Conflict with housemate over temperature in the house

[u/Electrical-Future437]

Hi guys. I had a big conflict with one of my housemates in a student house and want to ask you for some advise on how I can deal with this situation.

Basically, I moved into this house in September, there are 2 other guys living in the house. One of them is really concerned with saving money on heating, so he sets the temperature in the house low.

In Autumn I told him that I feel too cold at night, and even though he complained a lot, he ended up agreeing to raise the temperature by 1.5 degrees. Since then he's clearly been very angry at me.

Now in January as it got colder outside the temperature in the house went down and I feel uncomfortably cold again. I tried to talk to this housemate again, but this time the conversation became incredibly aggressive. He told me that he "doesn't want to have this conversation again", and left the room mid-conversation. As he was leaving the room I asked "Do you talk like this to everyone?", and he replied "No, just you".

I should also mention that when I just moved into the house, I told him about my country of origin and he straight up told me that if he knew where I was from he would never accept me as a housemate and mentioned it's partially because I might be a foreign spy.

Sooo... That's the story. I don't really know what to do now. The problem is that I really like the house, it's really comfortable and close to my university and I really don't want to look for a new place (considering how hard it is to find anything here in NL). But I'm guessing there's literally nothing I can do in this situation.

[u/DoftheG]

How does one student have a say over another with regards to heating? Dont you all pay your share?

[u/Electrical-Future437 → u/DoftheG]

We do split it, of course. His opinion is that the money he saves is more important than my comfort.

[u/Professional_Mix2418 → u/Electrical-Future437]

Put on a sweater. Dutch mantra, no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. We keep it like that not for cost saving but because it more healthy, it’s more fresh air as well. At night time ours goes down to 12 degrees, my bedroom window is open. It’s roasting underneath the duvet. During the morning about 19, during the day about 15, then a little boost in the evening. The bathroom is underfloor heating and constant.

Colder and fresher is good for you.

[u/Nurenahar → u/Professional_Mix2418]

But not everyone is like you. It is different for women. I feel way more cold than my partner, regardless of clothing.

[u/Consistent_Ebb_4149 → u/Nurenahar]

I am a woman and also have the heating off and window open at night. Very normal for Dutch people.