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Student Accommodation
Can anyone advise, or has anyone had experience of this situation. My grandson is at university and living in a privately rented house with 3 others (all males). He has agreed to have his name on the energy account, and the others pay him their share.
This has worked pretty much OK so far, although I felt it was rather risky. I was under the impression that the energy company would not put joint names on the account so the most responsible one ended up with it. Now, one of the other renters has moved his girlfriend in, she theoretically lives elsewhere, but is there for the majority of the week, day and night. She is using their gas and electricity, as she is often there when they are not. She also taking showers there, which are run from the electricity and quite costly. My grandson has made it clear he thinks this is unfair, and she should at least be contributing something to the energy costs. These days when the bills are so high it counts. Initially she agreed but then her boyfriend (one of the tenants) has taken it upon himself to made a decision on her behalf and he says no. One of the others is also OK with it. They are all from reasonably wealthy families who seem OK to subsidise their bills, my grandson is not. Apart from anything else, it puts them in contravention of their lease agreement.
This has all come to a head during the christmas break, he had worked out what he thought was fair for her to contribute, but then when she didn't send the money, all went silent when he tried to contact her. The only contact he has had is with the boyfriend who is saying she's not paying anything, and he's not paying any extra for her being there either. My grandson could feasibly live at home and commute, and is seriously considering this, but there seems no likelihood of him being able to get out of the rental contract. And as his is the only name on the energy contract it means they are going to keep taking the money from him.
He has been to see the letting agent who have been no use at all. He does not know who the landlord is and has no way to contact that person. He's not sure now where to turn. This is not going to help with his studies having the worry of this, but I admit, never having lived in shared accommodation, I'm not sure either.
This has worked pretty much OK so far, although I felt it was rather risky. I was under the impression that the energy company would not put joint names on the account so the most responsible one ended up with it. Now, one of the other renters has moved his girlfriend in, she theoretically lives elsewhere, but is there for the majority of the week, day and night. She is using their gas and electricity, as she is often there when they are not. She also taking showers there, which are run from the electricity and quite costly. My grandson has made it clear he thinks this is unfair, and she should at least be contributing something to the energy costs. These days when the bills are so high it counts. Initially she agreed but then her boyfriend (one of the tenants) has taken it upon himself to made a decision on her behalf and he says no. One of the others is also OK with it. They are all from reasonably wealthy families who seem OK to subsidise their bills, my grandson is not. Apart from anything else, it puts them in contravention of their lease agreement.
This has all come to a head during the christmas break, he had worked out what he thought was fair for her to contribute, but then when she didn't send the money, all went silent when he tried to contact her. The only contact he has had is with the boyfriend who is saying she's not paying anything, and he's not paying any extra for her being there either. My grandson could feasibly live at home and commute, and is seriously considering this, but there seems no likelihood of him being able to get out of the rental contract. And as his is the only name on the energy contract it means they are going to keep taking the money from him.
He has been to see the letting agent who have been no use at all. He does not know who the landlord is and has no way to contact that person. He's not sure now where to turn. This is not going to help with his studies having the worry of this, but I admit, never having lived in shared accommodation, I'm not sure either.
Answers
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If they can't get out of the contract on the property, a suggestion (one my OH thought of (she has been in a very similar situation)) would be to have a electricity meter put in (or multiple key meters).
Citizens Advice would no doubt be a very good option also, as they'll be familiar with this, I believe.
Citizens Advice would no doubt be a very good option also, as they'll be familiar with this, I believe.
Hi, your grandson actually has the upper hand here. His name is on the electricity account, therefore he can cancel the account at any time. He should tell his flat mates that he is going to cancel the account unless the girl pays her fair share, then someone else will have to put their name on the account if they want to continue to get electric!
yes I think Meagan has the answer.
I think they are all calling it a day BUT of course the lease may 'not allow them to'. I am just about the only landlord who says to unhappy tenants, "just go and I will find someone else".
DOI I have one NOW who is unhappy and WON'T go. You cannot make me do things which will endanger my daughter ( like cut the lawn) Yeah one of those
I think they are all calling it a day BUT of course the lease may 'not allow them to'. I am just about the only landlord who says to unhappy tenants, "just go and I will find someone else".
DOI I have one NOW who is unhappy and WON'T go. You cannot make me do things which will endanger my daughter ( like cut the lawn) Yeah one of those
Thanks to everyone for their insights. There are various things he has to consider before definitely deciding to leave. One of those being transport from home to uni!!
He really asked me about this, more to see if I thought he was being unreasonable, as his housemates seem to think he is. I disagree. This girl if freeloading, and they are allowing it. Aside of being in contravention of their rental agreement of course.
I have suggested he might try to go to the university for some advice/help, although apparently the rental house is not connected in any way to the uni. I do agree that he really should also talk to the energy company, I don't know if they allow more than one person to be on the agreement, but frankly it's alarming if one person is being expected to take all the responsibility for it.
The way that these university rental houses are run makes it impossible to each have their own meter, which would be the ideal solution. There is only one bathroom, and a central heating system for the whole house, plus the shared places, sitting room, kitchen. This would make it difficult to have individual meters. Frankly the way they are run (and charged for), is a total racket, and there should be far more oversight. But it is what it is, and for now, he needs to be sure he's going to leave. If he takes this situation to anyone official, they all risk being thrown out. Actually, he does have leverage there, as he could, with a car, commute. The others live too far away to do that.
Hopefully they can sort it out more or less amicably, they were friends during the first year whilst in halls of residence, and it would be a shame to allow this to change that.
He really asked me about this, more to see if I thought he was being unreasonable, as his housemates seem to think he is. I disagree. This girl if freeloading, and they are allowing it. Aside of being in contravention of their rental agreement of course.
I have suggested he might try to go to the university for some advice/help, although apparently the rental house is not connected in any way to the uni. I do agree that he really should also talk to the energy company, I don't know if they allow more than one person to be on the agreement, but frankly it's alarming if one person is being expected to take all the responsibility for it.
The way that these university rental houses are run makes it impossible to each have their own meter, which would be the ideal solution. There is only one bathroom, and a central heating system for the whole house, plus the shared places, sitting room, kitchen. This would make it difficult to have individual meters. Frankly the way they are run (and charged for), is a total racket, and there should be far more oversight. But it is what it is, and for now, he needs to be sure he's going to leave. If he takes this situation to anyone official, they all risk being thrown out. Actually, he does have leverage there, as he could, with a car, commute. The others live too far away to do that.
Hopefully they can sort it out more or less amicably, they were friends during the first year whilst in halls of residence, and it would be a shame to allow this to change that.
-- answer removed --
Turns out it's rather worse. The one with the live in girlfriend has now bought an electric fan heater and is using that in his room. Not a shared area, his own room. He has turned off his radiator fed from the gas central heating and has told them the gas saved by doing this will equal the electric he's using for the fire. Their tariff is 48p per k/h for electric and 10.5p for gas.
I have told him it doesn't quite work like that with gas heating and he's bumping up the bill quite a bit, for his own personal use. Oh dear, some difficult conversations are going to be had I fear. My grandson has some deadlines for uni work coming up so hasn't yet had the time to address it!!
I have told him it doesn't quite work like that with gas heating and he's bumping up the bill quite a bit, for his own personal use. Oh dear, some difficult conversations are going to be had I fear. My grandson has some deadlines for uni work coming up so hasn't yet had the time to address it!!
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