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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

113 replies

riveted1 · 15/04/2020 12:28

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!

OP posts:
QuizzlyBear · 15/04/2020 13:13

I had a friend who did this to me once - during a year's tenancy she got a boyfriend who she wanted to spend all her time with. Some weeks I didn't see her at all, sometimes she'd be gone for a few days.

She decided she shouldn't have to pay rent or bills because she was 'never there' - totally disregarding the fact that she'd committed to sharing bills and rent because neither of us could afford it alone!

In the end she left me with her cat to 'dispose of' (her words) and a huge mess. Needless to say she didn't pay her last months rent and the landlord withheld our security deposit.

Don't fall for it! She made a commitment, now A should stick to it.

willowmelangell · 15/04/2020 13:13

'A' should crap or get off the pot.
She pays rent for her belongings or removes them.

Lockheart · 15/04/2020 13:13

The way we're doing it in our house is that fixed bills (council tax, internet) are still being split evenly, as are standing charges on things like utilities. The variable bills which are dependent on how much we use are being apportioned if someone isn't in the house.

RandomLondoner · 15/04/2020 13:19

I suggest keep the direct debits the same, assuming they are set at the right level for when both are there, and when there's a refund due to the reduced usage, let A have that.

RandomLondoner · 15/04/2020 13:19

In the interim, A pays half.

tentative3 · 15/04/2020 13:20

Tell A you're going to go and stay somewhere else too as you could do with not paying the bills yourself.

5zeds · 15/04/2020 13:24

She should pay rent and anything that can’t be stopped Eg gas could be stopped if you turned off everything that used it, internet might or might not be cheaper to turn off and restart when she’s back....council tax has to be paid.

Shoxfordian · 15/04/2020 13:26

A should definitely be paying bills

SchadenfreudePersonified · 15/04/2020 13:26

Pay the bills A!

If you don't B is under no obligation to keep your room free for you.

GabsAlot · 15/04/2020 13:28

A is being a cf-you dont stop paying bils when yore on holiday do you-Dont pay her the internet bill till she agrees to pay the rest see how she likes it

emmathedilemma · 15/04/2020 13:29

If A has a contract to rent the room / half the flat then they should still cover their half of the bills.

boylovesmeerkats · 15/04/2020 13:29

A has dropped B in it, and although they're not using the gas and electric the bills are usually evenly spread so they might need to be still paying off winter bills. Or on the flip side I'm sure if A got a refund because they'd overpaid they'd expect to see some of the £ so it is fair to keep paying. Shit or get off the pot as they say!

WeAllHaveWings · 15/04/2020 13:30

A is entitled to move out permanently if she wants, but then she needs to serve contracted notice.

She is not allowed to just suspend her financial obligations.

StoppinBy · 15/04/2020 13:31

I like the answer that @tentative3 suggested. Please tell her that and let us know what her answer is Wink

Easilyanxious · 15/04/2020 13:32

A should def pay bills maybe slightly less on metered bills as not using but standing charge is still there

IwantToDatePicard · 15/04/2020 13:32

Agree, A is being completely unreasonable (and a CF).

Thehop · 15/04/2020 13:36

A is bang out of order and being an entitled spoiled brat.

Pay your share or piss off and move out.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 15/04/2020 13:36

I would tell her that you don't want a discussion about it as what she wants doesn't work for you. She has a choice, either pay up what she owes or move out because you have people who would like to move in. If she hasn't paid up by X date you will assume that she no longer wants the room and you will find someone else.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 15/04/2020 13:40

If she hasn't paid up by X date you will assume that she no longer wants the room and you will find someone else.

And presumably she has paid a portion of the deposit? Take anything owed out of that.

counciltaxquery · 15/04/2020 13:40

You and A have each agreed to pay 50% of a set monthly cost to your internet provider. It does not make sense for you to then owe double what you usually pay for the same thing just because she isn't using hers!

Technically her (ridiculous) quibble is with the provider, so I suggest she contacts them about not paying her half so they can have a good laugh. Nothing to do with you Smile

In terms of the gas and electric, again I'd say that it's irrelevant whether she's there - if she lived alone then she'd still have to pay some electric costs as there's a set daily charge before you use any, plus keeping the fridge/freezer ticking over etc. Don't give in, she's being an idiot.

AJPTaylor · 15/04/2020 13:41

A should pay any standing costs and her rent. Or give notice.

billy1966 · 15/04/2020 13:41

Wouldn't discuss it.

A is right CF and should be treated as such.

In effect she wants to keep her room without paying for it.

If she persists she should be directed to the Landlord.

She's either in or out.

CF

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 15/04/2020 13:43

probably a reason A's family is wealthy - inbred CFs.

If A still has stuff at the flat that prevents B getting a new flatmate.
There is some argument for negotiating on the 'variable usage' part of the bill, but not any standing element - but if I was B, A has kind of blown that with the initial stance that she'll pay nothing.

If she doesn't pay up, ask where she'd like her stuff dumped, and let her know the charge for you doing that on her behalf.

YogaFaker · 15/04/2020 13:44

Of course Person A needs to keep on paying her share - if she wants to come back to the flat!

How could any reasonable person think otherwise?

YogaFaker · 15/04/2020 13:45

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'm gasping at her sheer insouciance!

(ie she's a total cheeky mare!)