Massive Housemate Problem - council tax/electricity/gas

Rakesh.Chauhan_2

Moved into a shared apartment with 4 others and the council tax/electricity/gas bills have come through.

1 person wont pay for their share of the bills.

The landlord is useless because he says "its not" his problem and wont even kick this certain indivdual out because he pays the rent. The indivdual buys drugs but cant afford to pay for the bills.

Will the council tax/electricity/gas companies appriciate rONLY receiving our share only?

How can we get rid of this indivdual too?

CIS

If it's one joint bill, your all jointly liable in full, if the person really is just spending money on drugs, the companys is unlikely to wate time pursuing them when the other memeber of the household are easier targets.

singlehouseholder

Sounds like a nightmare, its bad enough paying your own share of the bills never mind anyone elses. I suspect you all had to sign some kind of tenancy agreement? Surely there's some small print whereby if you break the law you should be evicted? Its all good and well the landlord having that kind of attitutude but you other tenants have rights. What if you decided you didn't want to pay your share of the bills? I think the LLord would want you out on your ear.. maybe go to CAB-they will be able to advise you how to go about evicting the non paying tenant....

Fran

singlehouseholder wrote:

.....................What if you decided you didn't want to pay your share of the bills? I think the LLord would want you out on your ear.. .....

This wouldn't concern the landlord, he's only interested in the rent being paid (and no damage etc.).

Whose name is the bill in? Unfortunately that person is responsible. I've been in this situation before twice in a shared house, it's a real problem. I think one time BT didn't persue a bill when I wrote and explained that the person had moved out and moved town.

The chances are that the person will not pay his rent if he spends money on drugs and get evicted anyway. CAB is a good suggestion. Perhaps there's a way of the person whose name the bill is in collecting weekly money, there might be more chance of getting it?

missk_ensington

A friend of mine had this problem, although there was only two of them not four. Anyway she contacted gas/elec etc, and had the bills halved and an invoice sent to her, and her friend separately. Or you could contact this persons parents? Or you might be able to serve notice to ahve him leave, but this would mean court intervention.

movieman

This wouldn't concern the landlord, he's only interested in the rent being paid (and no damage etc.).

Why would any sane landlord want one of his tenants !!!!!! off four other tenants?

Sounds like a crap landlord to me. Can't you tell the landlord that if they don't kick out the non-payer, all four of you will leave?

Astaroth

Are you on a joint tenancy agreement or all on individual agreements?

Certainly for gas/ electric you are all legally liable for the full amount irrespective of whos name happens to be on the bill. The companies would pursue you all for the full amount and not 20% of each of you.

Fran

Astaroth wrote:

Certainly for gas/ electric you are all legally liable for the full amount irrespective of whos name happens to be on the bill.

The person who's name is on the bill is responsible.

Adviceguide - Citizens Advice

Who is liable to pay the gas bill

The person who requested a supply of gas will be liable to pay for it and their name will appear on the gas bill.

But......

UHSU

Sharing Bills
For Gas, Water and Electricity it is easiest to divide the bill equally but with the Telephone bill, it is best to get an itemised bill to pay for individual calls, sharing the line rental. One of the biggest worries about sharing bills is that somehow you will end up paying for more than your share. If your name is the only one on the bill, then you may find yourself in the position where everyone has left at the end of the year, leaving you to pay the final bill. If you are the only name on the bill, then you can be liable for the whole amount. However, you may be able to prove there were other 'beneficial users' who should be equally liable for their share. Utility companies can often be more open to accepting this if you offer them your share of the bill first.

Dead_Eye_Jones

no offense, but why are you living with such a guy in the first place? Living with a druggie is asking for trouble, no matter how on top of it people claim they are (and yeas we've all been quoted the 'I know a doctor who takes heroine and hes ACE' story - yeah just dont let him do brain surgery on me kthnx) it always ends in tears. Anything is denial - usually by an addict.

And here you are with a guy who choses drugs over responsability, same old story.

Pay the bills (you have to bail him out sadly - sadly because it means he wont learn the lesson) and give him an ultimatum. Insist he pays a weekly contribution or he gets out. tbh Id be looking for other accommodation anyway, this guy doesnt know the meaning of responsability, and as long as he can live in his chemical world he'll never need to - what a wonderful future he has .

Rakesh.Chauhan_2

The idiot says he hasnt got any money, yet he can afford buying/using Cannabis everyday. He steals peoples food and claims it wasnt him. Landlord is useless, as long as he gets his rent he doesnt care. Thanks for the suggestion of all of us moving out - i think i might try which hopefully kick the landlord's A*se and realise that he's a got serious problem with one of the housemates.

BTW, the flatmate last week illegally sublet part of his room so with that extra income will mean he can pay his bills but surely both of them would have to pay separate bills (not as one).

Emmzi

Illegal sublet is *excellent* grounds for getting landlord to kick him out. No references for new roomie, I'm guessing!