do your own bills

Set up your own bills

What to do, in order.

Moving in

  1. Photograph every meter and send the readings to the supplier and your landlord Shelter. You don’t pay for energy used before you moved in.
  2. Tell the energy supplier you’ve moved in, then compare deals. You can switch without your landlord’s permission Shelter.
  3. Set up water with your water company. In Scotland it’s collected with council tax.
  4. Tell the council you’re all full-time students. An all-student house doesn’t pay council tax GOV.UK.
  5. Get one TV licence for the house if anyone watches live TV, on any channel or site, or uses BBC iPlayer GOV.UK.
  6. Pick broadband with a contract that ends with your tenancy.

Put everyone’s name on each account and agree the split before the first bill arrives.

Moving out

  1. Give the energy supplier at least 48 hours’ notice Citizens Advice, and photograph the meters on the day you leave.
  2. Tell the council and water company, and cancel the TV licence and broadband.
  3. Settle up once the final bills arrive.