Student Accommodation Bills: Everything You Need to Know
If you’re moving out of your home for the first time or heading to a new student property after halls, the prospect of organising bills can be daunting. Student bills don’t have to be as scary as they seem, especially with the support of Seekers.
Forget complex spreadsheets with a chaotic collection of figures, and let us walk you through the basics. From average costs and setting up bills for your student house, to the benefits of an all-inclusive bills package, our guide has everything you need to know.
What bills will you need to pay when you move into student accommodation?
Before you can start budgeting, you need to know what your student bills are likely to consist of. Having an idea of these expenses will help you work out how much your maintenance loan, grant, or job earnings will cover.
For most students, there are a few key bills to cover the essentials:
Rent: To keep a roof over your head.
Internet: Even if you use mobile data for your phone, Wi-Fi is key for your studies.
Energy: Whether this is just electricity or includes gas too will vary depending on your property, but you’ll need to factor it in.
Water: If your house is unmetered, you’ll pay a set amount for water. Alternatively, you might be on a meter, in which case you pay for what you use by taking regular readings.
TV licence: If you watch or stream any live TV, you’ll need a TV licence, or you could face a fine. You’ll also need one to watch BBC iPlayer (live or catch-up).
Do students need to pay council tax?
If you’re living in a house with other students, your household will be exempt from paying council tax. However, if one or more of your housemates are professionals, the household will need to pay, but you’ll get a 25% discount.
It’s worth noting that if you are exempt from paying council tax, you’ll need to inform the council right away so they know not to charge you, or to impose the discount.
What else might you need to cover?
We’ve looked at the essential student bills you’ll need to budget for, but what else is it worth considering?
Household staples: From washing up liquid to toilet paper, the cost of these daily essentials can be split between you and your housemates. Try a bill-splitting app to keep track of who has paid for which items and reduce the risk of arguments.
Food: It might not lead to fine dining every night, but having an idea of the weekly shop budget can help make sure you don’t have empty cupboards.
Contents insurance: Your student accommodation rent will usually include some level of contents insurance. However, if you have valuable items such as a bike, TV, laptop, or games console, you might want to look at additional cover for peace of mind.
Of course, every individual will have different expenses and priorities. For more advice on working out your own outgoings, take a look at our tips on how to manage your money while you study.
How much are the average bills for student housing?
With the cost of living varying across the country, it’s no surprise that student accommodation bills vary greatly, too. According to Money Supermarket, students pay an average of £7,374 for their accommodation (or over £9,400 in London).
As for bills, energy, water, TV licensing, and broadband typically come to an average of £194.51 per month in the UK, but the exact price will depend on your usage and supplier.
If you’re looking for student accommodation in Newcastle, you’re in luck — Newcastle is a comparatively affordable city to study in, particularly when it comes to renting.
And with an array of friendly and welcoming areas to explore, you’re sure to find the perfect property. To get more of an idea of the types of houses and apartments available, take a look at our Jesmond student accommodation, Sandyford student accommodation, and Newcastle City Centre student accommodation.
How to pay for your student accommodation and bills
So, you’ve found your ideal student housing in Newcastle. Whether it’s a one-bed flat or a bustling house share, moving in is an exciting time. But how can you make sure all those bills are ready to go?
If you’re sharing a house with friends, one of the easiest ways to sort your bills is for one person to set up a direct debit to the supplier. Everyone else must then pay their share to the account holder before the bill goes out each month.
With this method, your household will need to set up direct debits for each of your expenses which can lead to more admin. However, it does give you the chance to shop around for the best deals.
Student bills packages
Another option is to look for property management companies and landlords who offer student bills packages. These streamline your expenses, providing you with a single monthly bill to pay. As well as offering convenience, an all-in-one student bills package protects you from fluctuating utility costs, providing stability for easy budgeting. In fact, our prices start at just £19 per person per week (£83 per month).
Our student bills packages are designed to help you manage your accommodation expenses in a hassle-free way from the moment you move in. We’ll liaise with your water, energy, and TV licence providers for you and ensure your internet is connected and ready to go. All you need to do is pay a single monthly bill and provide us with regular meter readings.
What’s more, because our bills packages are set up per person, you don’t need to worry about collecting money from your housemates or transferring any cash to them.
Student accommodation bills made easy with Seekers
When you move into a Seekers student property, you can be confident knowing that we’re on hand to support you with navigating your utility bills. Whether you opt for one of our student bills packages or choose to set up your own utility bills, we have a friendly team available to help.
Explore our Student Hub for more advice, and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.
