Bill Disputes With Flatmates

mh1000

I'm not sure I'm in the right place but I'm hoping someone may be able to help.

I'm a student who only recently moved into a flat with two other students, both of whom had been there for quite a while. After moving in I found out that the last gas bill was enormous, £360 for the months of Jan, Feb and Mar. I checked with the gas company in question, and even though it was classed as a winter bill they agreed that, yes indeed, that's one high bill!

The problem is that one of my flatmates, the guy who's name is not on the bill, keeps turning on the heating. Before I arrived he had it on for 14 hours every day. We talked about it and he agreed to reduce it to 7 hours per day. But now he's back to his old tricks, and has it on for 10 hours a day.

I fear another big bill.

There is one person's name on the bill, it's not mine, it's the third guy, who is hardly ever there and doesn't seem to care much.

Our landlord refuses to get into bill disputes between tenants and says simply that the bill must be paid. If it isn't, then whatever is owed is taken out of our deposits.

Is there anything I can do? Should I contact the gas company and inform them of the problem? There surely must be something? Is there?

The next bill is due in mid or late June.

:mad:

alwaysonthego_2

I would imagine only the person that s named on the bill can only get in touch with the company, I would be worried if I was him because he will be liable for the whole bill. Thee best thing would have been if you were all named on the bill so you would all be held jointly liable.

You should call a house meeting and set up some house rules and include reasonable times when you can use the heating etc and if someone wants to use the heating extra they should contribute more.

Premier_2

Unfortunately it's one of the potential problems of sharing a property with someone else.

As previously mentioned, the person whose name is on the bill will ultimately be responsible for paying it (so maybe you should make them aware of that)

The idea of having all names on the bill may not help. I believe in such circumstances each named person would be held "jointly & severally liable" meaning the utility company could pursue any one individual for the total amount owed. The utility company will not want to get involved in disputes between the 3 of you over how much each person pays. If the person on the bill contacts the utility company, they may suggest replacing the current credit meter with a pre-payment meter (but that usually means you pay even more for the gas), but at least then the person won't be able to turn on the heating if there's no credit on the meter. This won't work though if you also use gas for other things like hot water or cooking.

The landlord is also correct in not wishing to get involved with disputes over how much each tenant pays towards the bill. However, the landlord is not correct in suggesting he would withhold any outstanding utility debt from the rental deposit. As previously mentioned, the debt is between the utility company and the person named on the bill - it has nothing to do with the landlord and certainly not his responsibility to repay. Any outstanding debt left by the currant tenant will not affect the landlord or future tenants wishing to have a gas supply.
(Btw, I hope your landlord has deposited the rental deposit in an approved deposit scheme and provided you with details of that scheme as he is legally obliged to do - that would aid your recovery of the rental deposit at the end of the tenancy should a dispute arise)

Sorry, but I can't offer much further advice other than sitting down with each other to reach a mutual agreement. If you fear that the first guy will rescind such agreement shortly thereafter again, perhaps suggest put the agreement into writing creating a written contract between the three of you whereby if someone breaks the terms of that agreement they become liable for the extra costs incurred. Calculating such extra costs could create a whole dispute in itself, so only do this if you can agree and include clear terms beforehand within the written agreement so that no cause for dispute could exist.

alwaysonthego_2

though normally the landlord would have to agree to a meter being installed in his property, it would be best to check before you agree to having one.

Andy_Hamilton

Can you lock off the thermostat?
Also turn down the dial on the boiler to min. my heating has ben off for atleast a month now.

tanith

This happened to someone I know and the person whose name was on the bill disappeared into the night and the last man in the flat was left holding several large bills... a sad fact that some people just don't give a damn

Mrs_Thrify

Hiya, my advice would be to have pay meters installed in the house

MX5huggy

I would not bother with pre payment meters all that will happen is that you will buy power and he will use it then you will have to buy more for your own needs all at higher prices.

Keep it in perspective the bill was £120 each if you managed to cut this by 20% you would saved £24 which is not alot! This was also the coldest 3 mths of the year. The next bill should be less unless he is just having the heating on to spite you.

You are saving money by being in a house share.

Finally pratically as said turn down heating temp on the boiler so it runs cooler but also turn off all the rads you can so only his room is being heated, there is a bit of a problem turning off the rad that heats the thermostat as the heating might never go off.


Sounds like it is best if you keep your name off the bill!

Andy_Hamilton

If your going to stay for a few more months give the energy supplier a much higher reading (work out from previous bill then add just a small amount per month).

This will issue your bill payer with a much higher bill, if everyone pays this, when you leave give the utility company the correct details and the bill should be much less, Devide this smaller bill between the responsible people and tell the selfish person it has not gone down; Hence they pay more for using more without them even knowing.

My usage for a 3 bed house has been £20-30 per month over the winter which I'm happy about, I just wish my fish tank did not cost £20 per month on the leccy.