How do you split the bills when sharing a flat?

ds9074

Thanks for the advice, looks as if for maximum safety re:WTC I would be better not being the rent payer. Its a bit of a crazy rule though since what if everyone was on some kind of means test and also what if the tax office turned around and wanted 20% of the money in Income Tax!

I've shared with the same people previously so I know what I am getting into. Shame that the new landlord wont just take 4 part payments of rent, not sure how he/she is massively disadvantaged by doing that (with the proviso that if someone doesnt pay or someone moves out everyone is of course jointly liable for the whole rent).

Sharing is a great way to save money if you are prepared to compromise and live with other peoples different ideas and habits. I wouldnt recommend it for someone who is really set in their own ways of doing things.

On general bills like gas/elec etc I've found usually the best way is to not be on any payment plan but to just get the bill in full each time, everyone puts cash on the table and then someone goes to the bank and hands that over the counter. Also with household items such as toilet roll, washing machine tablets etc we just take it in turns!

Aliiyn

The solution in our house is that one person is in charge of all the bills/rent and pays it out of an account in their name. Before we moved in we estimated how much gas/electricty/actual council tax/phone/little extra to cover emergencies etc would cost and added this total onto the monthly basic rent payments (i.e. our base rent is £350 and we all pay in £450 per month; the extra £100 per person covers all other expenses). If a very large bill comes in and it looks like we might be a bit short, everyone just adds a little bit more money to make up the difference.

We find this works for us as one person is not left at the end of the month "topping up" the money to cover those tenants who have forgotten to transfer their share in time. One of my housemates loves our system as he was previously the chap in charge of the bills in his last houseshare; he was forever having to run around and nag people for money and it put a big strain on house relations/his patience!

rachel_m1

If you have one person with the bills in name if the other leaves, your left paying. Have an equal share, so both have one direct debit bill, and the bills like gas and electric are both names. I have had electricity bills in 7 peoples names before!

this way when its bill time you's both swap cheques instead of one person being the one nagging for bills.

rachel_m1

If you have one person with the bills in name if the other leaves, your left paying. Have an equal share, so both have one direct debit bill, and the bills like gas and electric are both names. I have had electricity bills in 7 peoples names before!

this way when its bill time you's both swap cheques instead of one person being the one nagging for bills.

CIS

Council tax (Both got to be on it - half each, see if you can both DD to make payments each month)

Remember that you are both legally responsible for the entire Council Tax balance , the decision on how you may split it is between you and your flatmate, but most, if not all, council's will not accept split payments especially not by direct debit.

ds9074

I've checked with the tax credits helpline and my tax office. Both say as long as the money is not sitting in your account for ages and as long as your not using it to generate interest they would take it as a transfer on someone elses behalf. So I am in the clear to pay the rent which makes it a lot easier for all concerned.

sooz

ds9074 wrote: »

. Shame that the new landlord wont just take 4 part payments of rent, not sure how he/she is massively disadvantaged by doing that (with the proviso that if someone doesnt pay or someone moves out everyone is of course jointly liable for the whole rent).

because if the LL has more than one property it turns into an accounting headache