Utility bill dispute between housemate and I

ste_coxy

Hi guys, I am not 100% if this is the right room to post but I need some advice.

I live with my friend and we have so far split all bills in half. Water, Electric and Council Tax. We even do a monthly food shop and split that in halves too. This arrangement has worked well so far.

The problem I face is I work 2 jobs. I leave at 8am and don't get back into the house until 10.15pm Monday to Friday.

Until last month for the previous 6 months my housemate was out of work due to losing her job. In this time, she was then at ours the majority of the days looking for work online over the phone etc. Obviously, more water and electricity was getting used.

We recently submitted meter readings for both the water and electric and after previously paying £18 a month for the water they are now asking for £34.68 a month which includes estimated charges for the rest of the year and a credit balance of £22.58.

The electricity apparently they've asked to increase the d/d to £68 a month after we'd previously paid £30 a month alternatively we could pay £106 to bring the account up to date (this includes £30 we didn't pay last month as we cancelled the direct debit and haven't paid it since). So really £76 more worth of electricity has been used compared to what we'd been paying in.

Now, I really don't know how to address this as she's not been forthright and offered to pay more and nor have i brought it up but she's said about us sorting it out this month.

I haven't minded working the 2 jobs and still paying half of the bills but I don't feel I should have to now go halves when she was off work and has now clearly made the bills increase.

Any tips on what to do?

Brb

I think it would depend on whether or not she was actively looking for work. Is she claiming benefits ? can she actually afford to contribute more ? if she can't then she would have to move and that would cause you problems (if this is the only problem you have with the share then not so bad, next sharer could drive you potty and be a nightmare to live with).

I would give her a couple of months to get her bum back into work where you'll be happy to continue paying halves but after that you will look to redress the balance. At the end of the day the same thing could happen to you and she could return the favour. She could offer to do all housework and cooking to show her thanks. But if she looks to turning into a layabout and not do all she can to get back into work then you will need to look to share with someone else as your relationship will take a nosedive.

princeofpounds

OK, from an initial contractual point of view there isn't anything you can do. Any judge would look at your actions for evidence of reaching an implied verbal contract and see that you happily paid 50%. The working assumption would be that arrangement would continue unless specifically changed and you wouldn't be able to recover any past 'overpayments'.

So put thoughts of 'legality' to one side and be clear this is a decision based on negotiation between two individuals and more an ethical question that one you can apply a rule to.

It's very difficult to be specific over how much energy or water a person uses. If you end up going down that route you will argue over each run of the washing machine. And what would satisfy you? 60/40? 70/30? On what basis? Given I can't answer that question myself, I can't really answer yours. Just looking at the bill increases won't make much sense as energy prices have been very volatile and you might expect winter bills to be higher anyway.

I would be looking for some kind of token recognition payment or gift to say thanks. Like it or not you are basically a household together and you need to reach agreements somehow.

ste_coxy

Brb wrote: »

I think it would depend on whether or not she was actively looking for work. Is she claiming benefits ? can she actually afford to contribute more ? if she can't then she would have to move and that would cause you problems (if this is the only problem you have with the share then not so bad, next sharer could drive you potty and be a nightmare to live with).

I would give her a couple of months to get her bum back into work where you'll be happy to continue paying halves but after that you will look to redress the balance. At the end of the day the same thing could happen to you and she could return the favour. She could offer to do all housework and cooking to show her thanks. But if she looks to turning into a layabout and not do all she can to get back into work then you will need to look to share with someone else as your relationship will take a nosedive.

sorry I should have added she in now back in work but during that time she was not as actively looking for work as she should have been - turning down jobs as "it didn't have a salary of at least £15k", "i won't do any temporary jobs" etc.

She does occasionally cook my dinner for me so when i get home i don't have to but its rare.

To be honest, I have no plans on living together after our contract ends in August, I intend to move home to my parents as I have no life at the moment with working these 2 jobs and I feel I am getting a pretty bum deal, especially having now to deal with this.

IronWolf

If its only til August I'd just leave it, it's most likely going to turn into a big argument and if shes back in work now it should be less of an issue.

ste_coxy

princeofpounds wrote: »

OK, from an initial contractual point of view there isn't anything you can do. Any judge would look at your actions for evidence of reaching an implied verbal contract and see that you happily paid 50%. The working assumption would be that arrangement would continue unless specifically changed and you wouldn't be able to recover any past 'overpayments'.

So put thoughts of 'legality' to one side and be clear this is a decision based on negotiation between two individuals and more an ethical question that one you can apply a rule to.

It's very difficult to be specific over how much energy or water a person uses. If you end up going down that route you will argue over each run of the washing machine. And what would satisfy you? 60/40? 70/30? On what basis? Given I can't answer that question myself, I can't really answer yours. Just looking at the bill increases won't make much sense as energy prices have been very volatile and you might expect winter bills to be higher anyway.

I would be looking for some kind of token recognition payment or gift to say thanks. Like it or not you are basically a household together and you need to reach agreements somehow.

It wasn't really from a legal point I was coming from, it was more morally I was trying to figure out how best to negotiate here.

I appreciate what your saying though as its likely to get tit for tat and nitpicking over things but I take away your point about a token recognition payment - I think this is certainly a fair compromise.

Many thanks for your advice here.

PasturesNew

Rule 1] Never share.

ste_coxy

IronWolf wrote: »

If its only til August I'd just leave it, it's most likely going to turn into a big argument and if shes back in work now it should be less of an issue.

To be honest though, she's not the type of person if the boot was on the other foot wouldn't be the first to say something if she thought she was getting a raw deal ...

An example, when I was offered the chance of home working a while back the first thing she said instead of "well in that's good for you" was, "only thing with that is, the house bills are bound to go right up". So didn't end up going for it.

ste_coxy

PasturesNew wrote: »

Rule 1] Never share.

believe me I have definitely learnt my lesson..

rule 2 - girls are moody

PasturesNew

ste_coxy wrote: »

believe me I have definitely learnt my lesson..

rule 2 - girls are moody

And boys are made of slugs and snails.

Brb

hahahaha slugs n snails.

Must admit I don't like living with the male species but will also acknowledge that I'm awful to live with LOL.

I would leave it as I wouldn't want to make the last few months unpleasant. Any future sharing plans I would ensure there were rules set from the beginning, but rather academic as you don't plan to share in the future.

Don't underestimate a !!!!ed off co-tenant. If you push this you risk losing deposit (if jointly responsible for property) if she does damage, doesn't pay rent.

I say all the above but yes morally you're in the right, doesn't give much comfort though does it.