Real-life MMD: Should I demand money back from housemates?

lynneinjapan

sng165 wrote: »

Anyway - This should be your landlord's problem not yours - he/she should be being billed for the water in Multiple Occupany households.
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/chargesbills/household/res_oft_walkerreviewann1.pdf

This is normally the case if the rooms are rented out individually, but not necessarily if everyone is on a single tenancy agreement for the whole house. Most HMO landlords take on the responsibility for bills because it makes for easier admin, not because they are legally obliged to.

As far as I can see, the document that you've linked to only says that the landlord has to tell the water company who is occupying the property at any given time, not that they have to take responsibility for the bills when the home is occupied.

Ebenezer_Screwj

Your flatmates have to pay the disconnection charge. It was their fault that you were cut off. Say that to them very slowly if need be or write it down in big letters for them. This threatens to be the thin end of the wedge in your flat-sharing finances.

Glosjools_2

Too right they should pay...why should you shield them from the real world? I bet they wouldn't repay the favour!

tallgirld

Yes you should ask for the money. If you are in a house share it wouldn't be much for each person to pay anyway so why would they make a fuss?

I cant stand cheapskates.com

edwardshe

Firstly, since it was completely their fault the water was cut off, it should be down to them to pay totally for the reconnection and I would start discussing/negotiating from this standpoint. If you wish to keep the peace, you can compromise by sharing the cost. But don’t start with a compromise start - with the ideal end result in mind.
These situations are always difficult but can be resolved effectively by 4 steps I have always successfully employed.
Firstly, think about what sort of people are they, what temperament and what do you think is the best tone/approach to get them to honour their responsibility to pay up? Deal with each individually starting with the weakest or more responsible/approachable first and get their agreement. Then move to the next.
Secondly, create a scenario/script of your opening gambit; what effective words and body language can you use to appeal to this person and press your point home firmly. Avoid getting personal. No matter how angry they get, plan to stay calm and ‘keep playing the broken record’ (ie keep repeating calmly but firmly and succinctly the facts of the matter )
Thirdly, rehearse the scenario and your intended behaviour a few times - particularly last thing at night. Then go to sleep imagining you successfully managing the discussions and visualising a WIN resolution.
Fourth – choose your timing. When are you at your best, and when are they more likely to be responsive/approachable?
Remember – stay CALM – CONFIDENT & IN CONTROL
Every success
[FONT=&quot]Edward Sheldrick[/FONT]

bundance

If they were decent people, they would not put you out of pocket.
Tell the truth.
If there is tension, then leave and find a new place to live.
You may have to kiss your money goodbye, but you will have your self respect in tact.

bundance

pennypinchUK wrote: »

Water companies can't cut off your water supply. So this is not a real dilemma.

See: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/managingdebt/debtsandarrears/dg_10025592

I wondered this. I thought they had to leave you with a little trickle for santiation purposes.

cazpost

My own experiences of house sharing were relatively problem free.The best system I found was where one person took responsibility for bill paying etc,and each of the others paid a set amount each month to that person to cover their share,by Direct Debit.At the end of the year,any excess is paid back,or any shortfall collected. The responsible person obviously has to be exactly that though, reliable,honest and organised. I suppose that only really works if you all know and trust each other before you start sharing. If one of you is the Leaseholder or the Landlord then that person must take responsibility for making sure bills are paid on time,and fairly. You need to sit down with the others and discuss a sensible approach to the problem that will prevent this happening again.

Uplink

EDIT: Noticed that the dilemma as posted says "electricity". My post below took "water" mentioned in the email at face value.

Ask them for their share of the reconnection fee. If they refuse, there are a few options:

1. Radical warning: stop washing for a week or two and let them know that next time the water is cut you won't be paying the reconnection fee. Adverse effects: if you like to go out of the house an meet innocent people, unrelated to your water bills, you'll have some trouble approaching them
2. Less radical warning: tell them that next time you won't pay the reconnection fee, and have them read point 1 above. Tell them to multiply that by the number of people in the house. Have them read the part about going out of the house.
3. Move out, and have them be serious rather than laugh about point 2.

You are not a charity. If they think you're not a good friend because you don't bail them out, you need new friends.

Of course, you could go another, more annoying, route: start eating their things from the fridge until you consider that the debt has been repaid. Problem with this tactic is that they'll start doing the same to yours.

Or you could have them pay your share when you go out a few times. As strange as this may sound, they might actually agree to that, but not giving you straight up cash, although they'd be paying the same money. If you're lucky, they might even overpay and be fine about it.

Augustus_the_Strong

Yes, you should certainly ask them to pay all of the reconnection fee - best to be firm about these things. Don't let them take advantage of your good nature.