A free bills agreement for your house share
Short answer
Copy the clauses into a shared document, fill in the blanks together and each keep a signed copy. The agreement sets out who holds each account, how each bill is split, payment dates, absences, leaving, joining and disagreements. It is between housemates: it does not change your tenancy or what a supplier can ask the named account holder to pay.
Updated
A short written agreement settles the questions behind most house-share arguments: how each bill is split, when to pay, and what happens when someone is away, leaves or joins. Copy the clauses below, fill in the gaps together and keep a signed copy each. It is free to use and adapt.
What does a bills agreement do, and what can it not do?
- It records what you have agreed with each other: who holds each account, how each bill is split and when you pay.
- It does not change your tenancy. GOV.UK says that when more than one tenant signs the same tenancy agreement, all the joint tenants are responsible for the rent.
- It does not change what a supplier can ask for. Shelter says the people named on a bill are usually responsible for paying it.
- If someone will not pay their share, Citizens Advice says the named person usually has to pay the whole bill and get the money back afterwards. A signed record of the split is what you point to.
This agreement does not change your tenancy
It is a private agreement between the people who sign it. Your tenancy agreement, what you owe the landlord and what each supplier can ask its named account holder to pay all stay the same.
Sources: GOV.UK: assured periodic tenancies, a guide for tenants (read 15 October 2026); Shelter England: bills in a shared house (read 15 October 2026); Citizens Advice: check if you're responsible for paying an energy bill (read 15 October 2026)
What does the agreement say?
Copy these ten clauses and replace each part in square brackets. Delete anything that does not apply to your house.
- 1
Who this agreement covers
This agreement is between [names], who live at [address], from [start date]. It covers the household bills in clause 2. It ends for each of us when we leave under clause 6.
- 2
Which bills we share and who holds each account
We share these bills: [energy, water, broadband, TV Licence, council tax if we pay it, others]. The account holders are: energy [name], water [name], broadband [name], TV Licence [name]. Each account holder shares every bill with the house within [3] days of receiving it.
- 3
How we split each bill
We split each bill [equally / by room / by these percentages: name x%, name y%]. Standing charges and fixed monthly costs are shared equally by everyone living here during the billing period.
- 4
When we pay
Each of us pays our share to the account holder by [date each month / within 7 days of the bill being shared]. We pay by bank transfer and keep a record of every payment.
- 5
Absences
Being away does not reduce anyone's share of fixed costs. If one of us is away for more than [number] weeks, we will agree in writing whether to reduce their share of usage costs.
- 6
Leaving
Anyone planning to leave tells the rest of us before giving the landlord notice, because in England one joint tenant's notice can usually end the tenancy for everyone. We take dated meter readings on the leaving day, settle final bills by the dates each of us lived here, and move each account out of the leaver's name before they go.
- 7
Joining
A new housemate joins only with the landlord's agreement. We take dated meter readings on their first day, they pay their share from that date, and they sign this agreement.
- 8
Refunds and credit
Any refund or credit on an account is shared in the same way as the bills it came from, between the people who paid them.
- 9
Disagreements
If we disagree, we talk first, then set out the problem in writing. If that does not settle it, we will try mediation before anyone makes a court claim.
- 10
Reviewing and signing
We review this agreement whenever anyone moves in or out, and at least every [12] months. This agreement does not change our tenancy agreement. Signed and dated by each of us: [names, signatures and dates].
Sources: GOV.UK: assured periodic tenancies, how to end your tenancy (read 15 October 2026); GOV.UK: make a court claim for money (read 15 October 2026); Shelter England: bills in a shared house (read 15 October 2026)
What happens to the agreement when someone leaves or joins?
- In England, GOV.UK says one joint tenant can usually end a joint assured periodic tenancy without the agreement of the others. Under the Renters' Rights Act, most private tenancies in England became rolling on 1 May 2026.
- If a joint tenant wants to stay after giving notice, all the other joint tenants and the landlord must agree. The landlord can sign a new tenancy agreement with those staying, and additional tenants can be added to an existing one.
- Wales: the Welsh Government says a contract-holder can be added to or removed from a joint contract without ending it for everyone.
- Scotland: in a private residential tenancy, Shelter Scotland says one joint tenant cannot give notice alone, but can ask the landlord to sign their part over to the others or a new tenant.
- Whoever leaves, move each account out of their name before they go. Our guide to changing the account holder on a bill covers each provider.
Sources: GOV.UK: assured periodic tenancies, how to end your tenancy (read 15 October 2026); GOV.UK: Renters' Rights Act 2025 implementation roadmap (applies to England) (read 15 October 2026); Welsh Government: renting homes questions for landlords (read 15 October 2026); Shelter Scotland: your rights in a joint tenancy (read 15 October 2026)
What if a housemate will not pay their share?
- Keep the supplier paid first. Citizens Advice says the named person usually pays the whole bill and recovers the money afterwards.
- Set out what is owed in writing, with the bills and the signed agreement attached.
- GOV.UK says a mediation service could be quicker and cheaper than going to court.
- In England and Wales you can make a county court money claim. GOV.UK lists a £35 court fee for claims up to £300, £50 from £300.01 to £500 and £70 from £500.01 to £1,000.
- Scotland and Northern Ireland each have a different process for a court claim.
Sources: Citizens Advice: check if you're responsible for paying an energy bill (read 15 October 2026); GOV.UK: make a court claim for money (read 15 October 2026); GOV.UK: court fees for a money claim (read 15 October 2026)
How do we put the agreement in place?
- 1
List the bills and who holds each account
Write down every shared bill, its provider and whose name the account is in.
- 2
Choose a split rule for each bill
Equal shares, shares by room, or agreed percentages, with standing charges shared by everyone living there.
- 3
Set the payment dates
Agree when the account holder shares each bill and when everyone pays their share.
- 4
Agree the rules for absences, leaving and joining
Decide how long an absence changes a share, how much warning a leaver gives, and how a new housemate joins.
- 5
Agree how you will settle disagreements
Talk, then write it down, then try mediation before anyone goes to court.
- 6
Sign, date and keep a copy each
Review the agreement whenever someone moves in or out.
Sources: Shelter England: bills in a shared house (read 15 October 2026); GOV.UK: make a court claim for money (read 15 October 2026)
How does Taupia fit with a written agreement?
- Taupia splits each bill by the rule your household sets, so the split in clause 3 is set once and applied to every bill.
- It tracks who has paid their share. It never moves money, so payments still go between housemates and to the providers.
- It does not change whose name is on an account, and it does not replace a signed agreement.
- Taupia is free.
Questions about a house share bills agreement
Does a bills agreement change our tenancy?
No. It is a private agreement between the people who sign it. GOV.UK says all joint tenants are responsible for the rent, and Shelter says the people named on a bill are usually responsible for paying it. Neither changes because housemates agree a split between themselves.
What should a house share bills agreement include?
Who holds each account, how each bill is split, when shares are paid, what happens during absences, how someone leaves or joins, how refunds are shared and how disagreements are settled. Sign and date it, keep a copy each and review it whenever someone moves in or out.
What if a housemate stops paying their share?
Keep the supplier paid first, because Citizens Advice says the named account holder usually has to pay the whole bill and recover the money afterwards. Then ask in writing and try mediation. In England and Wales you can make a county court money claim, with fees from £35.
Do we still split bills when someone is away?
Fixed costs such as standing charges and the broadband subscription carry on whoever is at home, so the agreement keeps everyone's share of them unchanged. It leaves room to agree a lower share of usage costs, in writing, for a long absence.
Does one housemate leaving end our tenancy?
In England it usually does. GOV.UK says one joint tenant can usually end a joint assured periodic tenancy without the others' agreement, and those who want to stay need the landlord to agree. Wales and Scotland have different rules, so check before anyone gives notice.
Run the shared house smoothly
Fair splits, account names and handovers.
Start here
Split bills fairly with housemates
RecommendedFair rules for rent, fixed costs and usage, with a per-person calculator.
Whose name goes on house share bills
Liability, joint tenancies and what to do when a housemate stops paying.
Changing the account holder on a bill
Which providers transfer an account and which open a new one.
Housemate moving out: the bills handover
Readings, account changes and the departure-month split.
Housemate moving in mid-tenancy
Paperwork, new names on accounts and the re-split from day one.
Cite this page
Taupia. "A free bills agreement for your house share". Last updated 15 October 2026. https://taupia.com/move-home/house-share-bills-agreement
Set the split once, for every bill
Taupia splits each bill by your house's rule and shows who has paid, without moving any money. It is free, and nothing changes without your approval.