Refusing to Pay Extra Rent for Freezing House: AITA?

A 28-year-old renter is refusing to pay extra rent because her landlord/roommate keeps the house set to a relentless 70°F, even when nobody is home. And to make it worse, her “extra charge for the summer AC” feels less like fairness and more like a way to foot the bill for someone else’s comfort.

Here’s the setup: the OP pays $700 a month on a month-to-month room lease, but the roommate wants more to cover cooling costs. The roommate already warned her that they keep the place cold in summer, leaves windows open when she goes to work, and never adjusts the AC. Then both the roommate and her separated husband (who lives in the basement) keep the temperature at 70°F when they leave.

Now add the cherry on top: multiple animals, including cold-weather dog breeds, are likely driving the constant AC, and the husband charges an electric car at home while OP has a gas car.

Original Post

So for some background, I am renting a room in a house for $700 a month, per the month to month lease. My landlord/roommate keeps the house at 70°F (21°C) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week even if no one is home.

She asked for extra rent to cover the cost of the A/C during the summer. I have 4 problems with this.

1. I would prefer it if the house was NOT 70° during the day cause for me, that's freezing unless I'm actively cleaning or cooking.

2. She leaves windows open when she leaves for work and doesn't change the A/C or turn it off when she opens windows.

3. She was already keeping the house this cold during the summer because she literally warned me that they (She and her separated husband who lives in the basement) keep the house cold during the summer when I moved in April.

4. They both leave the A/C at 70°F when they leave the house.

It basically is running constantly, even on a day like today where it was only 77°F outside. And added bonus:

The husband has an electric car which he charges at home. My car is gas.

We have some animals (2 dogs, 2 cats; one cat is mine). Two of the animals don't need it to be 70°F in the house.

The dogs are likely the reason they keep the house so cold, because both dogs are cold weather breed but we live in a desert. These are not my dogs and it's too cold for me!

I don't wanna pay for that!!!! TLDR: Roommate keeps the house freezing for her cold weather dog breeds and wants me to pay extra for the summer because the A/C is expensive.

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It’s like the AITA poster who donated their inheritance to charity, while family accused them of entitlement.

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The OP is basically paying to stay frozen in a house that’s set to 70°F 24/7, while the roommate claims it’s “normal” summer behavior for the dogs.</p>

It gets extra messy when the roommate opens windows for work but leaves the AC running instead of turning it down or off.</p>

The husband adds fuel to the fire too, since he keeps the basement cool with the same 70°F settings, plus he has an electric car charging at home.</p>

That’s why OP is done with the extra rent request, especially when the people who benefit most from the cold are the ones making the rules.</p>

What would you do in this situation? Share your opinion in the comments.

Nobody wants to pay extra to be the human thermostat for someone else’s freezing dogs.

Wild twist, the Domino’s customer says they got asked to tip twice after already tipping.

Don’t miss the full story, the Redditor’s “tipped twice at Domino’s” dispute.