Real-life MMD: Water worry - should we split the bill equally?

russimp

If you didn't agree this before you went away, you've just got to suck it up! But at any rate, unless you do this several times a year, then is it really worth trying to agree in advance - as many others have pointed out, this could open a very large can of resentful worms..!!

bogwart

Of course you should pay. If you had your own place you'd have to pay - anything else would be sheer anarchy.

Bills do not come out of the blue. You should have known this one was coming and prepared for it. After all, if you can afford to go away on a holiday you should be able to account for any bills which will come due whilst you are gone or on your return.

What you are suggesting is tantamount to saying that your flatmates should subsidise your holiday - how would you feel in their position?

annecb_2

I'd suggest good relationships with the rest of the house are worth much more than the money you'd save. Would you enjoy living in a house if everyone got touchy about how long you showered, how often you used the washing machine or how much you cooked because the usage of fuel might not be exactly even? It probably balances out near enough over a year or so.
And be thankful you could get away for so long - many working people can't take such a long holiday (e.g. special permission for more than 10 consecutive days), even if they have the money. Hopefully you have lots of good memories to share.

Talent

Just pay up. Swings and roundabouts....

oldtrout

AHAR wrote: »

One third share of 4 weeks worth of a water bill: £not a lot
Shared house harmony: Priceless

Precisely!

steampowered

Its a reasonable request. But it will set a precedent - so you will end up paying extra towards the water bill when your flatmates are away.

Over time the bills should roughly even out, so I think this is unnecessary complication.

Don176

As I see it, if you go away for a whole month on holiday, your share of the rent does still have to be paid, so who pays that share if not you? Your housemates have their agreed share to pay, and they're not obliged to pay anymore. What about the electric and gas and council tax? If you have an agreement to pay an equal share, then that's what you pay, regardless of whether you are there or not, or whether you use more or less! It could cause some bad feeling, is it worth it?

rawky

Just pay up, it's not worth falling out over.

Suppose one of your housemates only showers every other day rather than your daily shower. Would they qualify for reduced payment on this basis? If their shower lasted 3 minutes compared to your 5 minutes should their contribution be reduced even further?

What if someone eats pasta every night and therefore uses a pan of water each evening, but someone else only eats fish fingers and chips and never uses water to cook, should they pay less of the water bill?

This dilemma really does have the potential to open up a can of worms!

XRAT

If the bill is that large, check that it's correct, and over what period. You will probably find that your calculations are flawed, you will probably make a fool of yourself and are unlikely to save a large sum over such a short period. The chances are that everyone else will be absent for just as long during the year, it may just be that they take 2 x 2 weeks or 4 x 1 week.

In short; Take it on the chin. (If you can afford a 4 week holiday, a 1/3 share of 1 months water bill shouldn't give you too many issues.) It's not worth the hassle.

dannahaz

Just pay up.

You probably did a bit of extra washing before you went, you've probably done a bit of extra washing now you're back.

If you start down this road you'll have everyon arguing about getting a reduction because they went away for the weekend, or having to monitor the number of times you use the shing machine, or how long you're in the shower.

If you're not metered, there's no difference anyway.

If you're metered then the bill we be lower anyway because you weren't there.