 1000 watts or 1 kWh = 29.78 * .15 = 4.47 for one year running 24/7 or
    4.47/ 365 = €0.12 Cents a day.


    These are incredibly rough figures...


    basically, having the router on at night is going to cost him an extra fiver a year.


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    #25
    murphaph
    Registered Users Posts: 19,022 ✭✭✭✭murphaph


    seamus wrote: »
    Not worth the paper it's written on, if he does.

    What's he going to do? Take the landlord to court for switching off the router?

    The PRTB will not intervene in a rent-a-room arrangement.

    Like I say, as a tenant rather than a lessee, you basically have no rights. His house, his rules. Put up or shut up.

    It's the risk you take when you move into an owner-occupied rental.
    He's a licencee, not a tenant, but the rest of your post is spot on. It's a case of ask and see. The owner can make up rules in his house as he wishes and ultimately can evict the poster with no notice.


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    #26
    jimmycrackcorm
    Registered Users Posts: 14,339 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    If simply go down and turn the router back on again. If he asks about it then ask why the need to turn it off.

    My Oh always unplugs the microwave at night in case of fire, as if fires can't happen during the day.


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    #27
    Agent Smith
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 21,503 Mod ✭✭✭✭Agent Smith


    jimmycrackcorm wrote: »
    If simply go down and turn the router back on again. If he asks about it then ask why the need to turn it off.

    My Oh always unplugs the microwave at night in case of fire, as if fires can't happen during the day.

    My housemate does that with the kettle....




    Rather annoying when you get up at 5:45am for work, and you turn the kettle on and take 5 mins in your half asleep state to understand the damm thing isnt plugged in


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