Shared Bills problem

portchieboy

My daughter shares a house with 3 others, the Lease not including Bills.

They currently have a problem as there has been a big Gas bill, and one of the 4 says she was hardly in, and refuses to pay a share. This also throws problems in for next quarter. Further to this, 3 of the 4 are continuing next year, including the trouble maker.

I have suggested that when she returns to Uni (Exeter), she contacts the Student Union for legal advice.

I think that the 4 need to meet, and sign an agreement for now, and for the ongoing period.

Another problem is that the guy who is leaving has his name on the Gas bill. What happens when he goes....no-one else is going to want their name on in case anyone refuses to pay and leaves a debt.

Has anyone come across this before....am I right in my suggestion please?

Blacksheep1979

you can phone up the gas company and ask them to put the bill in the troublemakers name. Then everyone pays their share and its up to her whether she wants debt collectors chasing her. Either that or have a word with the landlord and ask him if he is willing to use some of her deposit for the bill. Failing that there is the option of the small claims court as she will have signed a contract more than likely accepting an equal share in the utility bills.

melancholly

ask whether or not the girl turned off the radiator in her room when she was away - if so then negotiate, but more than likley she didn't think of that and is therefore as responsible as the others.

if i was the guy leaving i would cancel the account when i left, just to make sure that nothing was left in my name. it also means that a final bill will be sent and there can be no option of people chasing afterwards.

i'm guessing that they'll have gas, electricity and phone bills - one in each name should make everyone care equally about paying properly?

surfcat

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

you can phone up the gas company and ask them to put the bill in the troublemakers name. Then everyone pays their share and its up to her whether she wants debt collectors chasing her. Either that or have a word with the landlord and ask him if he is willing to use some of her deposit for the bill. Failing that there is the option of the small claims court as she will have signed a contract more than likely accepting an equal share in the utility bills.

Yes, you can phone uo the gas company if you like. They will not, of course, put the bill in someone else's name without their permission! How stupid would that be?

3plus1

surfcat wrote: »

Yes, you can phone uo the gas company if you like. They will not, of course, put the bill in someone else's name without their permission! How stupid would that be?

Er, you're wrong. At my student house, there are bills in my name that I never signed up for. A housemate put me down. So, it is entirely possible.

Blacksheep1979

surfcat wrote: »

Yes, you can phone uo the gas company if you like. They will not, of course, put the bill in someone else's name without their permission! How stupid would that be?

Whilst it may be stupid they will put it in whatever name you ask them to - even without that persons permission. Maybe research your answers before shooting down other peoples suggestions.

melancholly

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

Whilst it may be stupid they will put it in whatever name you ask them to - even without that persons permission.

i think to does become problematic when you want to change the name on the bill rather than just openning an account. it may depend on your supplier, but we have had to get signed letters from people sent in to put it in a different name (admitedly the gas company still haven't managed to spell the new name right and we have an account in the name of a person who doesn't exist).

Debbie1980

You say the reason she does not want to pay is that she says she was hardly in. I wonder if she is going to say this when the electricity or water or any other bill comes in? If so this is going to cause further expense to your daughter and her other housemates.

At the end of the day I would say it was her choice (i assume) not to be hardly at all, it is not very fair to spring this on the other housemates when a bill comes in.

I would also check how the bill is charged - if there is a standing charge for each day then everyone in the house should pay towards that as it will always be there regardless of how much gas is used.

One of my landlords at Uni had all the bills addressed to himself and when they arrived at the house we would look at them and send it on to him, along with a cheque for each of our shares. If for some reason anyone did not pay he would have been able to take it from our deposit.

Meatballs

a) There are minimum charges to gas bills that you get charged no matter what so that should at least be split between the occupants.

b) Central heating should be left on at a minimum setting over winter months to prevent frost damage etc - she is also liable for that.

c) People sign up to live with 2/3/4/5/6 because the sharing of bills saves them money - it costs the same to keep the whole house warm no matter how many people you have. It is unreasonable to say you will not pay any of the bill and should at least pay the minimum charges (as above) and a discounted portion of the bill.

Plus what does 'hardly in' constitute? If she didn't actually stay there for a number of weeks then fair enough apply some discount. If she just means that she is always out of the house but still sleeps etc then that is not on at all!

MercilessKiller

Hey. I'm currently having problems.

Elec bill came as £300!! Couldnt believe it. One of the guys has refused to pay towards it saying he "cant afford it" 2 days after buying a car. He's now left the house forever and owes the landlord £1400 and said "I'll tell him I'm leaving the country if he says anything" :S

Another one is just an absolute ar*e and its impossible to get any money out of him no matter how much I ask.

I leave the place next month. Am I within my rights to leave a cheque for a perfectly equal share of the bill, take my name OFF the bill, and a letter to the landlord explaining the troubles with the housemates and that the cheque covers my share of bills.

If I cant do it that way, I'm going to end up paying £300 instead of about £70 (4 people)

Thanks

P.S All 4 of our names are currently on the bill. I put them all on at the start of the year so can take any off etc

Blacksheep1979

you'll probably find that you're jointly and severably liable meaning the gas company can take any one of you to court for all the money. If you've signed a joint tennancy agreement the same will be true of the rent that the other guy owes. Did you all have guarantours? and did you sign a joint contract?