October 24th 2023.
Money can be an awkward topic to discuss, especially when it comes to energy bills. With winter coming up, many of us are already worrying about the cost of heating our homes. This is especially true for those of us living with housemates, as conversations about bills can be particularly tricky territory to navigate.
Life coach Natalie Trice explains: “Dealing with money and bills with housemates can be a tricky subject at the best of times but, in a cost of living crisis, it can feel more difficult than ever. New problems might occur in various different ways, such as individuals with bills in their name worrying about late payments, or housemates refusing to pay the additional costs.”
So, how can we make sure we stay on top of things and avoid any conflicts when it comes to energy bills? Well, Natalie says the best thing to do is to have an open and honest conversation with your housemates. She recommends calling a house meeting over a cup of tea or a glass of wine, so everyone can talk about the situation and look for solutions together.
Having a copy of recent bills with energy usage and costs is also a good place to start. This will help you decide how best to split the costs fairly. It might be two of you work from home, while one works from the office, and another isn’t home much at all - if this is the case, is there a case for looking at who pays what?
To stop disputes about wasted energy, it might be worth establishing some ground rules too. For example, how much the tumble dryer is used, how many long baths people take and how much the heating needs to go on - especially as we head into summer.
Another important thing to keep in mind is to ensure group responsibility. Contact your utility provider and include everyone in your household’s names on the contract. This means that everyone will be equally responsible if any payments are missed, and the responsibility doesn’t just lay on one person. It is also possible to set up numerous direct debits with your energy provider, so money doesn’t all have to go through a middle person before reaching the provider.
What if a housemate can no longer afford bills? Housetastic’s property expert Michael Reading explains that the account holder should then contact the supplier and explain the situation. Under Ofgem rules, suppliers must discuss and agree on a payment plan that is affordable.
If a housemate is avoiding the issue and withholding any payment, then this can be difficult. The first point of call is to talk to them directly and try and come to a solution. If that doesn’t work, you might need to seek alternate routes, such as seeking legal advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Money can be an uncomfortable topic to talk about, but it’s important to stay on top of things in order to avoid conflicts when it comes to energy bills. Having an open and honest conversation with your housemates, going over recent bills to assess fairly, establishing house rules for fairness, and ensuring group responsibility are all key steps to take.
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