What bills do you pay when renting? A guide for couples

So, what bills do you pay when renting? In most UK rentals, on top of the rent itself, tenants pay gas and electricity, water, council tax, broadband and a TV Licence if they watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer, plus contents insurance if they want their own things covered. The exception is a tenancy where some or all bills are included in the rent, which your agreement will spell out. For a couple moving in together, the list is the same, but two things change: who's named on each account, and how council tax works once there are two adults in the home.

This guide goes through each bill a renter usually pays, what normally stays with the landlord, how to read a "bills included" deal and what to sort when you move in as a pair.

What bills do you pay when renting? The usual list

Not every rental has all of these. Check your tenancy agreement for what's yours.

• Rent. The big one. Note the date it's due and how the landlord or agent wants it paid.
• Gas and electricity. Charged by whoever supplies the property. Some homes are electric only. If there's a prepayment meter, you top it up rather than getting a bill.
• Water. Billed by the water company for your area. Some homes have a water meter and pay for what they use; others pay a set charge.
• Council tax. Billed by your local council, based on the property's band. In England it's usually paid in 10 monthly instalments, and you can ask to spread it over 12.
• Broadband and a landline, if you want one. Usually a contract with a fixed term.
• TV Licence. Needed to watch or record live TV on any channel, through any service, or to use BBC iPlayer. A home only needs one.
• Contents insurance. Optional, but it's the cover for your own belongings.
• Mobile phones and subscriptions, which follow you rather than the flat.

If you're not sure who supplies the gas, electricity or water at a new address, ask the landlord or agent, or look for old letters and the details on the meters.

What usually stays with the landlord

Tenants don't pay for everything connected to a home. Some costs belong to the landlord, and some duties come with them.

• Safety checks. In England, your landlord must arrange gas safety checks and give you a copy of the record before you move in, or within 28 days of the check. They must also provide a smoke alarm on each storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a solid fuel burning appliance.
• Electrical safety. The landlord must make sure the wiring, sockets and any appliances they supply are safe.
• The landlord's own costs, such as their mortgage on the property.
• Anything the agreement says is theirs. Some tenancies include water, a service charge or broadband in the rent. If it's in writing, it's theirs to pay.

If your agreement is unclear on any bill, ask before you sign, and get the answer in writing. For council tax in particular, GOV.UK says to contact your local council if you're unsure who's responsible for paying.

Renting with bills included: what to check

A bills-included rent can make budgeting simpler, especially in a first home together. But "bills included" can mean very different things, so ask exactly which ones:

1. Which bills are covered? Energy, water, council tax, broadband and a TV Licence are all separate. A deal might include two of them or all five.
2. Is there a cap or fair-use limit on energy? Some deals cover energy up to a point and charge for anything over it.
3. Who holds the TV Licence? If you're watching live TV or iPlayer, make sure the home is actually covered.
4. What happens if prices rise? Ask whether the rent can change because of bill increases.
5. Who do you call if something stops working? With bills in the landlord's name, the supplier won't usually talk to you.

Get the list written into the tenancy agreement, so there's no argument later about what was promised.

Moving in together: what changes for two

When a couple moves into a rental, the bills look the same as they would for one person, but some of the details shift.

Council tax and the single person discount

If one of you was living alone before, you may have had a 25% single person discount on council tax. That discount is for people who live on their own, so once you move in together it no longer applies to that home. Tell the council when your partner moves in.

GOV.UK is clear that spouses and partners who live together are jointly responsible for paying the council tax bill. So even if only one name is on the bill, you both share the responsibility.

There are exceptions. If one of you is a full-time student, they may be disregarded when the council works out how many adults live there, which can bring a discount back. You need to apply for it, so check with your council.

Whose name goes on each account

Before you set up the accounts, decide whose name each one goes in. Some suppliers let you add a second account holder; others only allow one. Things to talk through:

• Whoever is named is the person the supplier deals with. If it's only one of you, the other may not be able to sort a problem on the phone.
• Moving out later. If you go your separate ways, accounts in one name are simpler to close or keep.
• Both of you on the tenancy. If you're both tenants, your landlord will expect you both to know what the agreement says.

Two sets of old bills to close

Moving in together means two old addresses to wrap up. Each of you will need to close or move energy, water, broadband and council tax at your old place, and update your address everywhere. The guide on who to tell when you move house has the full list for each of you to work through.

A bills routine for renters

Once you know which bills are yours, put them somewhere you'll both see:

• List every bill with who it's with, whose name it's in, the amount, the date and how often it repeats.
• Check the first bills carefully. New accounts often start with an estimated reading. Send actual meter readings and keep the photos.
• Note any contract end dates, especially broadband.
• Agree how you're splitting it. The guide on keeping track of household bills covers ways couples split costs fairly.
• Look at it together once a month. Ten minutes is enough to spot a bill that's changed or a payment that didn't go out.

If either of you is worried about money, MoneyHelper offers free, impartial guidance on budgeting and bills. For your own first place, the first flat checklist covers everything else to sort when you move in.

Keeping rental bills in mylife/

In mylife/, the tenancy dates go in the home ledger and each bill goes in with who it's with, the amount, the due date and how often it repeats, so repeating bills repeat properly. A monthly total shows what you're really paying for the place, and you get a nudge before anything is due. Bills that fall due show on one calendar in the Diary tab. If you'd like to try it, see the plans.

Frequently asked questions

Do tenants pay council tax in the UK?

Usually, yes. GOV.UK says you'll usually have to pay council tax if you're 18 or over, and partners who live together are jointly responsible for the bill. If you rent and you're unsure who's responsible, GOV.UK says to contact your local council.

Is water included in rent?

It depends on the tenancy, and your agreement should say. If it's not included, you'll need to set up an account with the water company for your area when you move in.

Do I need a TV Licence when renting?

You need one if you watch or record live TV on any channel, or use BBC iPlayer, on any device. Only one licence is needed per household, so a couple living together needs just one. If bills are included, check whether the landlord already has one for the home.

What bills should a couple split when renting?

Couples often share the household bills: rent, energy, water, council tax, broadband and the TV Licence. Personal costs like mobile phones and subscriptions usually stay with each person. Agree what feels fair to both of you and write it down.