Renting Bills

LegacyUser

Sorry if this is the wrong forum but it's about renting. Im renting with the owner of the house and it's just the two of us. Its 50/50 ESB, heating oil - everything. The thing is im only really there two days a week. I work late 2 days, am there another 2 days, and then im gone every friday and weekend! is it right I have to pay 50/50. She is there every weekend with the heating on etc yet I have to pay 200 euro for oil soon. She seems to be getting a good deal compared to me.

NewFrockTuesday

This is going to be movd so I hope my post doesnt get lost on the way.

If you agreed to that moving in then yes its fair. Its not your housemates fault that youre not there.

Having said that, I rent out a room to a student and she pays less for bills as shes never there at weekends and maybe only 3 nights during the week.

The peace and quiet make it worth it

Craft25

+1
it goes by what you negotiated and what you agreed at the start, rather than what you think is fair..

it could be worth talking to her and she may come down a bit , but on the other hand it could sour the atmosphere in the house and lead to bad living situation

Monkey61

While it isn't exactly fair, i think this is just one of those things you have to deal with when you're sharing a house, unless you brought it up right at the start when bills and stuff were first being arranged.

It's often the way in shared houses that everything is split evenly - NTL, broadband etc, even though some people may use it far more than others. In my last shared house we all split the cost of the TV license even though I personally never watch TV. It was more practical because the alternative was to not pay and then have to run upstairs any time I was in the living room and somebody wanted to turn the TV on - silly example but you know what I mean.

What would happen if you started to work different hours, or stayed down in the house one weekend - then it wouldn't be fair on her if she was paying more and you were using the heat as well.

Faith

Yea, it's fair, unfortunately. That's what you agreed to at the start, that's what you're stuck with.

petethebrick

If you are continually not there at weekends/evening etc you could try talking to her about it. I'd be tactful about it though - if she's any way reasonable you should be able to negotiate with her.

NewFrockTuesday

Agreed petethebrick. If she hasnt offered then chances are she may not take to the idea well. I changed the amount straighaway when I found out how little she was going to be there. Though seeing as she owns the house, she will appreciate having a nice person to live with and may be more open about discussing rates.

Ive had the experience of having a horrible house mate and Im just not able to cope with that sort of on-going heavy duty stress so having a good housemate is a top priority for me and I would be very open to adjustment. I hope she feels the same way.

Good luck

flowerific

If you agreed 50/50 at the start than that is fair. Even if both of you'se were not in the house and the heating etc turned off there is still the monthly/standard/rental charge to pay. What if your flatmate went away for two weeks would you still think it fair for her to pay more. And the fact that you mention that she owen the house in my experience the tennant has the advantage of not having to buy pots and pans etc as it is usually all provided, unless she charges rent for the use of her stuff she bought?

kayos

If you agreed to an even split then thats fair. The onyl time I would debate that is if you had a housemate(s) who are running up stupid bills by taking an hour long shower a day, leaving on everything electrical you can think of etc etc

LegacyUser

well she is a teacher so i do have the house to myself for two months of the year as she goes away. so i suppose im just being greedy!

doctor_gonzo

Sharing equally is the only realistic way to rent together, otherwise you'll have to go down the road of marking down how many hours you're in the house, how much water you used, how many times you boiled the kettle...it's just not realistic. You say you've the place to yourself two months of the year - it's all swings and roundabouts - I think it would be unreasonable to ask her to bear the burden. I don't spend much time in my rented house but contribute fully, its my choice that I'm often out...

shellyboo

Unregistered wrote: »

well she is a teacher so i do have the house to myself for two months of the year as she goes away. so i suppose im just being greedy!

You are, I'm afraid... don't think you'd take too kindly to being told you had ot cover all the bills when she's not there for two months!!

Reflector

I think it's fair, it's not up to her how much you are there or not. If it was me I'd expect to be paying 50/50 even if I was hardly there. If the bills are really high you might approach her about her heat/electricity usage. I've lived with people who would have the heating come on at 5 in the morning to get up at 7. and leaving lights on in every room. Wrecks head and is such a waste

laoisfan

Unregistered wrote: »

well she is a teacher so i do have the house to myself for two months of the year as she goes away. so i suppose im just being greedy!

I wouldn't say greedy. You asked a perfectly legit question to which you have received several good replies. Alas the joys of sharing a house....

Hope it works out for you.

LegacyUser

You see, her argument will be, well your room and the common areas are there for you all week round, the fact that you are not in them is your own business!

What if your routine suddenly changed you could be there 7 days a week and it would be the same price!

Like others said if you had negotiated this at the start well you could have had a different arrangement!

I was a live in landlady and had a tennant who claimed he didn't like "hot houses" so he wouldn't pay any gas, yet he sat in the warmth every night with the rest of us and didn't seem to complain!

Needless to say he wore out his welcome pretty quick!!!