Quick answer
When you move into a private student house, take meter readings on day one and find out who supplies your gas and electricity. Register with those suppliers straight away. Order broadband before you move in — it takes 2–4 weeks to activate. Water is a regional monopoly, so you cannot switch. Budget around £40–80 per person per month for all utilities combined.
What you are responsible for
In a privately rented student house, you will typically need to set up:
- Gas and electricity: register with the current supplier or switch to a new one
- Broadband: order it before you move in; activation takes 2–4 weeks
- Water: you cannot choose your water company in England or Wales — it is whoever serves your area
- Council tax: full-time students in an all-student household are exempt, but you have to apply
Your landlord handles buildings insurance and usually the communal TV aerial. If anyone in the house watches live TV or uses BBC iPlayer, you will need a TV licence — currently £169.50/year (April 2024 rate).
What to do on moving day
1. Find the meters and photograph them
The gas meter is usually in a kitchen cupboard, hall cupboard, or outside on the side of the house. The electricity meter is often in a similar spot. Take a photo of both, clearly showing the reading and the date. You are liable for energy from this moment forward, not from whatever the previous tenants left.
2. Find out who the current suppliers are
Check for old bills in the property, or look at the meter — the supplier name is sometimes printed on it. Your landlord or letting agent should also know. For energy supplier details, Ofgem is the right starting point.
3. Register with the current suppliers
Call them with your address, the meter readings from step 1, and your move-in date. They will close the old account and start yours from the date you moved in. If gas and electricity have separate suppliers, you will need two calls.
4. Consider switching
Once you are registered, you can switch to a cheaper tariff. Comparison sites such as Uswitch show what is available at your address. Make sure any contract length matches your tenancy — do not sign an 18-month deal if you are moving out in July.
Broadband
Order this before you pick up the keys. Waiting until move-in day means potentially a month without internet.
Things to check before committing:
- Whether the property is on a Virgin Media cable network — installation tends to be faster if it is
- Whether full-fibre (FTTP) is available — faster and increasingly standard in UK cities
- The contract length — a 12-month tenancy needs a 12-month broadband contract
- Who signs it — the account holder is legally responsible for the payments
Split between four housemates, most packages come to around £8–15/person/month. Budget options from providers like Shell Energy or Vodafone can bring this lower.
Water
Water is a regional monopoly in England and Wales. Find your water company via Ofwat, the water services regulator.
Some landlords include water in the rent. If yours does not, you will receive a bill automatically once you register as the new occupant. Check whether the property has a water meter — a metered supply is generally cheaper in a shared house.
Council tax
All full-time students in a property where every adult is a full-time student are exempt from council tax. This exemption does not apply automatically — you have to claim it.
Each person needs a Council Tax Exemption Certificate from their university's student services office. Submit these to your local council via their website. The rules are set out at gov.uk/council-tax/full-time-students.
If one housemate is not a full-time student, they owe their share. The students in the house stay exempt; the non-student pays a discounted rate.
See the Luodi council tax guide for a step-by-step walk-through of the application.
What it costs
Approximate per-person monthly costs:
| Utility | Monthly per person |
|---|---|
| Gas + electricity | £25–55 |
| Broadband | £8–15 |
| Water | £8–18 |
| Council tax | £0 (all-student house) |
| Total | £41–88 |
Energy costs swing significantly depending on how well-insulated the property is and how cold the winter gets. A draughty end-terrace shared by two people will cost more per head than a well-sealed flat shared by five.
Splitting bills fairly
Three approaches that work in practice:
- One person per bill: each housemate owns one utility and everyone pays them back. Low setup cost, but it requires people to pay promptly. Track it in Splitwise.
- A bills-splitting service such as Split The Bills or Acasa: you all pay one company a fixed monthly amount and they handle the suppliers. A small admin fee removes the chasing-flatmates headache.
- A shared household account: everyone pays in, bills come out. Works well but needs trust and a UK bank account for each person.
Settle on a method before the first bill arrives. Vague arrangements tend to cause friction.
FAQ
Do I need to tell the council I am a student?
Yes. You need to collect a Council Tax Exemption Certificate from your university and submit it to your local council. The exemption is not automatic.
Can I switch energy supplier in a rented house?
In most cases, yes. Check your tenancy agreement — a small number of landlords restrict switching without permission, though this is uncommon in standard student lets.
What happens to bills at the end of my tenancy?
Give final meter readings to your gas and electricity suppliers on your last day. Close the accounts, or transfer them to the new tenants if you know who they are. Request a final bill and keep a record of the readings.
Who pays if a housemate stops contributing?
The person named on the account is responsible to the supplier. If a housemate stops paying their share internally, that is a dispute between residents — the energy company will pursue the account holder. This is why tracking splits carefully matters.
What about the TV licence?
You need one if anyone watches live TV or uses BBC iPlayer. One licence covers the whole address, so housemates split a single fee — £169.50/year at the April 2024 rate. See the Luodi TV licence guide for the student rules.
