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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sharing bills

23 replies

MystiCally · 06/02/2013 08:47

I live in a flat share with one other girl, to save money. Both mid to late twenties with fairly well-paid jobs. I am saving a lot at the moment having just cleared post-uni debts so watching the pennies.

She was left a TV by the person who used to have my room, and keeps it in the front room. I only watch TV online (not live, have never turned on the one in the front room) and haven't had a TV for about 5 years. I don't want to pay for the licence. AIBU?

She has two very expensive bicycles. On contents insurance, this is pushing up the cost by about £80/year. She is proposing we split it 50/50. I would rather pay half the basic cost, and she pays the extra £80 for the bikes. I have a couple of expensive items but nothing that would be named on the insurance or pushes up the cost. AIBU?

I don't think I am, but want to make sure as I am rubbish at confrontation...

OP posts:
HintofBream · 06/02/2013 08:53

She should certainly pay for her bikes, not quite so sure abour TV but tending to think she should cough up for that too. However it may be worth your sucking it up in the interest of good flat-sjharing relations.

ThedementedPenguin · 06/02/2013 08:54

You watch live tv on your computer so YABU for not contributing towards the cost of that, it doesn't matter what you watch live tv on you still need to have a tv license.

However YANBU about the contents insurance. I'd pay half the basic and tell her that your not paying for her bikes. Have you nothing expensive on the insurance that could be pushing it up?

ThedementedPenguin · 06/02/2013 09:00

Sorry I see now you say you don't watch it live, therefore as long as your not watching tv live or recorded you don't need a tv license. Therefore you shouldn't pay. But agree that it might be easier to just pay to keep a happy living space.

JeeanieYuss · 06/02/2013 09:01

She said 'not live'..

JeeanieYuss · 06/02/2013 09:01

Cross post!

newbiefrugalgal · 06/02/2013 09:10

Tv licence I would just share.
Bike insurance extra -no that's her specific cost.

Original poster
MystiCally · 06/02/2013 09:35

Glad I'm right about the bicycles. It was presented to me as "here's the insurance renewal. Your half is £145" but when I looked at the breakdown I saw the extra for the bicycles. I think I can tackle that.

Re: the TV - so I should just pay £72 for something I won't ever use? The TV is tiny and because I have poor eyesight (I'm saving for glasses, which would cost £65...) I would have to be sat on the floor in front of it to be able to see properly. Not going to happen.

I am thinking about moving again anyway. Housemate is lovely and flat is too, but it's expensive and lower ground. My room small and has no daylight, all my plants have died and it's depressing...

OP posts:
ethelb · 06/02/2013 09:41

She needs to pay for excess contents insurance. You would not BU to say she can't take out insurance for her bikes on the contents insurance and needs to get separate insurance for those.

Yes, you need to pay for half the TV licence as to do otherwise would make you a massive, massive tightwad.

If someone was not planning on paying their fair share for the TV licence in a houseshare for whatever reason and didn't tell me before hand I would be quite pissed off tbh.

And worried you were about to become one of those housemates who winged about the heating being on, how many showers I had, not turning lights off etc and pleaded poverty at every opportunity to be completly honest.

Original poster
MystiCally · 06/02/2013 09:52

EthelB - yeah, I think I'm being a tightwad too Grin. Before I moved in I said I didn't watch TV and she said she barely did and the other girl would be taking it with her. We agreed not to get a new TV but maybe get a projector to watch films.

OP posts:
ThedementedPenguin · 06/02/2013 09:56

If neither of you watch tv live then you have no need for a tv license. If she mentions it again I would talk to her about what you both said. There's no need for you both to be out of pocket if you don't need to be,

Or has she decided that as its there she is going to watch it?

expatinscotland · 06/02/2013 09:56

Half the TV license.

And you're right about the bikes. No way I'd stump up £40 for her bikes.

Paiviaso · 06/02/2013 09:57

I think you need to pay the TV licence. You could watch live TV on the TV if you wanted. I know you don't, but it's a slippery slope - what if you decide to not use the heating anymore? Are you going to insist she pays that by herself? What if you know she uses more electricity? Are you going to insist on paying a smaller portion of the bill? I know you probably wont ask these things but you see what I mean - if the service is available to both of you, you each pay half because otherwise it becomes ridiculous and petty.

Do you have to share contents insurance policy? Can you not get your own (or simply not have it, since you are trying to save money?)

Paiviaso · 06/02/2013 09:57

If neither of you watch the TV why do you have a TV licence at all?

ethelb · 06/02/2013 09:58

In which case why don't you not get a TV licence?

However, people without TV licences are HOUNDED by the TV licencing authority, whether or not you have a TV. Particuarly people in flats/shared accomodation. So bear that in mind.

BambieO · 06/02/2013 10:01

I don't think you should pay the TV licence considering you can't even see the TV!

If the prior agreement re no TV has changed that's not your problem or choice.

Same with the bikes. I don't think it will disrupt relations, she has a choice pay and watch TV or don't.

HintofBream · 06/02/2013 10:05

Ethelb's point about the hounding is a good one, as if the licence bods turn up, surely they would look at it as a joint responsibility and it would be hard to prove you never watched it. Is it a joint tenancy?

Paiviaso · 06/02/2013 10:08

I don't have a TV licence and I haven't been hounded - only thing that's happened is I've received a letter from them asking me to confirm I don't need a licence.

I do have a TV but I just play video games on it. It doesn't receive digital signal.

MaxPepsi · 06/02/2013 10:40

Sorry, I can't get past the fact you have admitted to having a fairly well paid job but that you are saving to get some glasses??

bedmonster · 06/02/2013 12:38

max same here! I'm sat thinking op is the kind of flatmate you'd just dread.
Lots of stingy posters today.

Original poster
MystiCally · 06/02/2013 17:13

palviaso yes, that's my point - I've never seen her use it either. We agreed not to have a TV before I moved in. I don't see why I should pay £72 for it now. I have said we should get rid of it but now she wants to renew it...

Everyone thinking I'm stingy - yeh, I guess I am. Recently ended a relationship that left me 3k in debt. I'm trying to pay it off as fast as possible and am barely spending anything. £72 is quite a lot to me....

OP posts:
ethelb · 06/02/2013 19:24

If you agreed to not have a tv then dont pay. But make sure you never lay eyes on it! Wink

Mawgatron · 06/02/2013 20:47

Do you watch bbc iplayer? As technically that is funded by the tv license...

Ilovesunflowers · 06/02/2013 21:32

TV will be about £6 per month each. For the sake of peace I'd pay that. I wouldn't pay for the bikes though. Why does she have 2?
I've had a couple of expensive items on my insurance in the past and they didn't push up the price. Maybe it's because bikes get stolen more often.

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