Increase in utilities and lodger

[MotorGreenGrass]

I’ve had a lodger for a year, generally fine but he likes the heater to be warmer than I do. Not a problem so I’ve made provisions like the thermostat is in his room, he has access to the App to change the temp/schedule etc.

However with my bill set to double to nearly £200pm for gas, when its generally £100pm for gas tops, how do I bring this up?

I already have switched of heaters like the hallway, my bedroom, dining room we don’t use. We sometimes use the lounge so that’s on low. He’s got a heated blanket for night time and an app to turn on/off. Also a small 500w heater (more about that later).

Would it be reasonable to say if he’s still here in winter next year he can contribute 50% of the gas bills?

I’m tempted to get digital valves on the radiators so can have more control over turning them on/off, eg if I’m out but want to go home to watch tv etc.

I’m sure it’s because it’s my house/bills I’m accepting my room to be cooler etc.

Current upkeep of the house is about £1k including £600 mortgage, £150 council tax, £100 internet/Insurance/water. So gas and electric costs will push it to around £950pm. He pays £400pm.

He is generally good but when he’s complaining the house is cold and two days later will come down in a t shirt, or when it’s cold I tell him to put more clothes because it does keep you warmer etc.

@Malibuismysecrethome

I don’t agree that he should pay half of the bills for one room but if your bills are increasing considerably then he can pay another £60-75 per month and that would be fair.

There are two of us in the house. His room is what dictates the temperature of the house. I’m fine with the temperature much lower, he isn’t.

@ChampagneLassie

Yeah I lived with someone like this (flat share) who kept turning down heating and suggesting I wear more clothes. Don't do that. I told them I was very happy to pay entire heating bill and have them stop moaning at me. As energy prices might continue to rise, I'd suggest you'd be better separating it out. i.e. £350 for rent and split the energy bill? Your bills / costs are a bit irrelevant - its what is going rate for what you are offering locally.

I was giving the costs I pay to give a bit of perspective I think…. Can’t remember now. It also shows what he would be paying is he was house sharing or living by him self.

The net gain I may or may not have on my property, doesn’t mean anything. He’s got to pay for somewhere to live…. I like the money lol.

[quote CrabbyCat]@Moody123 when you say £400 is fair for a house where mortgage and bills are £1000 a month, you're unfairly ignoring the part of the mortgage the owner has paid off. That needs to be taken into account too, after all if she'd paid off the mortgage entirely so the months costs were only £400, that does mean she should reduce the lodgers rent![/quote]
You also going to take into consideration the costs like home insurance, money paid for upkeep and also redecoration?

The only figures you need to bear in mind are what is the going rate for lodging where you are, how much money you feel is worth it to you to compensate you for sharing your home, and how much his presence pushes up bills. These are the only factors to bear in mind when setting rent. Anything else is completely irrelevant.

agree

Give him 60 days notice that the inclusive rent is going up? Say 10%? Make it clear you expect a reasonable effort on his part to not waste or abuse the heating. ie not opening the window when heating is on or he is to switch it off when he goes out. Whatever you think fair. Have some facts about the UK energy price increase to hand. He might be unaware if he has no experience of utility bills.

Depends whether the lodger is a relative! Otherwise, look at what students pay for their room rent up and down the country. Average is £148 per week. More expensive places have some sort of ensuite, but that might be without bath or shower. Also depends if you provide meals.

www.savethestudent.org/accommodation/universities-students-pay-the-most-rent.html#:~:text=Students%20at%20six%20universities%20reported%20an%20average%20rent,University%20%28%C2%A3120%20a%20week%29%20among%20the%20very%20few.

I think you either need to absorb the extra yourself or ask him for a bit more money towards bills. Don't make him turn the heating down But since he is already paying nearly half your bills for one room you are onto quite a good thing.

@Viviennemary

I think you either need to absorb the extra yourself or ask him for a bit more money towards bills. Don't make him turn the heating down But since he is already paying nearly half your bills for one room you are onto quite a good thing.

Absorb an extra £200 per month? Because if he had his own way that’s what I would be doing.

Absorb an extra £200 per month? Because if he had his own way that’s what I would be doing.

He has the option of leaving for somewhere warmer. But unless you live in the back of beyond, he is getting a good deal right now.

I can’t believe you told him to put more clothing on. How embarrassing. He’s not your child.

But unless you live in the back of beyond, he is getting a good deal right now.

I think they both are

It would really help to know the temperatures involved.

@thecatneuterer

And what you're paying for mortgage or council tax or any other fixed costs is of no relevance whatsoever, as you'd be paying those anyway.

The only figures you need to bear in mind are what is the going rate for lodging where you are, how much money you feel is worth it to you to compensate you for sharing your home, and how much his presence pushes up bills. These are the only factors to bear in mind when setting rent. Anything else is completely irrelevant.

It is of relevance as it’s a good basis for deciding what it would cost him to live by himself in a similar area.

I allow him to keep his bike in the back garden, his old landlord has a double garage and didn’t. I think I can be more then a gracious with things.

Have you ever lowered the rent when you have switched suppliers and the utilities went down? Will you reduce the rent when the energy crisis ends? If not, don't increase his rent to pay for the gas, just increase the rent. If the market doesn't support the higher rates, he'll move out and the problem goes away anyway.

Does he cook or wash a lot? Is in he or out a lot? A colleague had a lodger who was never there but put the rent up & he left. The next one was always cooking & in which really annoyed her.

What temperatures are we talking about? I think any less than 18c is too cold to expect someone to live in, 18-22c is reasonable imo.

I would just say you’re putting the rent up by £50 as the heating bills have doubled.

My oh was complaining about heating costs a while back.

I said to him that this was due to him constantly turning heating on and up

He put a jumper on…

I think if there are 2 of you the heating is reasonable to be split 50/50, or perhaps 60/40 if he doesn’t have equal access to same proportion of house

If you directly link his use with the bills, he’ll be more careful of consumption

If you charge a flat fee, he’ll increase the use, consider it paid for service and you’ll be out of pocket again.

Agree a split and show it to him monthly and he can pay his share

@Elsiebear90

What temperatures are we talking about? I think any less than 18c is too cold to expect someone to live in, 18-22c is reasonable imo.

I would just say you’re putting the rent up by £50 as the heating bills have doubled.

I put the house at 20. That’s just his bedroom which is 20. The bathroom will be constantly on (when boiler is on) as it’s an open radiator. Front room I’ve turn the dial to be on, but not too warm. That’s the general issue, it won’t get to 20 in the living room if the thermostat is in his bedroom. He tried to put it at 22/23 before…. But really houses also feel different to what the thermostat says.

I also don’t put the radiator on in my own bedroom.

@MzHz

My oh was complaining about heating costs a while back.

I said to him that this was due to him constantly turning heating on and up

He put a jumper on…

I think if there are 2 of you the heating is reasonable to be split 50/50, or perhaps 60/40 if he doesn’t have equal access to same proportion of house

If you directly link his use with the bills, he’ll be more careful of consumption

If you charge a flat fee, he’ll increase the use, consider it paid for service and you’ll be out of pocket again.

Agree a split and show it to him monthly and he can pay his share

Yea I think that’s the other thing…. If he pays extra he will think it’s free to use whatever he wants.

I don't think lodgers should be splitting the bills, they're a lodger in your house not a flatmate. I do think it's cheeky of him to be floating around in a t-shirt complaining it's too cold, doesn't he realise there is an energy crisis right now? But not much you can do other than put up the rent. I would suggest upping it by £50 but not more than that, you should expect to absorb most of the energy costs as the homeowner and landlord in this instance.

Be grateful you have a lodger to absorb a big portion of your costs, he's covering most of your mortgage. I presume you work as well, so between work and your lodger you must have a decent income with more than enough leftover after bills, doesn't sound like a struggle.

If he's a good lodger you don't want to lose him, it'll end up costing you more if he moves out, and if you get someone else in they could be far worse.

I'm actually against the grain here but I don't really think it's fair.

He's a lodger, not a tenant, he doesn't have the rights that tenants do and he is essentially already paying nearly half of the housing costs for one room. I think £400 when the total housing costs is £1000 is definitely fair

@Lou98

I'm actually against the grain here but I don't really think it's fair.

He's a lodger, not a tenant, he doesn't have the rights that tenants do and he is essentially already paying nearly half of the housing costs for one room. I think £400 when the total housing costs is £1000 is definitely fair

I totally agree with this. OP is charging him like he's a tenant rather than a lodger. Yet thinks she's so generous because she lets him keep his bike in the garden. As a lodger it doesn't sound like a good deal at all. Wouldn't surprise me if he's looking around for somewhere else, especially when it sounds like it's cold there!

I think £400 when the total housing costs is £1000 is definitely fair

Have a look on spareroom etc. Many areas of the country you'd struggle to find a room for just £400 all in. Student rooms in uni towns average 650/month without meals. So it depends where and what facilities are on offer. (DSCs pay around £800/month each for theirs, which include ensuite, but no meals).

You also don't know if OP put down half the price of the house in equity. She is certainly not including all her costs - breakdowns for example. Washing machine, fridge freezer, d/w, tumble dryer, hoover - these all break down faster with 2 people instead of one. (Especially the w/m and the t/d!) Council tax is more, carpets have more accidents, lodgers want better broadband, insurance is more expensive etc.

What does your lodgers agreement say about rent increases?

@HundredMilesAnHour he’s a lodger, not a tenant, therefore I owe him nothing legally and has a guest in my home.

Having your bike in someone’s back garden is actually a big deal. His last landlord didn’t allow him to put his bike in his double garage, so already he’s getting something more. The terrace houses generally won’t have any access to put the bike in the back garden and also a lot of houses won’t have such a facility. It’s a motorbike.