Should my flatmate's partner contribute to cost of bills?

Guest101

Tenants own their rental:

http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2015/01/13/do-tenants-own-the-property-they-rent/

Edit. Sole and exclusive means just that. It includes LL can't put another tenant in. But that's not all it includes

Teacher2

What presumably started quite amicably has now become a problem and the flatmate and his girlfriend are trading unjustifiably on your continued goodwill either blindly and obliviously or deliberately in the hopes you will not raise any objections. There is no simple solution here as even discussing the matter will hurt feelings and cause resentment. It's a situation best learnt from for another time. The lesson being, prepare for such an eventuality by having rules from the outset, e.g., 30% occupancy pays 30% of the rent. Or perhaps, a £1 a bath etc. It seems petty but if you agree at the beginning then there is no get out and no cause for argument. Personally, this case makes me realise how much I would hate sharing as others are always selfish and self-justificatory. If there is any possibility of moving out and starting elsewhere I would take it.

Jurassic_spark_2

I agree totally with Mummybear1976 on this matter.

If the partner of your flatmate is co-habiting and using the facilities.
Hot water, Gas or elec for cooking, loo paper, etc. She should cough up.

Bring the subject up with your flatmate. Asap.

Just be careful you don't end up on the street. Through no fault of your own.

menshevik

In describing the problem you refer to your rented flat as 'my rented home....'. Perhaps the issue is not so much about the equitable sharing of costs but more about a change in the dynamics of the shared house. Your flatmate's antenna should have picked up your feelings and run it past you. It has to be talked through and that's a discussion that needs to occur in her absence. Clearly you don't want her to stay during the working week, not on a regular basis anyway. If he won't address the issue or can't see your point of view then go down the financial adjustment path.

jewel*queen

A similar situation arose with my son. His friend's girlfriend moved in and was using the facilites along with food and also not clearing up. So I'd say yes she should contribute something if this is the case. Even if she can't contribute financially, could you come to some arrangement, for example could she take your turn for cleaning/shopping?

pickledonionspaceraider

Depends on if more utilities are being used, is the heating on more, the lights etc? If so then maybe ask HIM to contribute more - as you shouldn't need to cover rising utility costs to cover an extra body

Ebenezer_Screwj

Did you have any say in whether the "partner" (how I hate that term) should be sharing your agreed and contracted living arrangements? You should make sure that you do not pay any more than in the past, your friend makes up any difference, and better still that the pair of them move out into a place of their own.

carmina_piranha

Depends - have the bills actually increased? If your flatmate spends some time at her place then the baths, washing machine loads, etc. might balance out.

I know somebody who calculated that having a visitor's computer plugged in and on 24/7 was adding at least a fiver per week onto the electricity bill - is she doing that?

If she's not using your food, and it's just some milk and teabags, and washing up liquid then I'd say it's not really worth arguing about. Does she work full time? How come she is in your house more than you are?

However, if as others have said she is there heating your home for a good portion of yours and your flatmate's working day then she is costing you more.

I remember in one uni house, one of the housemates moaning that their OWN visitor had asked for a 3rd cup of tea with no offer of paying towards teabags or milk