Splitting supply

Unclefester

Hi.
Me and my partner live in her late grandmother's property. The house was never registered. When she passed her late father split the house into two flats because he never got on with his brother. We live upstairs and a second cousin who claimed downstairs when the brother died stays there in the summer. We have a shared utility but they have installed a boiler and radiators and intend on moving in next year. We have had our boiler and radiators connected years ago. Now they are saying I have to fork out the money to separate gas, electric and water so both flats have there own meter. I said the split is both of our responsibility but they said because her name is on the bills I should be the one to pay up. I that right?

AndyPK

It’s probably not worth splitting the water.

Have you found out what the cost is going to be.

If you don’t have 2 consumer units it could be costly

Norman_Castle

Common sense suggests the costs are split equally. With their name on the bills its in their interest to split the supply. Its a worry that something as simple as this is causing a problem with someone you share a property with. How have the bills been split until now?

Unclefester

I have already had a gas pipe laid from the street to the house. I've offered to have the gas and electric split. But think they should also be responsible for the split as well. So they should split the water. Fortunately for me, downstairs water pressure has dropped as the plumber said it would. Mine's not affected. They can't provide proof of ownership so can't claim ownership of the incoming supply. Always has been for the house.

Unclefester

Bills been split equally. But they have an extra bedroom and sleep separately. I know they use more but with there new boiler and radiators it will rise.

Talldave

Stop paying towards the bills? That'll speed things along. What does "The house was never registered " mean? I wonder if you need to consult a solicitor over the whole setup - sounds very "informal"?

Unclefester

Deeds were destroyed years ago and the house was never registered.

Ms_Chocaholic

What's the situation with the Council Tax?

Unclefester

My partner has been paying council tax for eight years. Her dad was paying downstairs til two years ago. Her second cousins husband (who claimed downstairs) has been paying since then. The council have been round and classed it as two flats.

Mojisola

Unclefester wrote: »

My partner has been paying council tax for eight years. Her dad was paying downstairs til two years ago. Her second cousins husband (who claimed downstairs) has been paying since then. The council have been round and classed it as two flats.

How could such a distant relative claim on her father's estate?

Unclefester

No deeds. They are basically squatting. When they first got a council tax bill they didn't want their names on it because they have a council flat in London. So they now want to give that up and move in here permanently. They are just greedy people. Both properties taken from dead relatives.