Can My Landlord Charge Me For Heat By Dividing Their Bill By The Number Of Tenants In The Complex?

There is nothing to suggest that a landlord cannot do this, it depends on the arrangements set out in the lease.

In many properties the tenants are individually responsible for paying their own utility bills but sometimes it is not possible to do this, for example if the building is a block of flats with one heating system covering the whole building. In that case dividing the bills among the tenants is probably the sensible option, but there are two ways of doing it and a number of areas where tenants and landlords need to ensure their rights are protected.

One solution is for the landlord to include the heating charge in with the rent. In this case, the way that the amount is assessed must be written into the tenancy agreement. If it isn't, this doesn't mean the tenant doesn't have to pay it, but the agreement will need to be changed and both parties should take advice on how that should be done. In addition, if the rent is registered with the Rent Officer, the amount for fuel may be specified and therefore cannot be changed without their agreement.

If the bills are settled separately to the rent, as and when the bills come in, the tenant can ask to see the bill, to ensure that it has been divided equally, before paying it. Again, this arrangement should be written into the tenancy agreement.

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