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Renting a room...Ripped off?

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  • 07-09-2020 9:58pm
    #1
    Desperately lonely
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭


    Hi

    I rented a room in a 5 bedroom house a few months ago.
    Its literally my first time being away from home.
    I'm a very anxious person in general & i just wanted to share my thoughts & get your opinions please.

    Well there was no contract or anything at all signs when i moved in. I was told bills are divided equally.
    To be honest i havent settled in & am still spending a lot of time at home. Rent & bills seem very expensive!
    There's 4 of us living there & as one works from home is the only one there full time. I'm not there a lot & the other two guys are in evenings. They go home every weekend.

    So in my opinion bills are very bizzare. I'm beating myself up at the moment cause I've handed over cash towards rent & bills but have NEVER actually seen a bill with my own eyes.
    The other housemates seem to be able to afford any amount & dont care but I'm left dreading the bills text!

    I've asked her 4 times now to see one/any of the bills & am always brushed off!

    I cant really go into much details....I'll just say there was a few things not working correctly & the Landlady was told but she never fixed or even attempted to have someone look etc.

    I just think we're paying her own bills on top of ours at this point. I mean if theres nothing to hide, why not show me a bill?

    I think she's taking the p**s but no one else will kinda back me up. Is there anything i can do? Other than refuse to pay until i see a bill to see how its 'divided equally'


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    #2
    Heres Johnny
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭Heres Johnny


    Desperately lonely wrote: »
    Hi

    I rented a room in a 5 bedroom house a few months ago.
    Its literally my first time being away from home.
    I'm a very anxious person in general & i just wanted to share my thoughts & get your opinions please.

    Well there was no contract or anything at all signs when i moved in. I was told bills are divided equally.
    To be honest i havent settled in & am still spending a lot of time at home. Rent & bills seem very expensive!
    There's 4 of us living there & as one works from home is the only one there full time. I'm not there a lot & the other two guys are in evenings. They go home every weekend.

    So in my opinion bills are very bizzare. I'm beating myself up at the moment cause I've handed over cash towards rent & bills but have NEVER actually seen a bill with my own eyes.
    The other housemates seem to be able to afford any amount & dont care but I'm left dreading the bills text!

    I've asked her 4 times now to see one/any of the bills & am always brushed off!

    I cant really go into much details....I'll just say there was a few things not working correctly & the Landlady was told but she never fixed or even attempted to have someone look etc.

    I just think we're paying her own bills on top of ours at this point. I mean if theres nothing to hide, why not show me a bill?

    I think she's taking the p**s but no one else will kinda back me up. Is there anything i can do? Other than refuse to pay until i see a bill to see how its 'divided equally'

    How much are you being charged for each bill?
    We that have been paying them for years will be able to give you a good idea if they are fair or not


  • Options
    #3
    Agent Smith
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 21,502 Mod ✭✭✭✭Agent Smith


    Desperately lonely wrote: »
    Hi

    I rented a room in a 5 bedroom house a few months ago.
    Its literally my first time being away from home.
    I'm a very anxious person in general & i just wanted to share my thoughts & get your opinions please.

    Well there was no contract or anything at all signs when i moved in. I was told bills are divided equally.
    To be honest i havent settled in & am still spending a lot of time at home. Rent & bills seem very expensive!
    There's 4 of us living there & as one works from home is the only one there full time. I'm not there a lot & the other two guys are in evenings. They go home every weekend.

    So in my opinion bills are very bizzare. I'm beating myself up at the moment cause I've handed over cash towards rent & bills but have NEVER actually seen a bill with my own eyes.
    The other housemates seem to be able to afford any amount & dont care but I'm left dreading the bills text!

    I've asked her 4 times now to see one/any of the bills & am always brushed off!

    I cant really go into much details....I'll just say there was a few things not working correctly & the Landlady was told but she never fixed or even attempted to have someone look etc.

    I just think we're paying her own bills on top of ours at this point. I mean if theres nothing to hide, why not show me a bill?

    I think she's taking the p**s but no one else will kinda back me up. Is there anything i can do? Other than refuse to pay until i see a bill to see how its 'divided equally'

    Say you need a copy of the bill for work, as you are getting an allowence


    refuse to pay until you get a copy.

    Stand your ground


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    #4
    BrokenArrows
    Registered Users Posts: 7,500 ✭✭✭BrokenArrows


    Just refuse to pay until you see the bill.

    As for the landlord fixing things, you just need to keep chasing the landlord to fix the things every week.


  • Options
    #5
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,382 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    What sort of numbers are we talking?


  • Options
    #6
    Samuel T. Cogley
    Registered Users Posts: 10,684 ✭✭✭✭Samuel T. Cogley


    If she also lives in the house, there is very little you can do. You're a licencee and it's her way or the highway.


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    #7
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »
    If she also lives in the house, there is very little you can do. You're a licencee and it's her way or the highway.

    Whereas if this is just a fellow tenant who has taken up the role of liaising with the landlord regarding paying the rent, that doesn't arise.


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    #8
    Xterminator
    Registered Users Posts: 4,717 ✭✭✭Xterminator


    Hi Op

    you feel the rent and bills combo is a bit high. you dont trust that the bills are being spilt evenly. How likely do you judge it is the landlady will change her ways? I would say not too likely at all.

    But you are not tied down to a lease, so the easiest thing here would be to find somewhere you feel more comfortable , then had the required notice.


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    #9
    Del2005
    Registered Users Posts: 18,872 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    Agent Smith wrote: »
    Say you need a copy of the bill for work, as you are getting an allowence


    refuse to pay until you get a copy.

    Stand your ground

    The OP appears to be a licencee, they have no ground to stand on.


  • Options
    #10
    stevek93
    Registered Users Posts: 3,088 ✭✭✭stevek93


    When I lived in shared accommodation the bills was printed stuck up on a notice board and marked of who paid what. Be confident with these dopes don’t pay nothing until you see what you are paying.


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    #11
    amadangomor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,148 ✭✭✭amadangomor


    The person working from home is obviously racking up most of the bills so should pay a larger contribution.

    Big difference with all appliances, lighting etc going all day than only on for 6/7 hours in the evening.

    With winter coming what's to stop them having the heating on all day and the OP having to contribute when they are getting no benefit.


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    #12
    stevek93
    Registered Users Posts: 3,088 ✭✭✭stevek93


    amadangomor wrote: »
    The person working from home is obviously racking up most of the bills so should pay a larger contribution.

    Big difference with all appliances, lighting etc going all day than only on for 6/7 hours in the evening.

    With winter coming what's to stop them having the heating on all day and the OP having to contribute when they are getting no benefit.

    It depends I wouldn’t accuse them of racking up the bills, there is two of us in my house working at home since March and our electricity bill has been 40 or so every month. Ok yes you will use more but you aren’t going to be use a ton of energy.


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    #13
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    amadangomor wrote: »
    The person working from home is obviously racking up most of the bills so should pay a larger contribution.

    Big difference with all appliances, lighting etc going all day than only on for 6/7 hours in the evening.

    With winter coming what's to stop them having the heating on all day and the OP having to contribute when they are getting no benefit.


    That's another debate really. This poster still has no idea what the overall is and what proportion they are paying. That's not right.


    But, as has been pointed out correctly, if this is a room rented in a house occupied by the owner, there is no tenancy and you can be turfed out without cause on very little notice (a month in most cases), so it would be wise to tread carefully before falling out with the owner if that's the situation.

    Even it the person collecting the money is another tenant, you don't want to pick a fight unnecessarily with the people with whom you live.

    It would help the poster, who appears not to know what might be "reasonable" in general, if they replied with details of what they are currently paying out. People would be able to give them a steer on the question of whether these are objectively too high.


  • Options
    #14
    amadangomor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,148 ✭✭✭amadangomor


    stevek93 wrote: »
    It depends I wouldn’t accuse them of racking up the bills, there is two of us in my house working at home since March and our electricity bill has been 40 or so every month. Ok yes you will use more but you aren’t going to be use a ton of energy.

    It's not how large the bill is. It's about everyone paying their fair share.

    If one person is using electricity/heating for 16 hours a day and another 5 hours how is it fair that they pay the same.

    If we get a cold winter you may have to have the heating on all day.


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    #15
    stevek93
    Registered Users Posts: 3,088 ✭✭✭stevek93


    amadangomor wrote: »
    It's not how large the bill is. It's about everyone paying their fair share.

    If one person is using electricity/heating for 16 hours a day and another 5 hours how is it fair that they pay the same.

    If we get a cold winter you may have to have the heating on all day.

    No it’s not fair, but I am just advising the OP to be careful and not to ask to much I am not to sure how you would fairly divide out the bill it’s very tricky to do so as everyone’s usage is different.

    When I was in shared accommodation there was a married couple who used to treat everyday like it was the last supper, constantly cooking the electric oven was on for hours on end. When they went on holidays for 1 month the electric bill decreased by 50%. Why we never said anything I don’t know we just didn’t want the hassle of arguing I suppose but they clearly took the p*ss.


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    #16
    bluelamp
    Registered Users Posts: 255 ✭✭bluelamp


    amadangomor wrote: »
    If one person is using electricity/heating for 16 hours a day and another 5 hours how is it fair that they pay the same.

    That's just life in a house share.

    Some people will be in the house more, some less.

    Any house share I've been in, bills are split equally, and of story.


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    #17
    stevek93
    Registered Users Posts: 3,088 ✭✭✭stevek93


    bluelamp wrote: »
    That's just life in a house share.

    Some people will be in the house more, some less.

    Any house share I've been in, bills are split equally, and of story.

    Yes, I have been in a few and all bills are split equally.


  • Options
    #18
    JohnnyChimpo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,074 ✭✭✭JohnnyChimpo


    stevek93 wrote: »
    No it’s not fair, but I am just advising the OP to be careful and not to ask to much I am not to sure how you would fairly divide out the bill it’s very tricky to do so as everyone’s usage is different.

    When I was in shared accommodation there was a married couple who used to treat everyday like it was the last supper, constantly cooking the electric oven was on for hours on end. When they went on holidays for 1 month the electric bill decreased by 50%. Why we never said anything I don’t know we just didn’t want the hassle of arguing I suppose but they clearly took the p*ss.

    Cooking dinner, every single day? :eek:

    It's a disgrace, Joe


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    #19
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,499 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    JohnnyChimpo wrote: »
    Cooking dinner, every single day? :eek:

    It's a disgrace, Joe

    The neck on them .


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    #20
    Desperately lonely
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭Desperately lonely


    Sorry i haven't given enough details. Landlady is not living with in the house.
    The person who works from home has told me he's asked to see the bills on numerous occasions & is always brushed off too.
    I learnt yesterday from that person that i am charged more for internet & bin than he is. So i feel i need to walk away.....we're all using the same bin & internet


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    #21
    theteal
    Registered Users Posts: 7,593 ✭✭✭theteal


    Ah, the good old "head" tenant is having his/her bills subsidised by you OP. Are these regular fixed amounts that you have previously agreed to? I wouldn't be paying another penny until I saw a bill tbh.


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    #22
    stevek93
    Registered Users Posts: 3,088 ✭✭✭stevek93


    JohnnyChimpo wrote: »
    Cooking dinner, every single day? :eek:

    It's a disgrace, Joe

    No it wasn’t cooking a dinner everyday it was gluttony these people were very overweight. What they ate in one day would do me for a week. If you want to constantly stuff your face every hour of the day don’t make it someone else’s problem.


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    #23
    amadangomor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,148 ✭✭✭amadangomor


    theteal wrote: »
    Ah, the good old "head" tenant is having his/her bills subsidised by you OP. Are these regular fixed amounts that you have previously agreed to? I wouldn't be paying another penny until I saw a bill tbh.

    Aghh, you are bring back memories of old head tenants I shared with who treated it like it was their place alone, their rules etc.

    No input from the "guest tenants" They were very friendly with the landlord and would drive me nuts as he would let himself in and make tea etc. and hang around.

    Never felt like it was my home, always felt like a guest in their house.

    Moved and the next share felt immediately like home. In fairness to them all bills were fair and transparent.


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    #24
    MrKingsley
    Registered Users Posts: 2,428 ✭✭✭MrKingsley


    Desperately lonely wrote: »
    Sorry i haven't given enough details. Landlady is not living with in the house.
    The person who works from home has told me he's asked to see the bills on numerous occasions & is always brushed off too.
    I learnt yesterday from that person that i am charged more for internet & bin than he is. So i feel i need to walk away.....we're all using the same bin & internet

    So has anyone in the house seen a bill? If not then stop paying them immediately until the LL provides them as others have suggested.

    Have the others signed a lease at all?


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    #25
    Peter T
    Registered Users Posts: 569 ✭✭✭Peter T


    OP, time to ask for a bill and see if they've been split equally. Raise the point now with the information you've heard from the other roommate, you want to see the bills and will not pay the next till then. Id be asking for all bills while you've been in the house. In the mean time start looking elsewhere


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    #26
    irish_goat
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 5,760 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    Any house I shared the bills were stuck on the fridge with a clear breakdown of who owed what and a tick put against your name when you paid. Only way it should be done.


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    #27
    Aint Eazy Being Cheezy
    Registered Users Posts: 4,629 ✭✭✭Aint Eazy Being Cheezy


    I’d reply to the next text that when I saw a breakdown, then I’d pay. Try and get the other tenant onside as well. They won’t be long producing the bill once they know nobody is paying until they do.


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    #28
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Desperately lonely wrote: »
    Sorry i haven't given enough details. Landlady is not living with in the house.
    The person who works from home has told me he's asked to see the bills on numerous occasions & is always brushed off too.
    I learnt yesterday from that person that i am charged more for internet & bin than he is. So i feel i need to walk away.....we're all using the same bin & internet


    Although they might be happy to let you go, strictly speaking you need to check your lease regarding any notice you are required to give and the circumstances in which you can terminate. If the lease is for a fixed term there can be issued regarding early termination.


    Your legal relationship is with the landlord not this other tenant so it might be beneficial to talk to the landlord first and tell them why you are unhappy.

    That said, based on other things you've said (landlady not attending to repairs or whatnot) it could well be that there is a cosy relationship between the landlord and this other tenant, who has organised it so that they have control of the bills. Or simply that the landlord is one of those who just wants a quiet life (achieved by ignoring telephone calls and emails and having/lettiing one tenant keep the show on the road for them on site). Either way, if this is the situation any fuss you make will lead to them wanting to kick you out anyway.

    Find out how easy it would be to secure comparable accommodation that meets your social/personal/professional needs in a more pleasant environment before you do anything drastic.

    Also, how much are you actually being asked to pay and for what? You should assess what the cost of alternative comparable accommodation would be in the context of your overall spend. No point moving somewhere similar to pay more, even if the contributions are more equitable.


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    #29
    Del2005
    Registered Users Posts: 18,872 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    [quote="ecoli3136;114552169"

    Your legal relationship is with the landlord not this other tenant so it might be beneficial to talk to the landlord first and tell them why you are unhappy.

    [/quote]

    The OP said they have no contract so they could be licenees of the tenant, it all depends on who they pay the rent to. I wouldn't be rushing to the landlord before finding out what their status is


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    #30
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,669 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    Whose name are the bills in, the landlord or another tenant?


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    #31
    paulieeye
    Registered Users Posts: 893 ✭✭✭paulieeye


    Make sure you stand your ground until you see the previous bills too. Someones up to no good!


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