Landlord pays bills but says we are using too much gas and electricity

savingsuperstar

KimYeovil wrote: »

Don't forget that with six tenants you are very likely to receive the best deal from having separate suppliers with single fuel tariffs rather than dual fuel tariffs - you may be able to save 20% or 30% or more by simply switching tariffs. Massive savings are available to high users.

Thanks for that, I didn't know.

bryanb

spiro wrote: »

I suggested that for gas he fit sub meters. He gets and pays bill and bills each tenant based on their share.

Thanks for that, however I was hoping the OP would say what the LL is proposing. Sub meters, of course would mean the tenants could not switch.
But naturally seperate supplies would cost the LL a fortune to organise and fit.

savingsuperstar

bryanb wrote: »

When you say the LL is going to fit seperate meters, do you mean seperate supplies from the power company or just sub dividing the existing supply and him continuing to pay the total bill?

Since we have a separate gas boiler I imagine this would be separate gas meters and a shared electricity one. However what LL's proposing is one gas meter.
I think LL'd probably send my bf (his son) the £120 he's proposing to contribute to top up the key rather than pay the whole bill and charge us that minus £120. He was talking about having to go to the shop to top it up.

bryanb

savingsuperstar wrote: »

Since we have a separate gas boiler I imagine this would be separate gas meters and a shared electricity one. However what LL's proposing is one gas meter for the entire house, probably because of cost, although we have asked for two.
I think LL'd probably send my bf (his son) the £120 he's proposing to contribute to top up the key rather than pay the whole bill and charge us that minus £120. He was talking about having to go to the shop to top it up.

Sounds like a recipe for arguments between tenants. Who's using too much?/I paid last time, etc

savingsuperstar

Exactly

KimYeovil

Prepayment meters for individual households with separate meters is fine but a single prepayment meter for a large house like that is expensive. Fuel bills are the responsibility of the tenants. Debts are the responsibility of tenants. There is no reason for the landlord to get involved.

A single prepayment meter would limit tariffs and would be significantly more expensive than a single credit meter with access to all tariffs. Yes, it requires discipline and risk for the tenants - one of you has to take the role of being the tiresome enforcer and ensure everyone pays their regular instalment. But the savings will be non-trivial. Risks are higher, admittedly.

bryanb

Does your tenancy agreement say bills are included? If it does I guess you could insist on no change. Difficult though with the family connection.

KimYeovil

Fighting over the bill is irrelevant. You are in a shared house, you share the bills. You must grab an equal payment every month from everyone. No excuses.

You pay more than if you were living frugally on your own but you receive a higher level of comfort and pay less for that level of comfort than if you were on your own.

bryanb

KimYeovil wrote: »

Fighting over the bill is irrelevant. You are in a shared house, you share the bills. You must grab an equal payment every month from everyone. No excuses.

You pay more than if you were living frugally on your own but you receive a higher level of comfort and pay less for that level of comfort than if you were on your own.

How does that work if one flat has 2 occupants and the other flat 4 occupants?

KimYeovil

bryanb wrote: »

How does that work if one flat has 2 occupants and the other flat 4 occupants?