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% of Lodger Bills to Pay

Sand_Man_2
Sand_Man_2 Posts: 146 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
in House buying, renting & selling
Hi

I live in an semi detached 3 bedroom house

I have decided to take in two lodgers so in total there would be three of us in the property.

I am trying to decide how to proportion utility bills out fairly.

i was thinking the following:

Gas & Electric - 55% Lodgers, 45% Me
Water - 66% Lodgers, 34% ME
Council Tax - 25% Lodgers, 75% me (as i can't claim back 25% from council for sole occupancy)

Does them right or should i charge more/less?

Any advice from other MSE who have taken lodgers in before would be greatly appreciated

Regards
«1

Comments

  • MissMotivation
    MissMotivation Posts: 1,751 Forumite
    My initial thought was why not just split it 3 ways?
    My home is usually the House Buying, Renting and Selling Forum where I can be found trying to (sometimes unsucessfully) prove that not all Estate Agents are crooks. With 20 years experience of Sales/Lettings and having bought and sold many of my own properties I've usually got something to say ;)
    Ignore......check!
  • Prudent
    Prudent Posts: 11,697 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I think a three way split would be fairest. If your lodgers rented elsewhere they would pay more than 12.5% of council tax each. Phone bill maybe trickiest.
  • lush_walrus
    lush_walrus Posts: 1,976 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Can you not include an amount to cover bills excluding council tax (which I would simply split 3 ways) in the rent? Thats what we have always done and it works out a lot easier than chasing people for the money to cover bills that are probably in your name.
  • lynzpower
    lynzpower Posts: 25,311 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I agree. I have always done lodgers rent inclusive. ( minus phone calls that are not part of our Primus 2 package- ie mobile & international)

    You can rig up the contracts to represent this for tax purposes.
    :beer: Well aint funny how its the little things in life that mean the most? Not where you live, the car you drive or the price tag on your clothes.
    Theres no dollar sign on piece of mind
    This Ive come to know...
    So if you agree have a drink with me, raise your glasses for a toast :beer:
  • Sand_Man_2
    Sand_Man_2 Posts: 146 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thank you for your comments

    i think i will just split it 3 ways to make is simple
  • F_T_Buyer
    F_T_Buyer Posts: 1,139 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Why don't you add it into the rent? Or for tax, add it as a fixed fee? If I were a lodger, I would want to know exactly what i'll be paying each month (apart from phone).

    Just my 2p.
  • seven-day-weekend
    seven-day-weekend Posts: 36,755 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I have always just taken rent from the lodgers and then used it to pay all the biolls (less phone bill and council tax).
    (AKA HRH_MUngo)
    Member #10 of £2 savers club
    Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
  • seven-day-weekend
    seven-day-weekend Posts: 36,755 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    They are not allowed to make phone calls from the house phone without permission.
    (AKA HRH_MUngo)
    Member #10 of £2 savers club
    Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
  • Lady_Lea
    Lady_Lea Posts: 25 Forumite
    I just charged a fixed rent - they dont need to know what you pay and you are making it more complicated trying to split - imho
    Lea Beven - Property Mentor & Entrepreneur

    Money can be made again and again, time - once it is spent, is gone forever.

    Those that make best use of their time have none to spare
  • *Louise*
    *Louise* Posts: 9,197 Forumite
    ^^I agree - I would just charge a fixed rent (incorporating a third of the bills) that will cover all those expenses.
    Cross Stitch Cafe member No. 3
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