What bills actually are
In a typical share, per person per month:
| Bill | Per person |
|---|---|
| Gas and electricity | £40–£80 |
| Water | £10–£20 |
| Broadband | £7–£12 |
| Council tax | £40–£70 |
| TV licence (if anyone watches live or iPlayer) | £4 |
| Contents insurance | £5–£10 |
| Total | £105–£195 |
Energy is the volatile line and it is seasonal — a bill set in June will not cover January. If you are on a fixed monthly direct debit, expect to build a credit balance in summer that gets eaten in winter, and do not treat a summer surplus as spare money.
Contract length is the decision that matters
A 24-month broadband contract in a 12-month tenancy means either paying an exit fee or paying for service at an address you have left. Take the 12-month option even at a slightly higher monthly price, or check the provider's home-move policy before signing.
The same applies to phone contracts. A 24-month handset contract is a loan for a phone dressed up as a monthly bill; SIM-only on a rolling contract keeps you flexible in a year when you may well move again.
Splitting bills without it becoming a problem
The account holder is liable for the full amount. If everything is in your name and a housemate leaves owing money, the supplier pursues you and it lands on your credit file — the same file a letting agent will check next year.
- Spread the accounts. Different bills in different names so no single person carries all the exposure.
- Or use a bill-splitting service. They bundle utilities and bill each housemate separately, which removes the chasing entirely. It costs a small premium and is usually worth it.
- Or run a joint pot. Everyone standing-orders a fixed amount on payday into one pot that the bills leave from. Simple, transparent, and works well if the account holder is organised.
- Settle up monthly, not annually. Small amounts are easy to sort. A year of accumulated imbalance is how housemates fall out.
Comparing providers
Small things worth knowing
- You need a TV licence for live TV and BBC iPlayer, not for Netflix or YouTube alone. In a shared house with a joint tenancy, one licence normally covers the property.
- You can switch energy supplier as a tenant if the account is in your name and you pay the supplier directly. The tenancy cannot forbid it.
- Take a photo of the meter the day you arrive. This is the single cheapest insurance against inheriting someone else's usage.
- Check whether your employer contributes to home internet if part of your apprenticeship is remote study. Some do.