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AIBU?

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Original poster

Housemates bills

77 replies

marnieja · 12/02/2021 20:50

Ok I know this doesn't really matter, ask eachother etc etc I think we have all talked to other people about it but I want opinions here.

I live in a house with 3 other people we knew eachother before so we rented together split everything 4 ways - rooms are equal.

Housemate 1 - worked throughout pandemic as well as working over time as what was needed (healthcare)

Housemate 2 - furloughed as in bar work worked a couple shifts when could and wasn't furloughed so most of the time has been on 80%

Housemate 3 - was made redundant but got an ok package from that

Housemate 4- non essential job for working from home now but was furloughed during lockdown 1 at 100% of pay

Housemates 2 and 3 think we need to look over the bills and share out fairly. Housemate 1 doesn't want too pay the increased elec and gas 2 3 and 4 are producing as they are out the house all the time.

4 is happy to pay a bit more as had 2 screens on etc for computer.

Do you think this is just a case of pay as we were or do we need a rejig of stuff?

OP posts:
AStudyinPink · 12/02/2021 20:54

How much of a difference are we talking?

Akire · 12/02/2021 20:55

How much more are bills than normal? If on a average day everyone is out then that’s 8h a day of heat and electric does add up. I wouldn’t charge less because someone is out working 18/24h as that’s what’s they signed up for.
If bill is usually 100 and now 130 then two at home pay extra 15 each

Original poster
marnieja · 12/02/2021 21:01

It's obviously been so cold recently housemate 1 has come home to a really warm home - anyway I'm housemate 4 haha- but I think housemate 2 and 3 Insist it be on ? And I'm working from home so I benefit so understand but 2 and 3 think all there bills should be reduced including rent cos they are on furlough or redundant

OP posts:
BenoneBeauty · 12/02/2021 21:04

Housemates 2, 3 and 4 should all pay more given they will be using much more electricity and gas as they're at home all day.

Akire · 12/02/2021 21:06

It doesn’t matter if their pay has been reduced it’s still 1/4 of bills. It’s not really fair to ask someone out of the house long hours to pay the extra when the three of you are at home.
Even if you split it 4 ways everyone is paying more because it’s costs more.

TessTackle · 12/02/2021 21:06

@BenoneBeauty

Housemates 2, 3 and 4 should all pay more given they will be using much more electricity and gas as they're at home all day.
Agree with this. Housemate one definitely shouldn’t be paying more when they’ve been out working tirelessly through a pandemic!
NovemberR · 12/02/2021 21:06

I don't see why Housemate 2 & 3 get to sit at home with the heating on and pay less money than those of you who are out all day and (presumably) would rather they weren't paying for heating/electric they weren''t using! That's bloomin' cheek!

I think if there's little difference in the bills you should just keep splitting 4 ways. If the heating bill has gone up £100 a month then 2&3 need to split the extra cost between them.

Rent, etc stays the same! You all still share the house. You don't get to pay less rent just because you've had a pay cut or been made redundant. That's ridiculous.

NovemberR · 12/02/2021 21:08

Sorry - missed that Housemate 4 is also at home.

Housemate 1 - nothing changes.
Extra heating bills/electric split 3 ways between the others.

AStudyinPink · 12/02/2021 21:10

2 and 3 think all there bills should be reduced including rent cos they are on furlough or redundant

Doesn’t work like that, sadly.

TinyCake · 12/02/2021 21:12

2,3&4 need to cover the extra bills. You are housemates not a family so can't expect housemate one to cover it.

Sally872 · 12/02/2021 21:13

House mate 2 and 3 are on reduced income but also no travel costs, no socialising costs, no holidays to buy. They should still be able to pay a bit extra for heating.

tenbananasaday · 12/02/2021 21:19

Going against the grain and saying I think it should still be spilt four ways. That's what you all signed up for when you moved in. It's just tough luck if one person uses more than the other.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 12/02/2021 21:42

Extra should be split betwene 2, 3 and 4. 4 should probably take 40% of the extra with 2 and 3 covering 30% of the extra each

MadeOfStarStuff · 12/02/2021 21:44

The extra cost should really be split between the three of you who are at home. Housemate 1 shouldn’t have to fork out extra because the three of you are home all day

2 and 3 don’t get to pay less because their income is less. It’s a house share not a marriage with shared finances, the rest of you shouldn’t have to subsidise them.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 12/02/2021 21:47

Also, I agree with others. Housemate isn't same like a partner or spouse. You are not financially responsible for them because their financial situation changes.

I must say though, this is how friendahip ends. If they get their bills lowered, 1 and you will end up being bit "humph",bwhich grows into bit of sla resentment. If they don't get them lowered, they will be "humph".

LittleOwl153 · 12/02/2021 21:47

I think the problem is that once this can of worms of unequal split of bills it opened there will continually be an expectation if earnings are disparate the higher earners will foot the bills.

I think the 4 of you signed up to share, therefore you should continue to pay your quarter share.

Original poster
marnieja · 12/02/2021 21:58

I think it does get complicated so housemates that's were on furloughed expected a rent reduction in accordance with wage

OP posts:
HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 12/02/2021 22:02

How much extra is it?

Less than £20 extra each and I'd suck it up.

More than that, the people at home need to pay more.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 12/02/2021 22:02

@marnieja

I think it does get complicated so housemates that's were on furloughed expected a rent reduction in accordance with wage
Well that's a no....
CeibaTree · 12/02/2021 22:04

@marnieja

I think it does get complicated so housemates that's were on furloughed expected a rent reduction in accordance with wage
Are they seriously expecting the other housemates to subsidise their rent?!
MsSquiz · 12/02/2021 22:07

Flatmates 2, 3 & 4 need to realise that the increase in utility bills is due to them being at home more and using more electric, heating, etc and they need to foot the bill.

They cannot expect flatmate 1 to cover their rent payments - if you can't afford rent, you can't afford to live there. You don't get to charge someone else! Especially not someone who is barely at home due to work!

Cocomarine · 12/02/2021 22:08

If you were able to get a rent reduction from your landlord, then it would be fair that all the rent reduction benefited only those who had a financial impact from Covid.
But reducing it at the cost of the others? No way!!

HoneysuckIejasmine · 12/02/2021 22:10

@marnieja

I think it does get complicated so housemates that's were on furloughed expected a rent reduction in accordance with wage
Erm, no. They want their housemates to start paying more, effectively. Absolutely not.

I do agree 2-4 should split the extra bill payments between them. I think 1 should continue paying at prepandemic rates.

Original poster
marnieja · 12/02/2021 22:10

The problem is if they leave where do they go and we have to find 2 new people which is harder than it seems

OP posts:
Overtherainbow12 · 12/02/2021 22:11

I'd hate to be housemate 1 - working longer hours whilst 2 & 3 sat at home yet paying more for heating and now their asking for rent😂
It's unlikely all 4 of you normally have the exact same salary anyway, so what difference does it make who's wages are more or less now? You don't split the rent and bills normally by % of wage. If anything at all, if the electricity is much much higher due to 2 3 and 4 being home all day whilst 1 is never in as working so many shifts now, you three should be offering to cover some of the extra rather than 1 stump up for something he's barely using. If 2 and 3 are furloughed and need extra money they should be applying for jobs that are working just now. If you are furloughed you can work elsewhere just not for the same company your furloughed from.

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