Bills included in the rent

beerinmind

I'm now living in a house share and thinking about getting a place on my own. Don't think I can afford a proper 1 bedroom, so I've been looking for a 'studio'. Which in London essentially means an old house converted into a complex of small rooms with toilets and kitchenettes.

In each case the rent would be 'included' in the rent or the landlord is asking for a fixed sum on top of the rent to cover the bills. In any case, my name is not on any of the bills, including council tax.

I had different experiences previously, when I'd register with the council and all utility providers as soon as I move in and take care of all the bills.

Will it cause me any problems if I do not register when I move in? Is this even legal? :eek:

thanks!

AdrianC

beerinmind wrote: »

I'm now living in a house share and thinking about getting a place on my own. Don't think I can afford a proper 1 bedroom, so I've been looking for a 'studio'. Which in London essentially means an old house converted into a complex of small rooms with toilets and kitchenettes.

In each case the rent would be 'included' in the rent or the landlord is asking for a fixed sum on top of the rent to cover the bills. In any case, my name is not on any of the bills, including council tax.

Sounds more like a room in an HMO, or being a lodger, depending on whether the landlord lives in the premises or not. Used to be called a "bedsit", back in the day.



A studio is a "proper" flat that just happens to have no separate bedroom.

I had different experiences previously, when I'd register with the council and all utility providers as soon as I move in and take care of all the bills.

Will it cause me any problems if I do not register when I move in? Is this even legal?

No, it's fine - there'll just be one address, the house, and the bills are all registered to that.

beerinmind

No, it's fine - there'll just be one address, the house, and the bills are all registered to that.

Ok, just to confirm as I'm not British, sounds like I don't HAVE to register with the council when I move?

CIS

Ok, just to confirm as I'm not British, sounds like I don't HAVE to register with the council when I move?

It's always best to advise the council of your occupancy and the particular circumstance (i.e occupancy of a HMO) so that they know you have been resident and the periods (it certainly helps if queries come up at a later date).

beerinmind

This is when I feel very uncertain. I've asked if my name will be on the bill and if I need to register with the council - they said no. Should I just go ahead and still let the council know?

Maybe i'm overthinking this, but just want to be safe and this arrangement sounded a bit dodgy to me.

sal_III

Your tenancy agreement should made all that clear - whether you have to pay bills, council tax etc. Speak with the LA/LL and read it carefully before you sign. Then act accordingly.

Bills included usually includes the council tax. So you don't have to register with the council to pay it personally.

If you plan to stay in the UK for the foreseeable future it's good to register in electoral vote register as it will improve your credit file and might be crucial if you look for mortgage in the future.

CIS

beerinmind wrote: »

This is when I feel very uncertain. I've asked if my name will be on the bill and if I need to register with the council - they said no. Should I just go ahead and still let the council know?

Maybe i'm overthinking this, but just want to be safe and this arrangement sounded a bit dodgy to me.

Council tax liability is determined by law - simply having an agreement or being resident in a dwelling does not make a person automatically liable for the council tax charge. The wording of a tenancy regarding any clause which states you may/may not pay council tax means nothing as far as the council are concerned, they will only use the statutory factors to determine council tax liability (these sorts of clauses in a tenancy agreement are not a statutory factor). There may be a clause in some cases to require you pay the landlord a contribution towards any overall council tax charge but that is between you and the landlord.

By making sure the council know you are resident and the specific details it will head off any later issues - believe me when I say I've dealt with hundreds of similar council tax cases which have gone wrong over the years and could have avoided if all information was known from the start by the council.