Utilities

How much a student pays towards their utility bills varies - students residing in halls of residence often have their utility expenses included with the cost of their rent. Students residing in shared privately rented accommodation however, will usually have to pay for their utility costs in addition to their rent. The costs involved will be dependent upon the number of residents in the household and the fact that the bills should be shared equally.

Here are a few things you should do when you move in to make sure things go as smoothly as possible:

Try to use appliances economically to help your budget, and the environment.
Set up standing orders or direct debits. This can help you to plan and make consistent regular payments without worrying about missing payment dates.
Any student attending a full-time educational programme which has an average of at least 21 hours per week of study, tuition or work experience can claim exemption from paying Council Tax. Please visit the Council Tax exemption webpage for further information.
Take meter readings when you move in and give them to the respective utility companies, asking them to set you up a new account. This should ensure that you aren't liable for bills left by previous tenants.
The amount a student spends on their telephone usage varies and so it would be difficult to state a figure - £20 per month would be an average estimation. Try to get a pay as you go mobile phone so that you can keep a better track of how much you are spending on it. Also, try and use a landline as often as possible as these are cheaper.