Housemates not paying council tax

TBagpuss

I agree with others saying get the joint account closed ASAP.

Whose names are the bills in? While is is probably too late for your current house share, what I would recommend for the future is to have one bill in each person's name. That way, if (for instance) the electricity bill is in your name, and someone doesn't pay their share, you are protected to a degree by the fact that the Gas bill (for instance) is in their name, and you can offset one against the other.

It also means that in a worst-case scenario, you are only stuck with one outstanding bill in your name, not multiple bills.

I suggest that you sit down, now, with your house mates, look at all of the bills and work out what is owed, by whom, and insist that any shortfalls are paid. The people responsible for any bounced payments should pay the late fees.

If your name is on any bill be aware that you are liable to the utility company for the full amount. Make sure that they have up to date meter readings so the bills are accurate, and as you now know some of your house mates are unreliable, be particularly careful to notify the utility companies directly, yourself, when you move out, to close the account in your name to ensure that you limit any liability.

StuC75

Worst Idea ever, especially for whoever gets stuck with an 'open ended' bill - i.e. Gas\elec\ water meter is based on whatever you consume rather than just the fixed monthly amount..

Didn't the OP suggest in earlier email that they moved into the property in September and the council were setting the payments for Council tax to be taken over January \ Feb & March for the 6/7 months of the council tax year?? so have the other house guests 'technically' missed the date yet?..

TBagpuss wrote: »

I agree with others saying get the joint account closed ASAP.

Whose names are the bills in? While is is probably too late for your current house share, what I would recommend for the future is to have one bill in each person's name. That way, if (for instance) the electricity bill is in your name, and someone doesn't pay their share, you are protected to a degree by the fact that the Gas bill (for instance) is in their name, and you can offset one against the other.

It also means that in a worst-case scenario, you are only stuck with one outstanding bill in your name, not multiple bills.

I suggest that you sit down, now, with your house mates, look at all of the bills and work out what is owed, by whom, and insist that any shortfalls are paid. The people responsible for any bounced payments should pay the late fees.

If your name is on any bill be aware that you are liable to the utility company for the full amount. Make sure that they have up to date meter readings so the bills are accurate, and as you now know some of your house mates are unreliable, be particularly careful to notify the utility companies directly, yourself, when you move out, to close the account in your name to ensure that you limit any liability.

PatrickStar

Thankfully my own name is not actually on the joint account.

I'd be even more worried to have each of us deal with a bill each. We've already had our internet cut off because we left one person in charge of paying for it (with our money) and she never bothered to do it - despite receiving late payment notices.

Since September, we haven't paid a single bill on time because the others are so irresponsible, and they're the ones on a steady income...

So I think the best plan is to get out of the house as soon as possible, and let some other poor people deal with having them as housemates!! :rotfl:

PerpetualStudent

Patrick, getting out of the house altogether sounds like the best plan! I've just got out of a houseshare that - while not as unreasonable as yours sounds - was stressful. Like you I am a student astounded that those supposed 'professionals' could be so irresponsible and small-minded.
Best of luck finding a place with reasonable housemates where home can be, as it should, a place of relaxation and recuperation! Nothing is worth having this stress waiting behind your own front door!

mildredalien

It's so tricky housesharing, having each person take responsibility for one bill is usually the best way to tackle things to share out responsibility equally. However it can be difficult to make this actually equal (e.g. paying one TV licence vs a whole years gas and electric bill is very different if you run into problems).

I'd just recommend getting out of there asap, your housemates are clearly irresponsible children who will just run themselves into problems and you don't want to be dragged down into their mess. Or report the issues to the LA/LL and try and make sure the two causing problems don't stay next year?

When I house shared with people I didn't know, I was luckily in a place with all bills included so we didn't have to go through any of this. If you can find such a let I would recommend it.

Reue

TBagpuss wrote: »

I agree with others saying get the joint account closed ASAP.

That may be easier said than done.

I foolishly had a joint account with my old housemates when the 3 of us shared a house. After 2 years (and numerous 'oh i cant afford it this month' bill excuses from them), I moved out. I went into the bank to try and close the joint account and they advised they were unable to do so unless the other 2 came in as well.

Obviously, being too lazy to budget for bills, they were much too lazy to come into the bank to close the account. It was only 2 years later with the account sitting at a 0 balance that I managed to get one of the branch bank managers to see sense and just close the damn thing. God knows what could have happened if one of those other 2 had realised it had an overdraft facility they could have accessed..