Household bills checklist UK: every bill for your first flat

This household bills checklist UK renters can work through covers the bills a first flat usually comes with, in the order you'll actually deal with them: rent and deposit before you move, energy, water and council tax on moving day, broadband, the TV Licence and contents insurance in the first few weeks, then a short check once a month and a proper look once a year. Your tenancy agreement decides which of these are yours, so read it first: some lets include water, energy or broadband in the rent, and that changes the list.

The hard part of a first place isn't knowing bills exist. It's that they all arrive at once, from different companies, while you're still looking for the kettle. Working through them in order means nothing gets missed.

Before you move: read the tenancy and get the basics down

Most of the hard thinking happens before you pick up the keys.

1. Read the tenancy for what's included. Look for any mention of bills, utilities, council tax or broadband. Write down what the landlord covers and what you do. If it's vague, ask in writing and keep the reply.
2. Note rent day and how rent is paid. Rent is usually paid by standing order, which you set up with your bank. Check the date against your payday. If rent goes out a few days before you're paid, ask whether the date can move, or plan to keep a cushion in your account.
3. Ask who supplies energy and water. The letting agent or landlord should know, or the previous tenant may have left post. You'll need the supplier names on moving day.
4. Check the energy meter type. Ask whether the flat has a prepayment meter, a smart meter or a standard one. A prepayment meter means you'll top up rather than get a bill, which needs its own plan.
5. Find out the council tax band. In England and Wales you can look up any home's band on GOV.UK (Scotland has its own assessors' website). It gives you a rough idea of the bill before it arrives.
6. Decide where bills will come from. One current account for bills makes everything easier to check. Some people set up a separate account just for bills and move a fixed amount in on payday.

Moving day: the bills that start the moment you get the keys

These are the ones that start counting from the day the flat becomes yours, so deal with them that day or the next.

1. Take meter readings. Photograph the gas and electricity meters (and the water meter, if there is one) with the date showing. This is your proof of where your usage started, and it stops you paying for the last tenant's heating.
2. Contact the energy supplier. Tell them you've moved in, give them the readings and set up an account in your name. You'll usually be put on their standard deal to start with, and you can look at other options once you're settled.
3. Contact the water company. Water usually comes from the company that serves your area, so there's normally nothing to compare. Give them your move-in date and any meter reading.
4. Tell the council. Let your local council know you've moved in so the council tax bill is set up in your name from the right date. If you live alone, ask about the single person discount at the same time (more on that below).

The first month: the rest of the household bills checklist UK flats need

Once the essentials are running, set up the rest within a few weeks.

Broadband

Broadband can take a while to connect, so order it as early as you can, ideally before you move. Note the contract length and the date the deal ends, because the price often changes after that. If you'll use mobile data for a few weeks while you wait, keep an eye on your allowance.

TV Licence

You need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV on any channel or service, or to use BBC iPlayer. If you only watch other on demand services, you may not need one, but check the current rules with TV Licensing before you decide. If you do need one, it's in your name from the date it starts, and you'll want the renewal date written down.

Contents insurance

As a tenant, the landlord usually insures the building but not your things. Contents insurance covers your belongings. Check your tenancy too, as some agreements ask you to cover accidental damage to the landlord's furniture. Check you aren't already covered somewhere before you buy.

Phone and subscriptions

Your phone contract probably moved with you, but it's worth noting when it ends. Moving out is also when subscriptions start creeping up: a streaming service here, a delivery pass there. If that's already happening, the guide to keeping track of subscriptions has a way to round them all up.

Council tax discounts and exemptions

You'll usually have to pay council tax if you're 18 or over. A few rules are worth knowing early:

• Living alone. You get 25% off the bill if you pay council tax and live on your own. You have to ask your council for it.
• Students. Households where everyone is a full-time student don't have to pay council tax. If you share with a non-student, there may still be a bill, possibly reduced.
• Low income. You may be able to get Council Tax Reduction if you're on a low income or get benefits.

In England, the cost is usually split into 10 monthly payments. If you'd rather spread it further, see whether you can pay council tax over 12 months. Check your own council's details and the current rules on GOV.UK.

The full checklist in one list

Here it is with nothing in between, ready to copy into a notes app, a spreadsheet or the back of a notebook. Tick off what applies and cross out what's included in your rent.

Housing

• Rent, by standing order, on a date that works with payday
• Deposit receipt, and confirmation of the government-approved scheme protecting it
• Contents insurance

Utilities

• Electricity, with a move-in meter reading
• Gas (if the flat has it), with a move-in meter reading
• Water and sewerage
• Broadband, with the contract end date

Council and licences

• Council tax, in your name from move-in day, with any discount you're due
• TV Licence, if you need one

Personal

• Mobile phone, with the contract end date
• Subscriptions and memberships
• Car costs, if you have a car: insurance, tax and breakdown cover

For each line, write who it's with, the account number, the date it's paid, how often, how it's paid and when any deal ends. Then add up a monthly total, turning yearly bills into a monthly figure, so you know what the flat really costs before you plan anything else. If you're working out how much that leaves for everything else, the 50 30 20 budget rule is a simple place to start.

A ten minute monthly check

Once everything's set up, keeping on top of it is quick. Pick a day just after payday.

1. Open your statement and tick off each bill against your list.
2. Look for anything that's gone up, or a payment you don't recognise.
3. Submit meter readings if your supplier asks for them.
4. Look ahead for anything paid manually or a deal ending in the next two months.
5. Update the total.

Once a year, usually around when the new council tax bill and TV Licence renewal turn up, go through the list properly: which deals have ended, which bills went up, and what you no longer need.

Common first flat mistakes

• Not taking meter readings on day one. Without them, it's hard to argue about the previous tenant's usage.
• Forgetting to ask for the single person discount. It isn't applied automatically.
• Assuming bills are included. Unless the tenancy says so, they usually aren't.
• Rent day before payday. Fixable if you spot it early, a headache if you don't.
• No end dates written down. Broadband and phone deals often get dearer once the fixed period ends.

If bills start to feel hard to pay, contact the company or your council early, as they may be able to help. For free, impartial guidance on budgeting and bills, MoneyHelper is a good place to start. This guide is general know-how, not financial advice.

Keeping the list in mylife/

mylife/ keeps household bills in a ledger with who each one is with, the amount, the due date and how often it repeats. A monthly total shows what you're really paying, bills that fall due show on the Diary calendar, and you get a nudge before each one. You can photograph a letter from the council or the energy company and Slash fills in the details for you to check before anything is saved. You can see how the five tabs work, or try mylife/ free for 3 days.

Frequently asked questions

What bills do you pay when you move into a rented flat?

Usually rent, council tax, energy, water, broadband and a TV Licence if you need one, plus contents insurance and your phone. Some tenancies include certain bills in the rent, so check your agreement before setting anything up.

Do I need to tell the council when I move into a flat?

Yes, let your local council know your move-in date so the council tax account is set up in your name from the right day. It's also the moment to ask about any discount, such as the one for living alone.

Do I pay council tax if I live alone?

Usually yes, but you get 25% off your bill if you pay council tax and live on your own. You'll need to ask your council for the discount, as it isn't added by itself.

Should I take meter readings when I move in?

Yes. Photograph each meter on the day you move in, with the date showing, and give the readings to your supplier. It means you only pay for what you use from that day on.