to pay someones water bill as a thank you?

[LetSophieGo]

Hypothetical, so not about me.

But supposing you were at the end of a tenancy when covid started, a very good friend allows you to stay with them, rent free, until it's 'over' and you can look for a new rental with ease.

You are on just below average income, choose to rent and have no dependants. You also have a 48k 'emergency pot'.
The friend is on a very, very low income and has no dependants.

After a year of living with the friend, and they have asked you for nothing (owns house so no rent, mortgage, etc), would you offer them a gesture of maybe paying off their yearly water or council tax bill?

I am not the friend or the hypothetical lodger, and I have no horse in this race, but someone asked me and I have no idea.
Personally, I would, as a year rent free with no outgoings is a luxury.

What do you think, AIBU to think that would be a decent thing to do?
The person has offered to pay utilities and whatnot all through but their offer has been refused.

Perhaps the skint friend is worried that if she accepts money she will be stuck with a permanent lodger, so once the visitor is settled somewhere else, she could persuade her to accept a substantial amount?

Needs to transfer it directly at lodger rates into her account.

Doesn't benefits only kick in when you have more than several thousand?

Nice idea but struggle to pay someone else’s already set up bills without permission in all honesty.

When they move out leave a wedge of cash in one of the drawers with a letter.

This reminds me of my mum and gran whipping purses out in the supermarket and almost fighting to pay the bill. It might be pride, it might be a benefits issue that is preventing the generous person from accepting a contribution but I think your friend needs to try again, perhaps with the line that they are feeling very bad for not paying, so bad they’re not sleeping well etc and they are absolutely insisting on making at least some contribution. They would like to pay the utilities and estimate X figure so how would the person like it to be paid? Straight into bank? PayPal ? Or vouchers for wherever? Your friend needs to be firm and make it clear that ‘nothing’ is not one of the options.
Some people are generous to a fault and this person sounds like one of them!

The tight fisted get had 48k emergency savings but didn’t know that they were having an emergency 🤔

I've been in the situation before (on the behalf of the hosting party), friends stayed with me for years as I had a spare bedroom anyway, even when I was quite skint.
And I personally would be a bit offended if they paid my bills or sent money to my PayPal after I explicitly said NO.

I think it could be that if money comes in it might upset her UC claim perhaps - I'd try and find out why and then do as a pp suggested with vouchers/cash/treat purchase.

How about offering to take the host on a holiday for a couple of weeks, all expenses paid, or even paying for her to go on her own if that might suit her better? It's reciprocal hospitality that way, rather than a financial contribution, but could be a lovely treat for someone who struggles to make ends meet.

How is the water bill costing more than gas/electric?

As previous posters have said it will be the benefits. Rent could screw things up longer term and they might not want to rock the boat. Why doesn't lodger pay for them
Both to go somewhere really nice on holiday once we are out of lockdown / travel restrictions.

To me... This gift of accommodation for a YEAR is worth way more than paying a utility bill... Unless was huge!

If hard cash is unacceptable, take her away on holiday... Or luxury city break.

She's daft if she's refusing money when skint... Perhaps pride..?!