[StudyHard_LiveBetter]

Hi, 6 of us are moving into a new student house. We can move in from the 6th of July, but 5 of us are not moving in till the middle of September. Bills is not included in rent, so what do you think is the fair way to do this? Shall we just split all the bills between six, even though he is the only one staying in the house for 2 and a half months or should he pay the bills up to September?

Though we have not talked about it, he is a very selfish fella, and I can't help but think he expects us to pay (also he is having his boyfriend stay almost permentantly in the house).

[Origami Bullets]

Split those bills (probably just water) that are a flat rate between all six of you (because you'd have to pay them anyway), and then let him pay the variable bills such as gas and electricity, and if he wants internet put in there from July then let him pay that as well - I'm assuming that otherwise you wouldn't have it installed until September.

His share of the bills shouldn't cost that much anyway - after all, he won't need to put the heating on.

[StudyHard_LiveBetter]

Internet we get free. So it's good that we only have electric and gas to worry about I guess!

[rach [shikari]]

Take a metre reading from when you move in, so anything before that, he can pay. You can work it out by unit, or just ask the company

[shezshez]

I'd split the cost just to avoid confrontation in the future.. unless it was a ridiculous amount of money.

[earlysound]

Yeh. I would personally split the cost to save confrontations.

[StudyHard_LiveBetter]

Yeah, thats the problems, I think there would be confrontations! is it likely to be like .. a huge amount?

[rach [shikari]]

Depends on how good they are at remembering to turn things off at the wall and lights etc. whether or not they put heating on. I just got my bill through for a house of 2 bedrooms and it came to £265 for 3 months. That is both gas and electric combined, with fairly strict usage and 3 people.

[hunter0510]

The gas and electricity bills are very easy to split. The unit price is clearly stated and if you read the meters it's easy to calculate.

If you are on a tariff which includes a standing charge, it would be fair to split it as it has to be paid no matter if you were all there or not.

[Emaemmaemily]

Split the water (which is usually yearly and not metered) between you all, but get him to pay the metered (generally gas and electric) for the period that he is there, as he will be paying for what he used. You guys aren't responsible for the energy that you don't use.

[rmhumphries]

(Original post by Origami Bullets)
Split those bills (probably just water) that are a flat rate between all six of you (because you'd have to pay them anyway), and then let him pay the variable bills such as gas and electricity, and if he wants internet put in there from July then let him pay that as well - I'm assuming that otherwise you wouldn't have it installed until September.

His share of the bills shouldn't cost that much anyway - after all, he won't need to put the heating on.

This - but also on any bills which have a standing charge (some gas / elec providers do) then split the standing charge, and he pays for the usage. With something like internet though, I would say it is slightly more complicated, as I guess you want a connection that is fast enough / has enough download limit for 6 people (which will be more expensive than internet for one) - and he may not be able to get a 3 month contract, so maybe split half the cost, and the other half he pays all himself?

[rougelipstick]

Just split it all between the 6 of you, it won't amount to that much (no more than £50 each I'd have thought) and if you're all paying rent and have signed the tenancy agreement from July onward it will avoid any confusion or confrontation, especially if you all move in on different days, or one of you decides to use the house for a few nights in August, for example, or the bill arrives in October when you've lived there for a month so you have to calculate it all.
Also he'll probably use so few units of gas it'll only add up to a few pounds, and standing charges would have to have been paid anyway, best not to create bad feeling at the start of the year being pedantic.

[StudyHard_LiveBetter]

Cheers for the advice guys!

[Shelly_x]

I'd say that he should pay for what he uses if no one else is there, otherwise how is that fair?

[StudyHard_LiveBetter]

(Original post by Shelly_x)
I'd say that he should pay for what he uses if no one else is there, otherwise how is that fair?

I know, but I just don't think he would accept that, I really dont ... its very frustrating.

[lovers in japan]

(Original post by StudyHard_LiveBetter)
Hi, 6 of us are moving into a new student house. We can move in from the 6th of July, but 5 of us are not moving in till the middle of September. Bills is not included in rent, so what do you think is the fair way to do this? Shall we just split all the bills between six, even though he is the only one staying in the house for 2 and a half months or should he pay the bills up to September?

Though we have not talked about it, he is a very selfish fella, and I can't help but think he expects us to pay (also he is having his boyfriend stay almost permentantly in the house).

I was in the same situation... I moved in July. We split the water bills, but I paid everything else.

(Original post by Origami Bullets)
Split those bills (probably just water) that are a flat rate between all six of you (because you'd have to pay them anyway), and then let him pay the variable bills such as gas and electricity, and if he wants internet put in there from July then let him pay that as well - I'm assuming that otherwise you wouldn't have it installed until September.

His share of the bills shouldn't cost that much anyway - after all, he won't need to put the heating on.

Perfect, exactly what me and my housemates did!

[Shelly_x]

(Original post by StudyHard_LiveBetter)
I know, but I just don't think he would accept that, I really dont ... its very frustrating.

Make him. He can't force you to pay.

[Origami Bullets]

On second thoughts, make him pay for water as well, because if you tell the water company that the house is unoccupied for a period of time, then you don't have to pay for that period.

[rmhumphries]

(Original post by Origami Bullets)
On second thoughts, make him pay for water as well, because if you tell the water company that the house is unoccupied for a period of time, then you don't have to pay for that period.

Not according to Thames Water (first link on google).

Most student-lets will be furnished, and so as the property is still furnished over the summer, then water rates need to be paid.

[Origami Bullets]

(Original post by rmhumphries)
Not according to Thames Water (first link on google).

Most student-lets will be furnished, and so as the property is still furnished over the summer, then water rates need to be paid.

Strange. I received a (hefty) water bill from United Utilities yesterday, which said that if the property was unoccupied then we had to let them know and we wouldn't be charged for that time. When I rang them up, we told them that we were students and so (even though someone might pop in and stay for a few days at a time), the property would be unoccupied over the summer. They didn't ask us if the property was still furnished (it is, and half our personal belongings are there) and didn't mind if people were occasionally there, so long as they weren't there for weeks on end.

However, when I googled it (because of this post), it says that we are only responsible for surface water and highway drainage charges (page 13) http://www.unitedutilities.com/docum...water_bill.pdf

It sounds like it might be one of those things that varies by utility company. However, we might have a nasty surprise in September when we ring them to set up our account (as they told us to)!