One of the major issues when living in a shared house is the payment of utility bills, it is often a good idea to work out a fair way in which all housemates can pay an equal amount towards the bills.
The main bills that will need to be paid in a house include, Electricity, gas and water bills you can often choose to pay these quarterly or monthly(although water bill is ususally paid every 6months)
there are different providers of gas and electicity who offer different level of pricing ensure you have the landlords permission however if you are wishing to switch providers.
The thing about these bills is that most utility companies like to deal with one person who will be the account holder this can create problems later on if the bill is not paid, as one person will be held responsible
it is important that all bills are settled up before moving out of a property to prevent this.
below are some top tips in how to sort out your bills:
. Have one account where the bills are paid from
. Direct debit maybe the best way to pay as it comes straight out your account without you having to do anything, companies often add
an admin fee to those who dont pay direct debit.
.Some rented properties have a gas card or a key which work on a meter you can get these charged up like an oyster card, this is often a good way
to pay the gas or electric as you can have a whip round of housemates, this can work out more expensive though in some cases.
.Make sure that all housemates make a commitment to pay all the bills fairly maybe draw up an agreement remeber that if the utility bills are not paid at end of the tenancy the landlord can pay them out of your deposit.
If you feel you need further help with how to pay bills contact The Advice Centre
In this country everyone who has T.v. receiving equipment will need a T.V. Licence this includes students.
T.v. licences currently costs £149.50 for colour TV'S and £99 for black and white.
You will still need a TV Licence if:
You watch TV on a laptop or PC If you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV you must, by law, be covered by a TV Licence, no matter what device you are using.
You live in halls of residence Your hall probably has a licence covering communal areas, but this won't cover you for your room.
You live in a shared house If there is a joint tenancy agreement for the whole house, you may only need one licence. If you don't have a licence between you, whoever is found watching TV when an Enquiry Officer visits you is the one who risks a prosecution and a fine.
If you have a separate tenancy agreement for your room, you need your own licence.
However, there may be other reasons why you need your own separate licence, such as whether or not your accommodation is self-contained - i.e. you have exclusive access to washing facilities or you have your own entrance to the property. If you are unsure whether this applies to your
What happens if you dont get a TV licence?
Watching TV without a TV licnece is a criminal offence and if you are detected can lead to a court appearance and a fine of up to £1000. There is a national database of properties who are not registered as having a TV licence and enforcement officers can also knock on your door.