does anyone know what is included in rent for?

Question

a furnished property. A friend of mine privately rents, she pays £105 per wk and has just been landed a water bill for £240. Her landlord says she is responsible for the charge. it doesn't state either way in the tenancy agreement. Is this right? i'm in the uk.

she has lived in the propery for 18 mths, the landlord previously letted the house through an estate agents, that is where she used to pay her rent and where she signed the tenancy agreement. the landlord has since cut ties with the estate agents and collects the rent himself. so she feels as if she has lost some sort of security. the property isn't even up to standards. she works hard and it doesn't seem fair, she is a single mum of 3.
thanks everyone anyway x

Answer 1

Water is 99% usually included.If it is'nt stated either way.She should contact a solicitor.How was the bill in her name?Did she
sign to take it on?Water bills are in the home owners name.Not
the tenants.Maybe he/her filled in form using her name.Get advice.Look for another place.Landlord sounds well dodgy.

Answer 2

This is correct. A furnished property means just that, it comes with furniture and extras such as washing machine, fridge, possible sofa etc, rather than just an empty house.

Tenants are responsible for all of the bills, for gas, water, council tax, phone, electricity etc, unless explicitly stated otherwise in the tenancy agreement.

However, the water bill does seem quite high. Unless the property has a meter, which it doesn't sound like it has, then the water board estimate the amount of water used. If there is only 1 or 2 people living in the house, you can phone them up and they will usually give a discount as you will be using less water than a full family. This isn't guarenteed, it depends on who the supplier is, but they normally do do this. Its something you have to ask for though, otherwise you just get charged the standard rate.

Also if there is only your friend living in the house, there is a discount on the council tax as well, normally 25% off if I remember right for single occupancy, but again this is something you have to ask for from the council or you`ll get charged the full rate by default.

Answer 3

It depends what is in the contract but all the contracts I know about where there is separate meters for the premises being rented the tenant is responsible for the supply that goes through that meter. If there is one meter covering several rooms or flats the charge would have to be included in the rent or an agreement where the tenants share the cost. If that is the case then it would be part of the contract. The bill sounds very high and it could be she is being asked to pay for several tenants water (Maybe they are also being asked to pay as well) She should seek legal advise from the CAB and she should demand to see the actual bill so she can at least check the meter reading

Answer 4

I'm afraid furnished is just that - nothing to do with the utilities. Having said that, it should have been made clear in another part of the contract who was responsible for what utilities. If nothing was mentioned in the contract then technically he cannot hold her into paying them. However, what a person can legally do, and what they actually try to do..... Get some advice.

On a side note though, if your friend is to pay the utilities she should seek to get her names on the contracts for the these utilities. - Ok the water is the water, but he/she can shop around for the cheapest deal if it is her name on the contract. If the landlord is not paying the bills in the long run there is no insentive for him to find the cheapest supplier of gas/elecxtric/phone/broadband etc. Good for her credit rating to have them come out of her account regularly as well.

Also - if your friend is living there alone there are council tax benefits - but get your friend to have the utilities registered in her name if she is there alone. She can lower the costs.

Answer 5

I dont know England but water and sewerage is normally the landlords problem. It is part of the rent. There may be provision in the lease for EXCESS water charges for very heavy water use.
You can ask at the place that used to manage the property.
I suggest your friend look for somewhere else to live .

Answer 6

I have been renting for 12 yrs and in all cases tenants are responsible for all bills unless clearly stated in the tenancy agreement hope this helps

Answer 7

in UK its Very rare that rent covers utility bills. If the rent includes the water etc it will state so in the tenancy



more commonly seen in sheltered accomodation...student houses etc....hostels...some local authority establishmenst. etc etc

£105 per week rent is average for most types of property now.

Im surprised she had not considered all the costs of running a home before she moved in. You better warn her she will more than likely be responsible for council tax...gas...elec...other water charges....contents insurance (optional)

Get her to citizens advice bureau....they will help and see if she is entitled to any government support if your in uk

Answer 8

In the UK your friend is responsible for water rates and Council tax as well as her rent, gas and/or electric and phone bills.

Answer 9

the flat should of said 'inclusive of all bills' next to the price. so am afraid the bills are your friends responsibility. Dont for get that your friend can ring the water bill etc for payments by instalments. it would help alot.

Answer 10

Furnished means including furniture, carpets etc. Not including utility bills.