Shared houses and heating costs

jayzusb.christ

Not sure where else to post this, but just wanted to get a few opinions on this.
I've shared a rented house with a few guys (one who was there when i moved in, the others have changed a few times) for a few years (but will probably leave in late December). Anyway we have to buy oil every autumn / winter time, which is freakin' expensive but has to be done.
Anyway a new person moved in not long ago - he's unemployed and when I mentioned the oil costs, he said he can't afford it, and wonders why we can't just buy electric heaters
It's a tough one - I know what it's like to be on the dole - but paying for the heating is part and parcel of sharing a house during an Irish winter, I would have thought? But I don't want to make him feel unwelcome by asking him to do the impossible either, I do live with the guy. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance

Fremen

If he can't pay the bills, he needs to move out. At the end of the day, you need warmth over the winter. An electric heater will just defer the problem, not solve it. What you save by not buying oil, you'll have to pay in increased electricity costs a few months down the line.

PeakOutput

its part of renting, its ap ity he is unemployed but he shouldnt move in somewhere he cant afford

maybe if someone can pay his share and he can agree to set up a direct debit into their account every week on the day he gets his dole money

if he isnt willing to do this then he should move out so that someone who can pay their share can move in

Up de Barrs

The oil heating bill is like the electricity, gas, refuse, tv, tv licence etc. Its part of the cost of running the house that is impossible to work out who benefits exactly from it so the only fair way is to divide it evenly. If he doesnt pay his share then you are efffectively subsidising him, that might be ok if you were related or close friends but for a stranger there is no way that you should agree to that.

mood

He obviously knew moving in that there would be heating bills. There is in every house/apt. Oil heaters are expensive to buy and run and would cost more in the long run. Tell him he has to pay his share or move out. You are not going to live with no heating because of him. I'm sure he can scrimp in other areas to cover the costs ie smoke or drink less, buy cheaper food etc.

jayzusb.christ

Thanks, guys, seems like the verdict is unanimous - he's got to pay for it, unemployed or not!

Snowie

he can go to the comunity wellfare oficer and ask for a contrabution towards heatin expenses....

jayzusb.christ

Thanks, I suggested that one to him. He reckons you can´t even get rent allowance if you´ve been renting for less than 6 months. Not my experience, I have to say, I´m sure I got mine within less than 6 months in my unemployed days.

Logical Fallacy

jayzusb.christ wrote: »

Thanks, I suggested that one to him. He reckons you can´t even get rent allowance if you´ve been renting for less than 6 months. Not my experience, I have to say, I´m sure I got mine within less than 6 months in my unemployed days.

He's deffo wrong on that one, tell him to get down to the Community Welfare officer and check his options or leave.

Not being a wanker, but he needs to make some kind of move and not expect others to carry the weight for him.

Also, in the grand scheme of things, the outlay and additional expense of an electric heater (especially multiple units) is a very poor option when compared to oil heating.

CDfm

isn't there a forum on boards that discusses welfare issues

Here is a link that might help and it gives the rules for rent supplement

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/supplementary-welfare-schemes/rent_supplement

That is assuming he is telling you the truth but whatever he needs to get his applications in - & especially it is presumptuous for him to expect others to subsidise him.

Jarren

if he can't afford his share of the bills he has to move out...

CDfm

Here is another useful link

http://www.inou.ie/welfarerights/supplementary_welfare_allowance.html

Stheno

Rules changed after the last budget and now you have to be renting for six months before you are eligible for rent allowance.

So if he's moved from one rental to another he should be fine, but if this is his first time renting he has to wait six months before being eligible.

CDfm

Does he have any objection in priciple in paying other bills or is it just that this bill is fairly big.

Could he contribute in installments ????????

Chaotic_Forces

Stheno wrote: »

Rules changed after the last budget and now you have to be renting for six months before you are eligible for rent allowance.

So if he's moved from one rental to another he should be fine, but if this is his first time renting he has to wait six months before being eligible.

True but I believe you can get heating allowance if you're on the dole for more than ten months.

Besides; local welfare officer will help out.

jayzusb.christ

CDfm wrote: »

Does he have any objection in priciple in paying other bills or is it just that this bill is fairly big.

Could he contribute in installments ????????

I think it's just that the oil bill is big - over a hundred each; but that generally does the job for the whole winter. Installments could be the solution.

CDfm

jayzusb.christ wrote: »

I think it's just that the oil bill is big - over a hundred each; but that generally does the job for the whole winter. Installments could be the solution.

Or shirt ironing at a price

My g/f has just sent out 20 or so at a euro a shirt !!!!!

So if you guys have a rota or something on toilet cleaning or whatever , maybe you could agree a price per job.

A bit cynical but there would have to be defined real tasks with value and you would not want to take advantage of or make it charity.

mood

jayzusb.christ wrote: »

Thanks, I suggested that one to him. He reckons you can´t even get rent allowance if you´ve been renting for less than 6 months. Not my experience, I have to say, I´m sure I got mine within less than 6 months in my unemployed days.

This is actually true. I've hear from a close friend. It's a new rule brought in in the last year or so due to cut backs.

mood

Stheno wrote: »

Rules changed after the last budget and now you have to be renting for six months before you are eligible for rent allowance.

So if he's moved from one rental to another he should be fine, but if this is his first time renting he has to wait six months before being eligible.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think you have to be renting at the same address for 6 months!

Does he drink or smoke? These are non essential expenses he could cut out in order to pay his way. Maybe he could borrow the 100 quid from the credit union or his family and pay them back in installments. It not up to you to foot the bill for him. He will have to find a way to cut back on out goings and pay up.

CDfm

mood wrote: »

Maybe I'm wrong but I think you have to be renting at the same address for 6 months!

Does he drink or smoke? These are non essential expenses he could cut out in order to pay his way. Maybe he could borrow the 100 quid from the credit union or his family and pay them back in installments. It not up to you to foot the bill for him. He will have to find a way to cut back on out goings and pay up.

The dole in the North is a lot less than here -so maybe his lifestyle needs to adjust to his circumstances.

mood

CDfm wrote: »

The dole in the North is a lot less than here -so maybe his lifestyle needs to adjust to his circumstances.

What has the North got to do with anything? Am I missing something?

CDfm

mood wrote: »

What has the North got to do with anything? Am I missing something?

I am just saying that the Irish dole is considered adequete.

mood

CDfm wrote: »

I am just saying that the Irish dole is considered adequete.

Well, the cost of living in the North in considerably less so it would probably balance out. But I do agree that he simply has to cut costs to pay his share or borrow the money. He can't expect strangers to foot the bill or go without a very basic necessity because of him.

alandublin15

can he afford other things? drink, cigarettes, nights out, fancy clothes.

shouldnt his share of the bill be the cost of a full oil tank refill, divided by 12 and then by the number of people sharing, and multiplied by the months he stays there?