Bills: What to avoid, how to organise, and staying on top of it all!
Written by Abigail Pearce
Moving into your student house in Leamington Spa or Coventry? While your excitement might be focused on decorating your new room and spending time with your housemates, there is one slightly less thrilling thing you need to think about: bills. From Wi-Fi and water to council tax and TV licences, here鈥檚 everything you need to know to keep your finances running smoothly 鈥� and avoid any nasty surprises.
What Bills Will You Need to Pay?
If your landlord hasn鈥檛 included utilities in your rent, you鈥檒l usually be responsible for:
- Gas and Electricity - Make sure you contact your supplier when you move in so you鈥檙e not charged for the previous tenants鈥� usage. You don't have to stay with the same supplier; shop around, comparison sites can save you a lot. See Save the Student's for more information.
- Water - In Coventry and 糖心TVshire, your supplier will almost always be . It鈥檚 simple and easy to set up your account with them online.
- Broadband/Wi-Fi - This will be top of your priority list (understandably) as it is essential for studying, gaming and streaming. Look for 12-month student contracts rather than the usual 18- or 24-month ones. that align with university living.
- TV Licence - You need one if you watch or record live TV or use BBC iPlayer, if you only stream Netflix, Disney+ or YouTube you鈥檙e fine. Be careful, it only takes one housemate streaming without a licence for the household to receive a hefty fine! See the for more information.
- Council Tax - The good news is that full-time students are exempt from this, however you must register your exemption with your local council ( or , depending on your address). You can do this online, and you鈥檒l have to provide student ID.
Bill-Splitting Services: Worth It or Waste of Money?
Companies like or promise to make life easier by combining all your utilities into one simple monthly payment that you can all pay individually. While this sounds great, it has its drawbacks.
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If your housemates are reliable and you鈥檙e happy managing the admin, setting up the bills yourself can save you hundreds over the year. If you鈥檇 rather not deal with the hassle, a package deal might be worth it for peace of mind.
How to Stay Organised
- Start early! As soon as you move in, list each bill, provider and payment date somewhere accessible for you and your housemates.
- Go digital: use a shared or app like to track who owes what, and don鈥檛 be afraid to chase people up for what they owe you.
- Set up Direct Debits. This avoids late fees and missed payments. Just make sure you have enough money in your account before it comes out.
- Keep proof. Take photos of meter readings when you move in and when you leave and send them to your landlords to ensure you have a digital record of the readings agreed between you. If you don't know how to read your meter, check out our guideLink opens in a new window.
- Make sure you're not paying too much on your bills. See our guides on how to reduce your electricityLink opens in a new window, heating Link opens in a new windowand waterLink opens in a new window consumption.
- Check your contract. Some landlords include water or Wi-Fi; make sure you鈥檙e not paying twice.
If you are worried about money, contact Student Funding Support by email (studentfunding@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window), phone (024 7615 0096), or come to the Wellbeing Reception in Senate House (10 am-3 pm Monday-Friday).
