Where can I find a lockable box to place over central heating control in my rented house?

Question

I own the house I live in and rent out a couple of rooms to students. The rent includes all bills. My problem is that the tennants keep overriding the heating control and so last week I came home to find the heating had been put on constant although it is July and the house is roasting hot!!!

My gas bill last month alone was £130 for 4 weeks! When I lived alone it was £30 a month!

I need to find a box that has a lockable front and no back so that I can mount it over the heating control on the wall. Has such a thing been invented or do you know where I can find such a thing?

Answer 1

Answer number two has the best clue, so I'll just add a thought. Here in the states Home Depot and Lowes have commercial divisions that even offer catalogs; including everything from custodial supplies to Electrical and plumbing parts etc. Thermostat covers are included, in various styles.

I have to imagine in the UK something akin to that exists.

The "Boxes" are usually louvered, allowing a view of a thermostat or temp gauge, but can be locked, disallowing altering settings. Assuming either of two sceanrios, Your Control is or isn't braced in a wall by studs.

In any case then assume that tenants will not use a screw driver to remove the security box. If so, they should be evicted. If not, then you can use hollow wall anchors to secure the box to your drywall/plaster wall, etc.

if the issue is as critical as you state, perhaps use "IN ONLY" screws as are often used in Public bathrooms for stall and divider walls.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

you could buy a number of small lockable metal boxes that would do the job. Ask an electrician to drill a hole for the cables, then get him to remove the heating control, screw the entire box to the wall and refit the heating control inside that.

A couple of hours work for an electrician with sharp drill bits.

Answer 3

You might be able to open up the other valve which is normally set when the heating is installed. You will need a spanner or wrench of the appropriate size on the nut at the base, and turn anti-clockwise to open. Old radiators sometimes get full up with sludge, disgusting black stuff which can accumulate at the bottom. If there is enough of this it can block the radiator altogether. If opening the valve doesn't work, then try opening up the drain plug slowly and see what comes out. You might need to drain off some of the sludge until the rad warms up.

Answer 4

We clean display homes and they all have clear plastic boxes that fit over the thermostats to people cannot change the temp. Call a few building contractors or local builders and ask where you can buy them. Next thing to do is tell your renters that they will have to pay any heating/cooling bills over what you have paid before they moved in. You are losing money. And yes they do have locks on them

Answer 5

Buy a key safe and just cut the back out to fit over the heating control that should cure the problem. Other than that charge them a percentage of the elec/gas bills that should make them put their thermals on....Good luck

Answer 6

I've seen boxes like that before. Maybe try a hardware store and ask there?

You could also call your heating company and ask them. Maybe they would know where to get one in your area.

Have you talked to your tenants about this problem? In your lease do you have the option to make them move out if they do ridiculous stuff like that?

You could also try making them pay the bill.

Answer 7

Another thing you might try. Install a remote sensing "Line Voltage Thermostat" in series with the heating system (in the basement) and put the remote bulb in an area where it will "see" ambient air temperature (Outdoors) .Set it to 60 dF...
If the temperature outside is above 60dF the system will not function.

Answer 8

One of the largest manufacturers of a thermostat cover box is Versaguard. Check their website to see if there is a dealer in your area. One drawback is most of these are made for offices, business use. Everyplace I have worked that has them, they are all keyed alike so maintenance only has to carry one key for all of them. This would make it easy for the tenant to get a key and change the setting.

Answer 9

Buy any lockable box, ie, cash box, cut the back out leaving enough back in the enable you to screw it to the wall over your heating control.

Answer 10

They have thermostats that come with a locking box, just for this purpose..I would suggest any MAJOR diy stores would carry them..they use these alot in institutions, old folks homes, schools etc...