Shouldn't have to pay bills if temporarily moved out?

[riveted1]

I will try and keep this non-biased :D

Person A & B in flatshare.

A was originally splitting time between flat and DPs place, eventually due to the CV situation decided to spend lockdown at DPs. B remained in the flat.

Person A feels she shouldn't need to pay bills during this time as she isn't in the flat and shouldn't contribute for that reason (to internet, gas, heating). Person B feels she should, as A hasn't moved out and doesn't have plans to, once lockdown is lifted she will come back to the flat. Person A is already quite relaxed with lockdown and has wanted to pop back to flat multiple times, and so if measures were relaxed would probably continue.

For added info, person A does not pay rent/bills at DPs and has not worked for last couple of years as has wealthy family. However, she already feels it's unfair to be paying rent on a property she isn't living in currently, let alone bills on top.

From person Bs perspective, she has friends who would move into spare room if A moved out, meaning she would be able to completely split rent/bills. Person B (like many of us), is potentially facing job loss and financial struggles, so this is more of a factor to her.

Current lockdown guidelines state that genuinely moving house ("measured in days not hours") is reasonable, so changing household is still currently acceptable!

Oh didn't realise I had enabled voting but that could be useful!

YABU: in favour of A's opinion
YANBU: in favour of B's opinion

I agree A should still be paying.

I think if person A was being completely fair they would still pay bills but I do see why they disagree and it’s not clear cut. Maybe yes to fixed bills but not to metered?

It’s fairly clear that you are B

I'm living with a friend right now but my mortgage company still expect me to pay each month.

A is being an arse.

B should move out properly, if not she’s liable for share of all bills. What a cheek!

Agree with above. Fixed bills should be paid, but if gas and electric is on a key metre reasonable not to pay.

Maybe they could agree some discount on water, gas, electric like 25% off, if they are both open to it, bit otherwise obviously A should pay bills. They don't half suddenly

Of course A should still be paying. She hasn’t moved out, therefore she pays.

Person A should definitely pay for fixed bills like phone, broadband, council tax etc. because the full amount has to be paid regardless of whether she is living there or not. I can see an argument for the heating and electric, but there's a base cost to that regardless of how many people are living there that B won't have planned to pay solo, so I think A should continue contributing to that too and benefit from the fact that it'll probably be lower anyway.

So, unless A has actually moved out, then she should still be continuing to pay her share of bills. And if she doesn't want to, then she should move out and B can get in someone else to pay their share.

A should pay. A would still have to pay if they went on holiday for any length of time

A should still be paying bills. If A doesn't want to, then she should return her key and clear her belongings.

B is not a storage facility; if A wants to store their belongings at the flat, she needs to pay. Plain & simple.

A should pay

A shouldn't have to contribute to gas, water consumption etc. as they won't be showering, washing clothes, heating their bedroom. However, they should be paying standing charges.

A should definitely be contributing to council tax, TV licence etc.

A staying at her DPs place during like this is equivalent to her being on holiday. She still owes rent and fixed bill costs. By all means she could have arranged with you prior to going that metered bills would be your responsibility and taken readings.

Realistically, would A be able to move in with her DP as in vacate her room to allow someone else to move in or are you going to have to ride this out til end of lockdown? What's the tenancy agreement, notice period etc for her? Is she named on it?

A should be paying same proportion of bills as always has. Otherwise should find their stuff dumped at their partners house.

A should still be paying to fixed bills but not ones based on usage.

It is a flat share, not a hotel. A is attempting to treat the agreement like checking in and out, which it patently isn't.

Definitely failed at the non-bias explanation, it's more than clear you are B. That being said you are right and A is wrong. If it were only one person in the flat and they moved in with DP, you couldn't just call sky, utilities, broadband, home insurance or whatever other bill providers and say "I'm not living here can I pause the payments for two months, not cancelling just want a break im not using them" so why should A be able to?!

I voted before I saw the ‘rules’ but person A still needs to pay her share.
Nobody else gets to skip paying rent, mortgages, gas, water etc just because they are away from home!

Of course A should be paying the fixed bills.

Agree with others that A should pay the fixed charges - internet, council tax, electric standing charge etc. It's not fair B should be out of pocket for unplanned expenses.

Obviously A should be paying.

Most bills get averaged over the year so A should pay up.

Thanks for replies! Yes am very much B

Bills are all fixed so not influenced by usage.

Internet is in her name and everything else in mine, so currently in a disagreement over text as she wants me to pay her for the internet, but water and gas bills are outstanding from her side (and they total to a greater amount).

I don't want to be a dick, as I am definitely benefiting from her not being here and it's been a lovely relaxing 2 weeks since she's been gone. But it's not permanent and she could literally walk in at any moment!