What Is a Utility Bill?
A Guide for Students and Young Professionals

Last updated: January 2026

Getting to grips with what counts as a utility bill and how to pay is a real challenge for many.

If you lived in university halls, you got an easy ride. Your utility bills were almost definitely lumped straight into your rent. But moving into a shared house for second year, or taking that first step after uni, means you have to tackle them yourself.

But there’s no need to panic. We’ve broken down the basics, so you know exactly what to expect, what you actually have to pay for, and how to avoid the classic household arguments.

We’ll cover:

What is classed as a utility bill?

A utility bill is classed as a monthly statement from a company that provides an essential service that keeps your house running, such as electricity, gas, water, or broadband. Aside from letting you know what you owe, these bills are super important because they act as official proof of address when you’re setting up a bank account or signing a contract. They’ll always show your name, address, account number, and your payment due date.

Below, we’ll discuss the main types of utility bills you’ll likely come across as a student.

Energy (electricity and gas) 

Electricity is the big one. It powers pretty much everything in your student house, from your lights to your TV.  

If your student house uses gas (not all houses do), you’ll also have a gas bill to think about. Gas is usually used to heat your home and sometimes for other appliances, such as a gas cooker.

Energy rates can change depending on the supplier, but they are kept in check by the Ofgem Energy Price Cap, which limits the maximum rate providers can charge per unit of power. Just remember: the cap doesn’t limit your total bill. If you leave the heating blasting 24/7, you will still pay more.

If you’re worried about how much energy you and your housemates will use, you can always opt for an uncapped plan (like the one we offer at Split The Bills). You pay one fixed monthly amount, use the energy you need, and don’t get stung with extra charges at the end of the year.

Learn more about setting up your energy bills.

Water 

Another big part of your utility bill is water. This covers everything that comes out of your taps, your shower, and into your washing machine.

Unlike energy, you can’t shop around for a better deal. Each area of the UK has one fixed water supplier, so you just have to register with whoever manages your region.

Learn how to set up your water bill for a complete breakdown of what to do.

Broadband 

Many people classify broadband as a utility bill, because, let’s be honest, a house without WiFi is basically unlivable. When it comes to choosing the right broadband for your student house, it can quickly get confusing – there are so many different speeds that it can feel impossible to know which one is best.

Choosing the right speed can get confusing fast. The rule of thumb is simple: the more housemates you have, the faster your package needs to be. If you’ve got multiple people trying to stream Netflix, play online games, work from home, and scroll TikTok at the same time, you’ll need fast broadband if you want to avoid the dreaded buffering (although you could always share some streaming platforms with a discount if you’re part of the same household).

It’s essential to get your broadband sorted as soon as possible, as it can take up to two weeks for your router to be installed. Our broadband bills guide has everything you need to know about setting up your broadband.

Is council tax a utility bill? 

No. Even though it’s a major household bill, council tax isn’t classed as a utility because it’s based on your property’s value, not what you use. (Bonus: if you’re all full-time students, you’re completely exempt anyway!)

Is a phone bill a utility bill? 

No. A landline bill counts as a utility, but your mobile doesn’t because it’s a personal expense, not a household service.

Is a TV Licence a utility bill? 

No. You legally need a TV Licence if you watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer, but it’s an optional media license, not an essential utility. You’ll still need to budget for it as a house, though.

Explore more about setting up a TV Licence for your shared house.

What doesn’t classify as a utility bill?

Some people assume that any household document is classified as a utility bill, although this is sometimes not the case. Some documents that are often confused for utility bills include bank statements, credit card statements, and mobile phone receipts.

Who pays utility bills in a shared student house? 

Now that you know what utility bills are, you might be wondering who’s responsible for paying them.

Unless your landlord explicitly advertised your place as bills included, you and your housemates are jointly responsible for paying every single utility.

Managing this yourself sounds easy on paper, but it’s a massive hassle in reality. One person has to put their name on the accounts, research the best deals, call suppliers, organise the direct debits, and -the worst part – constantly nag the rest of the house to send over their share of the cash. It’s a recipe for group chat drama.

The good news? You can completely bypass the awkwardness with a bill-splitting service.

How Split The Bills can help with utility bills 

At Split the Bills, we take the stress out of shared living by handling the annoying admin for you. You choose the services you want included in your package, including electricity, gas, water, broadband and even a TV Licence if you need one. Your energy package is uncapped, so you can responsibly use what you need without worrying about being hit by a hefty bill!

We’ll set everything up and work out how much everyone needs to pay. All you need to do is pay one neat bill each month – it’s a straightforward solution to the challenging task of splitting shared utility bills.

If you want to pay your utility bills without any hassle, learn more about what we do or grab a quote today.

Student sorting bills on laptop

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15th May 2026 No Comments