Refusing to Pay Extra Rent for Freezing House: AITA?

AITA for refusing to pay extra for A/C in summer due to roommate's freezing house? 70°F is too cold for me & I don't want to cover their costs!

Damjan

Published in Interesting
24 Dec 2025

Refusing to Pay Extra Rent for Freezing House: AITA?

In the world of shared living arrangements, it's not uncommon for disputes to arise over temperature settings and utility expenses. One Reddit user recently found themselves in a heated debate with their roommate, who also serves as their landlord, over the cost of keeping the air conditioning set to a steady 70°F (21°C) throughout the summer months.

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While the landlord argues that the added cooling costs should be shared, the tenant feels uncomfortable with the constant chill and questions whether they should be responsible for this extra expense. The situation gets even more complicated when you consider the landlord's habit of leaving windows open while the air conditioning is running, and the fact that the tenant didn’t initially agree to pay more for what they perceive as an unnecessary temperature setting.

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With both parties having valid points, this thread explores the nuances of living conditions, shared responsibilities, and tenants' rights versus landlords'. As the discussion unfolds, commenters weigh in with a range of perspectives, from outright support for the tenant's refusal to pay extra to reminders of the terms of the lease agreement.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts: Who do you think is in the right here?

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.

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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.

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It basically is running constantly, even on a day like today ehere it was only 77°F outside. And added bonus: 5.

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: Roomate 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.