"How Much Are The Bills"

[GreenlandTheMovie]

Does anyone know the answer to this question? I've advertised my flat for rent (various reasons why I can't sell it for another couple of years). It's an 8 year old small house and it's EPC (Energy Performance Certidicate) is a B, which is very efficient. This is in the advert, along with a description of its gas central heating system.

Yet I keep getting asked "how much are the bills""Are bills included? " (it's for a minimum years' let, renewable)." What's the average cost of bills? "

How do I know? What if someone likes the heating on all the time and I guve a figure thats too low? What if its a really cold spring? Or if lockdown is extended and people continue to wfh? How does anyone actually answer this question? Is everyone now renting out property with bills included in the rent?

Never heard of anybody renting out a whole property with bills included.

Just tell them what provider you currently use and the tariff you are on and let them work it out. I don’t know of any rentals where bills are included. People could really take the piss.

I would assume they are wanting to know council tax/rates and things.

I'd give a rough figure for other bills with a caveat so for example who your current provider is, monthly DD amount and that you tend to keep the house on the cool side. Whatever your actual situation is. They're just wanting to guage a round figure for affordability. No point in getting a rent for £350 if the rates and utilities end up with it at £600 when they saw an equally lovely place for £550 bills included.

You could let them know the council tax band and whether it's a fixed price for water or on a meter.
Energy companies have calculaters based on the number of rooms so you could check that and refer to the calculator you used.

How much do you pay? Look at your water/elec and gas for each quarter and average them. You can only give a ballpark based on your own experience.

*guage a rough figure. Not a round figure.

You don’t need to include bills, however it’s pretty normal to be able to give an estimate surely? Like you can say council tax is x, energy/water last year was in the region of y

The only times I've heard of bills being included in PRS properties are where the rental is an annexe to the owner's house and doesn't have independent energy and water supplies.

I'd just tell them how much you pay for energy and water, OP, and point out that their usage might be more or less then yours.

I can understand people asking though, they need to have a rough idea of if they'll be able to afford the running costs.

It is a ‘how long is a piece of string’ question, as you say, but there are a few things you could do to help a little:

State clearly that bills aren’t included in the rent;
Give them the council tax band and how much that cost this year;
Be clear that there is gas central heating;
Say if the water is metered (I suppose all new builds are now, but for clarity).

Then say that obviously bills would depend on the provider they choose and their usage so you can’t give an average.

That might help a bit.

Not an difficult question

" I pay x gas electric / x water / x council tax "

Yes there are variables but it's a rough guide

"Hi thanks for enquiring, bills aren't included, council tax is ££ (££ if you get single person discount), I pay ££ for water, ££ for gas and ££ for electric, on average monthly, based on my usage as a single person out of the house most of the day. Hope that helps"
Copy and paste to everyone.

Forgot to say, I've actually included the monthly cost of council tax (divided by 12) in the advert, both separately and added to the rent (2 figures). WiFi is included in the rent.

So it seems to be the cost of gas and electricity they want to know.

And Ive only lived in it sporadically over the past 2 years, as I used to use it as a base for work, but obviously not at all recently. So I really have no idea what the bills would be.

It sounds like a bit of a silly question given it depends on what tarrif THEY choose and how much gas and electric THEY use. Has common sense gone out the window?

Personally I'd reply with information about council tax and whether any of the services are on a pre-payment card. One of the houses we rented was on a gas card, and it would have cost us more to change it to a normal tarrif for the short time we were looking to stay. Beyond that I would say bill costs will vary depending on what tarrif the tenant chooses and the tennant's usage.

People aren’t going to hold you to an exact figure, they just want to get an understanding of rough costs. Something like the message by @MyLittleOrangutan is perfect.

Council tax is band X

Water rates are x (or if on a meter - will vary depending on usage)

Electric and gas will vary on your usage but the house is fairly energy efficient and well insulated.

Please keep in mind that while I will obviously cover buildings insurance you will need to deal with contents insurance

I think it’s a reasonable question actually. I lived in 3 flats as a single person before having a family.
In one of them I had storage heaters so the electric was astronomic amounts! I wish I had asked.

@ItStartedWithAKiss241

I think it’s a reasonable question actually. I lived in 3 flats as a single person before having a family. In one of them I had storage heaters so the electric was astronomic amounts! I wish I had asked.

When you can see from the advert that it's a modern small property, with a "B" for energy efficiency, the council tax figure is given and it has gas central heating?

I honestly don't have a recent figure for bills and I'd have to make a random guess which might be of no relevance to a couple both wfh or a small family with one child.

I'm getting so many enquiries from young people who don't seem to have lived away from home before and who seem quite astonished that they might have to pay bills at all!

Basically you answer by saying
Council tax is x per month water is y
I pay z for utilities but haven't lived there full time so will depend on your usage.

Having just moved into an old property and been shocked at just how high the bills are, I do understand why people ask this question. My bills went up from about £140 pcm for everything including internet to £600 pcm just for electricity (have an electric boiler). I would just give an indication of what the annual or monthly bills are currently and caveat it with “of course that will depend on your usage and tariff”. If they’re asking if bills are included suggests that’s not clear enough in the original advert.

I was going to say that it sounds like you are getting a lot of nest flyers. Everyone has to start somewhere but it is a bit scary that they are so clueless.

Make very sure you have rent guarantee insurance and have complied with all legals. if England, tenants can move in and pay nothing more, and you could be looking at two years to evict now.

If WIFI is included that will be why they're asking if bills are I think, its uncommon for one without the other. Just explain you have only lived in it sporadically so aren't sure what the typical cost of bills would be.

@GreenlandTheMovie

Forgot to say, I've actually included the monthly cost of council tax (divided by 12) in the advert, both separately and added to the rent (2 figures). WiFi is included in the rent.

So it seems to be the cost of gas and electricity they want to know.

Ah, I think this is why people are asking - you’ve muddied the water a bit by including some of the costs.

Don’t forget that council tax will vary depending on circumstances, so better to give the band than a figure - a single person or a household with only one earner will get a discount.

You probably just need to be clearer about what’s included and what isn’t.

Ex Landlord here - some advice. This might sound harsh but you really need to hear it. No landlord in their right mind would consider doing things the way you propose.

1. Council tax is liable to be paid directly to the council by the resident. If they register to vote, they will get a bill in their name regardless of whether you then pay it on their behalf because the law says that the resident pays. Why would you set yourself up for that nuisance? Additionally, you will look like you are trying to dodge income tax or defraud your mortgage company into thinking that you still live there when you don't. Just tell them they are responsible for paying it, it is X amount.

1. For the love of god, DO NOT PAY FOR THE WIFI - you will then be involved if they start doing shady shit online. You will also get whinging and demands for rent reduction when the service is crap. Spoiler alert - with everyone working from home, the service is crap everywhere. But please consider the legal liabilities, should they start downloading pirated shit or worse. Your name on the bill? Your problem.

1. Tell them the known fixed costs, e.g. water and tell them what you pay for gas and electric. Websites like rightmove will even give you an estimated running cost if you put the address in, just tell them to look there.

1. It sounds like you aren't daft enough to include gas and electric. That's good. If you're not on a smart meter you could consider switching to a supplier that offers one, e.g. utility warehouse and then wash your hands of it.

The moral of the story - do not EVER get involved in your tenants utility bill arrangements. Especially not council tax or wifi, for the reasons stated above.

Also consider using a system like OpenRent to advertise the property, collect holding deposit, collect rent, arrange deposit protection, issue the legally required "how to rent" guide and obtain a template contract with e-signatures.

They also ensure that all the correct paperwork is in place e.g. Gas Certs, Electrical Certs so it is safer for the tenant. They offer a credit check service which if the tenant passes, you become eligible for insurance against the tenant not paying. They don't manage the property for you or conduct viewings, but the £49 charge that I paid a few years ago was well worth it to have all that help with the paperwork.