diff --git a/tipbot.py b/tipbot.py
index 62ec0ac..3aec934 100644
--- a/tipbot.py
+++ b/tipbot.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/python
 #
 # Cryptonote tipbot
-# Copyright 2014 moneromooo
+# Copyright 2014,2015 moneromooo
 # Inspired by "Simple Python IRC bot" by berend
 #
 # The Cryptonote tipbot is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
@@ -125,32 +125,11 @@ def GetHeight(nick,chan,cmd):
 def GetTipbotBalance(nick,chan,cmd):
   log_info('%s wants to know the tipbot balance' % nick)
   try:
-    j = SendWalletJSONRPCCommand("getbalance",None)
+    balance, unlocked_balance = RetrieveTipbotBalance()
   except Exception,e:
     SendTo(nick,"An error has occured")
     return
-  if not "result" in j:
-    log_error('GetTipbotBalance: result not found in reply')
-    SendTo(nick, "An error has occured")
-    return
-  result = j["result"]
-  if not "balance" in result:
-    log_error('GetTipbotBalance: balance not found in result')
-    SendTo(nick, "An error has occured")
-    return
-  if not "unlocked_balance" in result:
-    log_error('GetTipbotBalance: unlocked_balance not found in result')
-    SendTo(nick, "An error has occured")
-    return
-  balance = result["balance"]
-  unlocked_balance = result["unlocked_balance"]
-  log_log('GetTipbotBalance: balance: %s' % str(balance))
-  log_log('GetTipbotBalance: unlocked_balance: %s' % str(unlocked_balance))
   pending = long(balance)-long(unlocked_balance)
-  if pending < 0:
-    log_error('GetTipbotBalance: Negative pending balance! balance %s, unlocked %s' % (str(balance),str(unlocked)))
-    SendTo(nick, "An error has occured")
-    return
   if pending == 0:
     log_info("GetTipbotBalance: Tipbot balance: %s" % AmountToString(balance))
     SendTo(nick,"Tipbot balance: %s" % AmountToString(balance))
diff --git a/tipbot/utils.py b/tipbot/utils.py
index 7942d61..a194a5b 100644
--- a/tipbot/utils.py
+++ b/tipbot/utils.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/python
 #
 # Cryptonote tipbot - utility functions
-# Copyright 2014 moneromooo
+# Copyright 2014,2015 moneromooo
 #
 # The Cryptonote tipbot is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 # modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published
@@ -147,3 +147,43 @@ def SendDaemonJSONRPCCommand(method,params):
 def SendDaemonHTMLCommand(method):
   return SendHTMLCommand(config.daemon_host,config.daemon_port,method)
 
+def RetrieveTipbotBalance():
+  j = SendWalletJSONRPCCommand("getbalance",None)
+  if not "result" in j:
+    log_error('RetrieveTipbotBalance: result not found in reply')
+    raise RuntimeError("")
+    return
+  result = j["result"]
+  if not "balance" in result:
+    log_error('RetrieveTipbotBalance: balance not found in result')
+    raise RuntimeError("")
+    return
+  if not "unlocked_balance" in result:
+    log_error('RetrieveTipbotBalance: unlocked_balance not found in result')
+    raise RuntimeError("")
+    return
+  balance = result["balance"]
+  unlocked_balance = result["unlocked_balance"]
+  log_log('RetrieveTipbotBalance: balance: %s' % str(balance))
+  log_log('RetrieveTipbotBalance: unlocked_balance: %s' % str(unlocked_balance))
+  pending = long(balance)-long(unlocked_balance)
+  if pending < 0:
+    log_error('RetrieveTipbotBalance: Negative pending balance! balance %s, unlocked %s' % (str(balance),str(unlocked_balance)))
+    raise RuntimeError("")
+    return
+  return balance, unlocked_balance
+
+def RetrieveHouseBalance():
+  balance, unlocked_balance = RetrieveTipbotBalance()
+
+  nicks = redis_hgetall("balances")
+  for nick in nicks:
+    nb = redis_hget("balances", nick)
+    unlocked_balance = unlocked_balance - long(nb)
+    log_log('RetrieveHouseBalance: subtracting %s from %s to give %s' % (AmountToString(nb), nick, AmountToString(unlocked_balance)))
+
+  if unlocked_balance < 0:
+    raise RuntimeError('Negative house balance')
+    return
+  return unlocked_balance
+