Can I ask sellers for the costs of their bills?

Martico

user1977 said:

lookstraightahead said:

lika_86 said:

Martico said:

If I was selling, I'd be happy to provide that kind of info. Depends on the vendor I guess, and any rapport you've developed with them already

I'd be the exact opposite. Bills are what bills are based on usage. If a buyer started asking me questions like this then I'd start to wonder whether it's because actually they're thinking about affordability and are considering pulling out. They aren't questions related to the title so I'd decline to answer them.

Doesn't that add to the likelihood of them pulling out though (for example as a buyer I would wonder what you might be hiding) 

As a seller I might think you a flakey buyer if you're only now thinking about your budgeting when we're already knee-deep in the process. But I'd probably share them.

Seriously? I wouldn't see such questions as deal breakers, just good prep before moving in.
All depends on how the questions are pitched, and how the vendor/buyer relationship is, of course

lookstraightahead

user1977 said:

lookstraightahead said:

lika_86 said:

Martico said:

If I was selling, I'd be happy to provide that kind of info. Depends on the vendor I guess, and any rapport you've developed with them already

I'd be the exact opposite. Bills are what bills are based on usage. If a buyer started asking me questions like this then I'd start to wonder whether it's because actually they're thinking about affordability and are considering pulling out. They aren't questions related to the title so I'd decline to answer them.

Doesn't that add to the likelihood of them pulling out though (for example as a buyer I would wonder what you might be hiding) 

As a seller I might think you a flakey buyer if you're only now thinking about your budgeting when we're already knee-deep in the process. But I'd probably share them.

Well yes fair enough but as you say you may as well share them (there's nothing to lose).

lots of people get quite excited at how their life might 'look' as the prospect gets more real, so any additional info is nice to know.

As others have said it's a bit irrelevant as lifestyle plays a part, but I don't see why a seller would refuse.

tommyedinburgh

We were asked this when we sold in the summer. I replied advising the cost per k/w from my utility suppliers, cost I had paid per tonne of coal / hardwood. 

They seemed to stop asking questions at that point. 

user1977

Martico said:

user1977 said:

lookstraightahead said:

lika_86 said:

Martico said:

If I was selling, I'd be happy to provide that kind of info. Depends on the vendor I guess, and any rapport you've developed with them already

I'd be the exact opposite. Bills are what bills are based on usage. If a buyer started asking me questions like this then I'd start to wonder whether it's because actually they're thinking about affordability and are considering pulling out. They aren't questions related to the title so I'd decline to answer them.

Doesn't that add to the likelihood of them pulling out though (for example as a buyer I would wonder what you might be hiding) 

As a seller I might think you a flakey buyer if you're only now thinking about your budgeting when we're already knee-deep in the process. But I'd probably share them.

Seriously? I wouldn't see such questions as deal breakers, just good prep before moving in.
All depends on how the questions are pitched, and how the vendor/buyer relationship is, of course

Not very seriously, no. But as a buyer, if I were going to seek that sort of info at all, I'd be asking during the viewings.

MikeJXE

As long as you realise they could tell you a pack of lies 

TheJP

No issue with this, I've done it and been asked it. Helps give an indication though would it change your mind if the bills seemed high? As others said a lot of bills are based on consumption. 

AlexMac

Not much to add to the above, but how far back in years or month - are you going to ask them to declare their energy costs?

And what about the variables mentioned above?

We use a lot less than the national average amount of energy in out 4-bedroom house and in recent years, until the price hike, were building up credit on a monthly Direct Debit of £100; so only £1k p.a. for dual fuel including gas central heating.

That's gone through the roof and we're now north of £230 per month! My smart meter and online account shows that although we are, on average, using less Kilowatt Hours compared with recent years (we wear woolies!), during the past fortnight's cold spell in mid December we were spending north of £8 a day on gas alone compared with two quid a day in the previous year.

So if you asked me, I'd have to give you an escalating spreadsheet, lol!

Water's a different matter.  We're on a meter, really mean with the H2O (shower sparsely, never take baths, cram the dishwasher...) and spend about £200 a year; less than half the average for a house our size. Our kids/grandkids would be paying £600-£800 a year if they weren't on a concessionary rate.

Broadband, phones etc also vary widely; with BT broadband, TV, phones and two mobiles we spend £70 a month but our grand daughter spends twice that on Comms

Council tax however, is a matter of public record

lika_86

lookstraightahead said:

lika_86 said:

Martico said:

If I was selling, I'd be happy to provide that kind of info. Depends on the vendor I guess, and any rapport you've developed with them already

I'd be the exact opposite. Bills are what bills are based on usage. If a buyer started asking me questions like this then I'd start to wonder whether it's because actually they're thinking about affordability and are considering pulling out. They aren't questions related to the title so I'd decline to answer them.

Doesn't that add to the likelihood of them pulling out though (for example as a buyer I would wonder what you might be hiding) 

If it does (having answered every other question about the title of the property) then the buyer isn't a serious one.

Martico

But what do you lose by giving this information? I'd say nothing, but you gain trust.
The buyer may well be serious, but hiding information may well cause them to rethink, as they have no way of knowing if you're a trustworthy seller. Be open, there's no downside

Debbie9009

I would think it was a strange question, as others are saying cost of most of these things vary, so I wouldn’t really see how my usage would be relevant.

I’m on a water meter and am very frugal with water usage, so my bill is a lot less than the average.

I use very little gas and electric during the warm months, and I keep my costs down in the winter by using my wood burner, as much as possible.

Broadband, as I work from home I have fibre, and there is only one fibre provider in my area.

Also all my bills are online, so I would have to print them off, which would take time.  If a buyer was really insistent I would provide them, but due to some issues I had with a buyer of a previous house, I would send them with a note making it clear this shows my usage and cannot be relied on.