Household Bills
Most students living in rented accommodation will have to pay for gas and electricity and sometimes pay water charges (check your Tenancy Agreement to find out what is included and what is your responsibility). Legally, each household with a TV will also need a TV licence.
Tenants Responsibility for bills:
If you are responsible for utility bills, ALL tenants will be jointly responsible for payment. You should decide amongst yourselves how you are all going to pay BEFORE a bill arrives. Unipol cannot under any circumstances pay, or become involved in disputes about utility bills or phone accounts.
Energy (gas and electricity)
When you move into the property, you must contact the electricity and gas supply companies to put everyone’s name on the bills and provide up-to-date meter readings. You must do this immediately.
Read the meters at the start of your tenancy. Unless stated on your contract, you are responsible for utility bills including gas and electricity. If you see a bill addressed to ‘The Occupier’, open it and follow the instructions below. If the bill is addressed to previous occupants, you still need to do the following:
1. Ring the company directly – the number will be on the bill.
2. Tell them the names of the new occupiers.
3. Register the bill into your name/s
4. Give the meter reading you have taken for that day. (You will be billed from this reading onwards).
5. Keep a record of the first meter reading.
If you do not register with the gas/electric companies, they may call and disconnect your supply, particularly if the previous tenants have not paid their bills. This may happen with little warning. Reconnection can be difficult to organise and the companies can insist on large deposits being paid first. You could be without heating or a power supply for a long time.
If you cannot access your meters (for example if they are in a locked cupboard) please contact Unipol to arrange a meter reading.
Top Tip
Do not put the bills in one person’s name as only this tenant will be liable for the full cost. Bills should always be split equally amongst the number of tenants in the property. If you have already moved in and you are have having difficulty with organizing payment, make sure the utility company has EVERY tenants names on the bill- you can send them a copy of your Tenancy Agreement for proof of occupancy.
Meters
If you are unsure where your meters are located, contact your Housing Management Officer. The meter reading usually consists of a 5 digit number. Each property will have separate meters for gas and electricity, so you need to take 2 readings. You may be receiving both gas and electricity from one company or have a separate supplier for each. If your meters are located outside your property you may need to buy a meter key (from hardware stores) to gain access.
You can find out your gas or electricity supplier by calling;
Gas supplier – contact National Grid UK Meter Helpline on 0870 608 1524.
Electricity supplier - contact the MPAS Consumer Helpline on: 0845 601 3268
Larger Developments:
At some larger developments, Unipol charges tenants directly for gas and electricity via an energy supplement. Where this applies, it will be indicated on the tenancy agreement. We will carry out meter readings at the beginning and end of the tenancy, and at the end of each term, and calculate the cost of the energy you have used. If your energy use is higher than your payments, we will write offering practical advice on how you can reduce your consumption. If, at the end of the tenancy, you have used more energy than you have paid for, the outstanding amount will be deducted from your deposit. Similarly, if you use less energy than you have paid for, you will receive a refund at the end of the tenancy.
The Cost of Heating your Property
British Gas has produced the following figures to give customers an indication of how much it costs to heat different types of properties. Although this is only an indication it should help you to budget your energy costs. Remember, in cold weather it is usually best to leave some heating on all the time you are in a property as it costs more to heat up a property from cold than to keep a warm property warm.
Small House | Medium House | Larger House | |
| (1-2 bedrooms) | (3 bedroom terrace or flat) | (4 bed semi-detached) |
Condensing boiler: | £36.75 (£441pa) | £46.50 (£558pa) | £63.91 (£767pa) |
Conventional Central heating: | £43.50 (£522pa) | £55.41 (£665pa) | £76.75 (£921 pa) |
Prices correct Oct 2005
Water Charges
Some tenants are required to pay water charges direct to the supplier; others are not. Your obligation to pay water charges is clearly stated in your tenancy agreement. If you are in any doubt about this, ask your Housing Management Officer.
Your water is supplied by Yorkshire Water and they have a standard charge for your property. You do not have to read a meter for this supply.
1. Ring the company directly – the number will be on the bill.
2. Tell them that you are the new occupiers
3. Register the bill into all your name/s
A small number of properties are fitted with water meters. Your Housing management Officer will advise you if you need to take meter readings.
Telephone
If you want to reconnect a phone or have one put in, you should get in touch with BT. You will need Unipol’s permission to install wiring for the first time.
Further advice:
Unipol do not get involved in disputes over payment of household bills. If other tenants owe you money, you may wish to seek advice. You would need to contact the utility companies directly regarding any payment disputes, you could also seek student advice through your student union.
Links
Leeds
Nightline is a telephone support and information service run for students by trained student volunteers. The phone lines open between 8pm and 8am every night of term, offering confidential listening and information to all students studying in Leeds and at Bretton. Tel: 0113 3801380
Leeds Metropolitan University student services, counselling, debt management etc
Leeds Metropolitan University Student Union
The University of Leeds, support, guidance, welfare
The University of Leeds Student Union
Leeds College of Art and Design
The Northern School of Contemporary Dance
Leeds Community Mediation Service - offers a range of services including help to neighbours in conflict.
Samaritans offer confidential non-judgemental emotional support 24 hours a day. Tel: 08457 90 90 90
Bradford
The University of Bradford student services