Lodgers - what bills they can contribute to?

6raham

Hi,

i have just brought a flat with my girlfriend and we have decided to rent a bedroom to a friend of mine, we have provided him with a double bedroom and provided a bed, wardope, chest of drawers etc all that is required and have allowed him access to the kitchen, lounge, bathroom, all that would normally be allowed, for £200 a month plus bills but my question is what bills is he obliged to contribute to?

We have discussed going threes on the electric, water and sky (no gas anyway) but can i ask him to pay towards the sewage, the tv license and the council tax? or do my girlfriend and i (the owners) have to pay those?

Any help would be great

Thanks

ds1980

anything and everything!!

council tax is number one. Sewage??? are you roland rat?

ArchieB_2

Wouldn't it be easier to simply say £225 (or whatever amount you calculate) a month including bills and simply pay the bills yourself?

Other, experienced landlords woill offer more detailed advice I'm sure.

olly300

Water and sewage are included in the same bill.

Service charges for the building are paid by the landlord only.

I investigated doing this and was advised by people who do it to include all the bills in the rent because it is easier for you, so you are not always telling him that this bill or that bill has come.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/TaxOnPropertyAndRentalIncome/DG_4017804

If he needs to prove he lives in the property then you will need to put his name on the council tax bill.

jimbo_the_jetset

We rent a spare room out and I can tell you it is far easier to quote a lump sum per month to include gas/elec, council tax, water rates, tv licence etc.

When we were at uni it always took ages to work out the seperate bills three ways, especially if they come in at different times of the month. Just gets too confusing and you waste your precious spare time.

Just make sure after a few months that the bills are in line with what you predicted.

p.s. Check the local paper to see what the going rate is? You don't want to be too cheap, especially if you have a decent house, some rental places are fairly poor standard. Also get a bond (min 1 month rent) and think about a contract or at the very least make sure you make some verbal agreement about the do's and dont's.

Bargain_Rzl

Technically, if a lodger has sole access to a TV (i.e. if he has his own which he watches in his room) he needs his own TV licence - as the TV licensing website will tell you.

seven-day-weekend

The lodgers who live with my son in my house in the UK pay their rent inclusive of all bills except food and telephone. This includes Council Tax, water rates, Telewest (phone, broadband and TV), Gas and electricity. They each have their own room with access to the rest of the house and garden.

The person in the large room pays £300 pcm and the person in the smaller room £236 pcm.

jimbo_the_jetset

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

Technically, if a lodger has sole access to a TV (i.e. if he has his own which he watches in his room) he needs his own TV licence - as the TV licensing website will tell you.

I wouldn't worry about that, you can easily argue that it wasn't sole access. And they'd never even know about it anyway unless they came and inspected your house inside!!

Bargain_Rzl

jimbo_the_jetset wrote: »

I wouldn't worry about that, you can easily argue that it wasn't sole access. And they'd never even know about it anyway unless they came and inspected your house inside!!

True. I should add that I never had a problem (I was a lodger for 4.5 years, and a house-sharer prior to that - always with a single communal licence for the household.) I do know however that some people have had problems because when they buy a new telly, the retailer has to fill in the form to send to the TV licensing people, and if TV Licensing check the person's details and the TV licence at their address is not in their own name, then the person can find themself being chased. However, I never had this problem - and different surnames alone don't mean anything due to live-in partners, married couples with different surnames, and parents with different surnames from their children!

roses

I have a lodger and to be honest she is a real nightmare.

Before she moved in, I priced the bills as all inclusive with a cap in the contract to stop abuse. I also told her that I like to clean the house each week & expect to take it in turns and I don't allow the use of electric heaters.

She moved in 2 weeks later & is one of the most difficult people I have ever dealt with!

After 2 days, she complained about how cold the house was & she was sitting in her room shivering. She asked if she could use an electric heater. I wasn't happy but I said ok, as long as she uses one of those plugs which tell you how much you use & she pays me the extra. She got one of the plugs. I take meter readings each week & it is obvous she uses a lot. But I took a quick peek in her room & she is not using the plug.

Last week I came home to find the heating on turned up to 25'C & she was using her electric heater. I turned the heating off & told her it was far too hot & if she is cold (it was 25'C outside!) then she should wear a jumper. She flipped out & called me stingy!

For the first few weeks, I cleaned each week. Then I got fed up & asked her to do some cleaning too. She said she is a busy person & will clean when she wants.

I have tried really hard to compromise but she is not willing to do the same. She is moving out in 2 weeks as I have had enough of her & asked her to leave (after 2 months). Every time she doesn't get her own way, she goes into a huge strop & doesn't talk to me.

So, if you get a lodger then make sure you protect yourself. If you advertise bills inclusive then ensure you put a clause in so they don't abuse things like heating. And also be upfront about cleaning & make sure they understand it too.

This experience hasn't put me off having another lodger but next time I am not going to tolerate such behaviour & I will make it clear before they move in!

By the way, I am 28 & she is 32 but acts like a kid. I think her family & boyfriend treat her like a little princess which is why she feels she deserves to be treated like one by everyone else.

Good luck,

jimbo_the_jetset

roses wrote: »

........she is a real nightmare.........

Blimey, glad it hasn't put you off for life!!

Sounds like you needed some of those lockble child proof safety devices for you electricity plugs etc!!!