Being a student means managing your own money, and understanding bills is a big part of that. On average, university students spend £219 per week (excluding rent) on essentials like groceries, transport, and household bills.
It might seem frustrating at first, but with the right approach, sorting, splitting, and saving on bills becomes much easier.
If you’re wondering how to sort out bills for a student house and where you should start, then this blog has all the tips and advice you need to take control of your bills and make managing your money stress-free.
If it’s your first time dealing with bills, it’s important to know which types of bills you may need to pay as a student. Though it depends on the type of accommodation you choose and whether you’re a full-time or part-time student, you’ll typically have to pay for:
✅ Electricity & Gas
✅ Water
✅ Broadband
✅ TV License
✅ Council Tax (only for part-time students or if living with non-students)
Full-time students in the UK don’t pay Council Tax. However, part-time students and non-students living in the same house must cover this cost. Our guide: Can Non-Students Live in Student Accommodation in the UK? covers this in more detail.
Having full knowledge on the different aspects of student accommodation is essential. Some student houses come with bills included, meaning your rent covers everything, including gas, electricity, water, broadband and your TV license.
However, if bills aren’t included, you’ll need to set up utilities yourself. Make sure to check your accommodation contract carefully before signing it for full transparency.
Sorting your bills early avoids stress later! To make this process as streamlined as possible, follow these steps:
Before signing a tenancy, confirm what’s covered in your rent.
When moving in, take photos of your gas, electricity, and water meters to avoid being overcharged.
If bills aren’t included, you’ll need to arrange:
Tip: You can use price comparison sites like Uswitch or MoneySuperMarket to find the best deals.
Make sure you sit down and create a plan that you all agree on. You could even put it in writing and have everyone sign it with a date. If you are living as a couple, you may find it quicker to come to an agreement in comparison to living with many others. Despite this, it's still a vital step.
Automate payments so you never miss a bill. This helps to keep you on track as well as build your credit score which will be come imporatnt if you want to ever apply for a mortgage or other credit!
If you are interested in applying for a mortgage one day int he future and are wondering whether your student loan will affect your mortgage application, read this blog.
There are different ways to split bills as a student. To avoid awkward money conversations, you should make sure to set up a fair system to split bills with your housemates from day one. You’ll need to decide (and agree) on the best way to split your bills and this could be:
✅ Splitting the bills evenly
✅ Splitting the bills by usage
✅ Creating a joint account for bills where everyone contributes a set amount
Without a fair bill-sharing agreement in place, bills can become confusing and potentially unfairly expensive. We highly recommend tracking your expenses, as this is the best way to stay on top of what you are spending.
Setting up a house bills tracker using Google Sheets is a great way to keep everything transparent. You can also split daily expenses via:
1️⃣ Monzo Split – Automatically splits transactions
2️⃣ Splitwise – Tracks shared expenses and IOUs (I owe you)
3️⃣ Uber Split – Share taxi costs easily
If you want to be savvy with your money and cut down on your costs, there are various smart saving strategies to be aware of. These include:
1) Energy-Saving Tips
2) Broadband & TV Savings
3) Council Tax Exemptions
4) Water Bill Hacks
We know student life is busy enough without having to worry about bills. That’s why at Stockton Students, your rent covers everything. Yes, that's right - No surprise costs, no budgeting stress and no unnecessary hassle so you can focus on making meaningful memories.
But we’re more than just accommodation for students. As a family-run business, we genuinely care about your well-being.
That’s why we offer onsite fitness facilities to keep you active and a free 30-minute check-in with Ollie, our wellness coach, because we believe looking after yourself is just as important as your studies.
Looking for student accommodation in Ormskirk or Liverpool? Check out our range of options. Be sure to check out our TikTok and Instagram channels for virtual tours, student tips and recommendations to help you make the most out of your life as a student.
Yes, students are expected to pay for water bills, excluding full-time students in Scotland. The cost of your water bill will depend on how much water you use and how many people you are splitting the bill with.
However, if you reside in accommodation that covers bills, then you will not need to worry about this expense as your rental payment covers it. Check our blog: "Everything You Need To Know About Paying for Stduent Accommodation" for more.
When you move into a new student house that doesn't have any bills included, you’ll need to:
