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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is lodger a CF?

155 replies

Ladiva1971 · 21/03/2018 18:17

I have a lodger his rent includes all bills, however I went on holiday for 2 weeks and on my return he presented me with a £25 top up bill for the gas which he used for heating when I was away. I told him there is no way I am paying for the gas he used when I wasn't here. He says gas and electric is included, but my argument is that if I was on holiday the gas would not have been used so he has to pay it. AIBU?

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 21/03/2018 20:55

What?!

SillyMoomin · 21/03/2018 20:59

poor lodger

HeebieJeebies456 · 21/03/2018 21:12

I normally only use about £15 in gas over a two week period

For hot water,heating and cooking?
During this weather?
Right........

Next time top it up by the weekly amount before you go away Hmm

user1467718508 · 21/03/2018 21:15

Not sure you deserved such a roasting, OP.

Unless its a cupboard under the stairs, your lodger has got an outragrously good deal.

I've had 'good rent' in London before (less than 500 pm) and happily covered all kinds of costs in acknowledgement of the fact (eg clubbing together with other housemates to replace broken washing machine), so as to not give the landlord any reason to up the rent to 'cover costs'.

Although your lodger was technically excersising his right, imo it was daft and a bit cheeky. He can look forward to his rent increase now, all for the sake of £25.

FloraFox · 21/03/2018 21:20

It's been freezing this past couple of weeks. If you are going to change your arrangement so he has to pay for gas when you are away, he shouldn't have to pay for gas when he is away.

NotTakenUsername · 21/03/2018 21:23

Yes I know how cold it is here but using heating for 2-3 hours a day is a lot different to having it on 24/7

2/3 hrs per day costs £15/fortnight

24/7 costs £25/fortnight.

...who’s your supplier? 🗒🖊

Original poster
Ladiva1971 · 21/03/2018 21:28

He goes away in summer so heating is not used but I will try to revise his contract. Thanks for all the replies I will take them on board..

OP posts:
flowerslemonade · 21/03/2018 21:30

That's like saying you were away so you should contact your mortgage provider and not have to pay for those two weeks because you're not there.

His rent is £350, to include accomodation and bills. If you were there it could've been £25 - there's no way of knowing, as it's been one of the coldest two week periods in the past decade. It really has been exceptional weather.

It doesn't really matter if you're there or not - presumably the £350 figure covers council tax, water, TV license, internet, possibly phone line rental, gas and electricity. Are you going to ask for a refund/for the money on the other items?

SilverySurfer · 21/03/2018 21:33

Of course you are totally unreasonable OP - I'm beyond shocked that you even need to ask. Did you imagine that your lodger should go into suspended animation while you were away, using no utilities until you returned? Hmm

It's so comforting to see that no matter how utterly batshit bonkers an opening post is, that there are still members of the 'Defend the OP Regardless Club' posting. Grin

HermionesRightHook · 21/03/2018 21:35

I think you need to rethink this for the future if it's bothering you this much but you are being unreasonable, he does need to be paid back. If it's a hardship for you then you need to start charging more rent.

And if you can, change to a billing system and not the pay meter - it's cheaper anyway as you can get better deals and it will make the discrepancies when you're away much less obvious so they won't annoy you. I appreciate this may not be an option for you though.

NotTakenUsername · 21/03/2018 21:35

He goes away in summer so heating is not used but I will try to revise his contract. Thanks for all the replies I will take them on board..

So he doesn’t pay rent during this time, or he does?

Grin This is a funny thread.

Creambun2 · 21/03/2018 21:42

Why are you on a pre-pay meter anyway? You are being ripped off.

FloraFox · 21/03/2018 21:45

He goes away in summer so heating is not used but I will try to revise his contract.

Does that mean you're not going to give him a reduction if the heating is not on when he is away? The thing with all inclusive is it is supposed to balance out over the year. Otherwise he should get a reduction if the heating is not on even when he is there. You happened to be away for the coldest two weeks for ages so the heating cost more than normal but if he is paying the same rent in the summer when the heating is not on, it balances out.

maxthemartian · 21/03/2018 21:55

I think the problem is that you're a wee bit dim OP...

Graphista · 21/03/2018 22:04

Is he a student? Is he still paying rent when he's away over summer?

LanguidLobster · 21/03/2018 22:06

Actually I hate pre-pay keys, I've had mine switched over. It's just such a faddle and a faff.

It's a minor thing really OP, if you normally police him about his usage he probably had a green light to get as warm as he could over a very cold time of year whilst you were away. It is only £25. You could potentially ask him for part of it back as it's higher than usual but that would create discord and be against the original agreement.

Ellendegeneres · 21/03/2018 22:43

Just wanna point something out. Last week I received £25 into my account. This week, a letter turns up saying if it averages 0 degrees for the week, dwp pay £25 as a cold weather payment.
Alright, I’m disabled and have small dc, so I’d have had the heating going anyway- but I live close enough to Greenwich to know if it was that cold here, it’s gonna have been similar to that where he was.

To be honest, just because you don’t feel the cold as much either, I feel really sorry for him having to ask to put the heating on for an hour- it stays on in my house in cold weather. If nothing else so the pipes don’t freeze up.

If you want to save money switch to paying monthly, the tariffs for energy are much better when paying that way.

Ellendegeneres · 21/03/2018 22:45

Also, depending on where you are in Greenwich- park end/ deptford/ charlton (a lot is covered in the borough of Greenwich) you could put your price up for the room. I let my room out in the same borough and got £450 and wasn’t smack bang in Greenwich centre.

Drum71 · 22/03/2018 07:39

You cannot just amend contracts when something doesn’t go your way OP. May be for your next tenant or if this tenant stays on and his current agreement expires but you can just rock up and say here is a new agreeent mid way.

Viperama · 22/03/2018 18:21

This is the funniest AIBU I have ever read. You are winding us up OP??

ChocoholicsAsylum · 22/03/2018 18:27

No you are not being unreasonable. If all bills are upto date and he used 25 worth of gas alone then he pays it end of.

Bluelady · 22/03/2018 18:32

He's already paid it. What part of rent inclusive of bills don't you understand?

Avasarala · 22/03/2018 18:36

@ChocoholicsAsylum

I don't think you understand how rent with bills included works.

What he pays her includes his lodging and all bills associated with him staying there. The OP went off on holiday without ensuring the bills had been covered. He has already paid for his gas - the money he gives her is part rent and part bill payment. He has paid the bills. She didn't. He had to add more money to the meter as it ran out. So he has paid bills twice.
She needs to reimburse him.

RTFT - every single poster disagrees with your view. When she worked out what she would charge, she should have ensured that for her yearly holidays, the rent he pays covers the cost when she's away. She can't just say "I'm not here so this month, your money only covers rent. Pay the bills yourself". It doesn't work like that.

Stuff like this just make me worry about people's intelligence.

DrRanjsRightEyebrow · 22/03/2018 18:38

All bills included... But you could then swan off for a month and then bills would not be included? If you are adjusting the contract you would at least need to inform how many weeks per annum bills would not be included, otherwise how could he possibly budget for that?

Graphista · 22/03/2018 18:41

I think it's very interesting op not answering if he still pays rent when he's away all summer (when he won't be using ANY gas or electric)