Bills, Bills, Bills

[aceyoung1]

Hi, I currently rent a house with two friends. We pay rent, council tax, water, gas and electricity and TV license, so pretty much everthing. Is there anyway we can slim these bills by getting our landlord to pay? because if we didn't live there he would have to pay some of these himself.

[Hebejebe]

Um no if you didn't live there your landlord would either

 

A. - rent to someone else

or

B. - Sell up and make a nice fat wadge of cash.

 

Seriously tho you are having problems you should maybe get ypurself down to the benefits agency and see if you are entitled to anything. 

[BenDToy]

Bit puzzled as to what you think he would have to pay if you didn't live there. Apart from council tax, which would be lower if the house was empty. Silliness apart, why not just explain the situation to him and he may be prepared to consider something to help. I'm sure he would rather retain existing tenants than look for new ones - assuming you are good tenants that is ;o)

[aceyoung1]

Wouldn't he still have to pay Flat Rates for Utilities (Gas & Electricity etc?

[Hebejebe]

no he wouldn't.  When a tennant moved out he would contact the utilities with the final meter readings and turn off gas and electric at the mains.  A new tennant would then conact the utilities (or the landlord would) and they would start the billing again.  As BenDtoy said he would only have to pay a discounted rate of Council Tax if the house was empty.

[buildersmate]

And most of the utility bill is the energy used, not the Standing Charge.