Bankruptcy application form help - Independent household expenses

amy_5756

Hi everyone,

I’m a little lost with the bankruptcy application form. I currently live with X amount of housemates, we are all financially independent from each other, the only thing we share equally is household bills such as electricity/gas/rent, which is split X ways equally, no matter what their income is.

In the application form it states I must add expenses such as groceries, toiletries etc for the household.. Does this mean they want the full/estimated amount all of my housemates spend on groceries and toiletries? 

For example - for X amount of housemates, I put the total estimated cost for all housemates groceries and toiletries, and depending on my share of the total household income (say 15% if some housemates are paid more than me),  15% of the grocery total for X housemates will be deducted from my income each month in their eyes? Even if it’s split X ways equally.

I hope that makes sense, sorry I am trying to keep this as generic as possible.

Thanks!

flipflopflo

No you put your expenses down on the forms. You are your household not the housemates, they are each their own household. So put your rent, what you pay personally for the utilities, your personal expenses. 
hope that makes sense.

amy_5756

That makes a lot more sense, think I took the word ‘household’ too literally, thank you so much! 

amy_5756

Another quick question - Will I still have to pay Council Tax? I know some people don't have to pay it as that money goes to the OR instead, but with my situation living with X amount of people who will still have to pay it, will it mean I will still be expected to pay this?

flipflopflo

Officially no you won't have to pay CT and your housemates will have to pay more. But if it's going to cause problems/you don't want them to know then I would

a) chat to the OR and see if they will be kind enough to let it slide

and 

b) build a buffer into your SoA so that if they are not amenable and you don't want housemates to know then you can still pay.

amy_5756

Ok I will prepare for the worst and try and add in a buffer.. thank you so much for you advice, really appreciate it