Money Moral Dilemma: Does our flatmate deserve our leftover cash?

Former_MSE_Nick

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I moved out of my flat recently and one of my two housemates did very little to get the place clean and ready for check-out. We got some credit back on our energy bill as well as a small refund on council tax, however my other housemate says she doesn't think he deserves any of the cash. Should we confront him?

Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.

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oldtrout

Is this a joke? Confront him about what exactly? Another ridiculous MMD grrr

GwylimT

So your other housemate is a theif and is encouraging you to be one.

Gresp

This extra money is nothing to do with your housemate's lack of effort in cleaning up. It's to do with the entire billing period, during which your housemate was living in the house and presumably paying towards these bills - so yes, of course they are entitled to their share of it.

Is this behaviour typical of your other housemate (the one who's suggesting you don't pay him)? If so, I'd also be questioning whether she's kept anything else from YOU that you're entitled to.

marksoton

Confront away. And then report back how that goes.....

Marvel1

Thief springs to mind, i would be wondering if this housemate who suggested this has also stolen other things from you and the other one.

nanny_beach

Agree with gresp, this is a refund on overpaid bills nothing to do with cleaning or anything else, presumably he contributed to these said bills?

PasturesNew

The cashback is an overpayment for services. It's his money.

How much you feel he helped/not is irrelevant.

To deny the money to the flatmate would be theft/fraud.

csgohan4

is this a joke?

ButterflyLC

So because this housemate was a bit lazy leading up to you moving out, this by the way is your opinion, then you are both stealing money that they contributed to the flat the whole time they lived there? This is a childish question, your not a parent taking away a child's pocket money for not doing the dishes. This is their money, give it to them or it is theft.

Teacher2

They are owed the refund but you might want to mention the cleaning and suggest some of the cash could be the lazy flatmate's contribution towards the this. They will, of course, say no. Then you can say what you got out of the whole business is some useful skepticism for next time. Only trust others after they have been tested. Certainly never share a flat with the idler again!