Student House - Bills

Conrad11

Conrad11

Conrad11

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12 Jun 2005
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Tenancy starts today and we've yet to sort out bills and wondering what peoples opinions are on it are. We are a bit organised :p

I've already contacted the landlady to find out more information about bills and to see if I can get in contact with the previous tenants to get their experience.

Basically there are going to be people there over the summer and some won't come till term start, so how would YOU split bills and sort out paying them.

Are bills likely to be quarterly or are they monthly? Considering there are 5 of use in the house, what are the bills likely to come out as? Water is a flat fee isn't it or is that per per use or can you have either? Same with electricity, its pay per use right?

Apparently, from what I remember, the landlady signs the bills over to us, or something like that......not quite sure how they can transfer them to my name without my consent so I don't really get that bit but I have asked for more information.

I know you can't directly answer these questions, but I was just looking for a guide as to what they are likely to come out as.

Thanks.
 
sign up and do it online. Can put in meter readings when ever you want and will get an online bill.
Also try and get everyones name on the bill.
 
Make sure that everyone's names are on the accounts for the utilities when you ring them up to set up accounts!
 
Conrad11 said:
Tenancy starts today and we've yet to sort out bills and wondering what peoples opinions are on it are. We are a bit organised :p

I've already contacted the landlady to find out more information about bills and to see if I can get in contact with the previous tenants to get their experience.

Basically there are going to be people there over the summer and some won't come till term start, so how would YOU split bills and sort out paying them.

I would phone the suppliers of Gas/Elec/Water and give readings or take readings myself - and work out from that point onwards what you would owe personally.

Are bills likely to be quarterly or are they monthly? Considering there are 5 of use in the house, what are the bills likely to come out as? Water is a flat fee isn't it or is that per per use or can you have either? Same with electricity, its pay per use right?

If for example they are quarterly, if you take a reading when you move in, agree with whoever is living in there now that you'll only pay an equal share of whatever is used from the point you took your own reading.

Apparently, from what I remember, the landlady signs the bills over to us, or something like that......not quite sure how they can transfer them to my name without my consent so I don't really get that bit but I have asked for more information.

Seems they can, when I moved into my 3rd year house, all bills arrived with our names on from the start. When I moved out I gave final readings and paid / passed all contact back over to the landlord.

I know you can't directly answer these questions, but I was just looking for a guide as to what they are likely to come out as.

Thanks.
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uvarvu said:
Check if the house has a water meter. If it doesn't then you'll be paying a flat rate.
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Usually better, ime, to stay off the metering system if you do anything even remotely water intensive such as watering the gardens and washing cars.
 
For 5 people in Bournemouth we were paying about £15-25 a month on water.

Put in about £5 a week for electricity (so £25 a week)

Gas was quite varying, over winter, quarterly, about £150-200

But when everyone moved out I turned everything that required gas off.
 
Conrad11 said:
Tenancy starts today and we've yet to sort out bills and wondering what peoples opinions are on it are. We are a bit organised :p
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Do this

Joint account (doesnt need to be formal, you could just use someones [unused] account)

Everyone deposits exactly the same amount, doesnt really matter how much or when, all that matters is, everyone deposits the same.

All bills charged to joint account.

Another way is to have a massive overdraft, and then bill everyone each month or so
 
earlier that day

platinum87 said:
Punch all of your flatmates in the face if they don't pay what they should. I'd murder them without even thinking about it if one of them thinks they can have more water than me for free. For free! No ******* way! I'd chop their legs off and beat them to death with their own severed limbs. Take liberties with me - get a smack, you soppy tart.
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Later that day


platinum87 said:
Do this

Joint account (doesnt need to be formal, you could just use someones [unused] account)

Everyone deposits exactly the same amount, doesnt really matter how much or when, all that matters is, everyone deposits the same.

All bills charged to joint account.

Another way is to have a massive overdraft, and then bill everyone each month or so
Click to expand...
 
change you gas and electiric supplier online for maximum cashback goodness, also pay by direct debit with no paper bills for more good savings. Get a joint account and make everyone give you money on loan cheque day before they get a chance to blow the lot, collect more each loan day and if anything is left at the end split it or blow it on booze. Amounts vary but over estimate as it's easier to give money back then get it out of a tight arse latter.

the summer situation is tricky personally I would still split the bills evenly even though you are not there, it is a short period of time when bills will be at there cheapest doing this will save you an argument. When living together as students a few things will cause 99% of arguments, Washing up, Cleaning, stealing food and money for bills. Have rotas for the first two, a joint account with plenty of money in for the last and get used the the pixies it's pretty difficult to stop them!
 
a1ex2001 said:
Get a joint account and make everyone give you money on loan cheque day before they get a chance to blow the lot
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THIS!!!!

Im moving from a bills included house to one with bills, but I'm alright friends with 2 of them and the third guy is sound (all of us have only met him once or twice, but hes cool).

Don't forget internets and tv (and tv license). I worked out total yearly costs, then pinned my housemates and got ALL the money for the entire year out of each of them and put it in a savings account off my main account, and then just transferred the right amount into my main account on bill day.

I was only off by £10 on the last month ^_^
 
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