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Last updated: January 2026
It may not be the most entertaining part of your uni experience, but properly managing your utilities is the only way to avoid nasty surprises while living in a student home. There are a few things you’ll need to keep on top of when it comes to things like electricity, gas and broadband. To make everything as easy as possible for you, we’ve listed out the key things you’re going to want to know about your utilities. No more pain points – let’s get into it.
Bill-splitting provider vs setting up utilities individually 💸
Here at Split The Bills, we understand that for many sharing a student property, sorting the utilities for the duration of your stay can bring some serious challenges.
For those of you familiar with setting up individual utilities or in a smaller household, going directly to suppliers might be a preferred method. However, for most, using shared utility providers like us provides a number of added benefits.
We’ll do the hard work and arrange all your key utilities, including gas, electricity, water, broadband and TV Licence. When we’re managing your utilities, each housemate gets billed individually. All payments are taken directly from your account, so there’s no need to chase housemates for cash. This takes out all the hassle and even protects your credit score.
What is an over-usage charge? 🤷🏼♂️
Typically, energy suppliers have a ‘limit’ on how much energy you’ll be permitted to use on your tariff. If you exceed this limit, the energy company adds an additional charge to your account, typically payable at the end of your contract. It’s a good idea to check your meter to track your energy usage if you use a lot of electricity at your house.
At Split The Bills, energy is charged at the same amount each month, and doesn’t come with any over-usage charges, giving you peace of mind throughout your contract.
How meter readings work 💡
Your energy supplier will need periodic readings from your gas or electricity meter, so that they can work out the correct amount to charge you. If you don’t send them readings, they’ll estimate your usage, which could mean a much higher bill than what you owe. Two vital times for readings are as soon as you move into the property and just before you leave.
Electric and gas meters are in a downstairs cupboard, such as under the stairs, or in the kitchen. If you’re having trouble finding your meters, your landlord and/or letting agent can tell you where they are.
What broadband speed is best for me? 💻
We’re here to help you find the correct balance – saving money on your broadband bills, but receiving enough precious megabits for your needs.
The first thing to consider is how many people will be in the house. As you might expect, more people in the house equals more bandwidth usage. A two-person flat might be fine with a 16mbps package, but you should scale that up as the number of housemates increases.
You also need to factor in exactly what each housemate uses the internet for, and how intensely they use it. Streaming services like Netflix eat considerably more bandwidth than Google Docs or social media. Depending on each housemate’s usage habits, it may also be worth considering how many different devices each housemate brings into the house – computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches, and virtual assistants like Alexa all have internet requirements.
Tip: You can reduce the amount of bandwidth your phone consumes – and extend its battery life – by turning off Bluetooth when you’re not using it. Discover more about the best broadband speed for student houses, especially if you are working from home.
Do I need to pay council tax? ✍🏻
Council tax is a local tax on domestic properties and is made payable to the council to fund services such as waste collection and street lighting. Students are exempt from council tax. So, if you live in an entirely student-filled house, you don’t have to pay this. Just make sure you or your landlord informs the council – via their website or by post.
If you live in a mixed occupancy of students and professionals, the professionals will be liable for council tax at the property, while you will not. They’ll need to declare their occupancy to the council and pay their council tax as normal.
Do I need a TV Licence? 📺
There are several different situations in which you might need a TV Licence. If you watch terrestrial television (digital, Sky, cable or any other kind), you need one. If you stream television from any national broadcaster (e.g. using BBC iPlayer, ITV digital, etc.), you’ll also need a TV Licence.
It doesn’t matter what device you use to watch it – whether that’s a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console or digital set-top box.
Keep in mind that you’ll only need one TV Licence per household, even if you use more than one of the devices listed above.
Now that you’re all clued up on managing utility bills, you might want to check out Split The Bills’ packages. We take the hassle out of bills, and we’ll bundle and split everything easily, ensuring that everyone pays their fair share. Interested in our service? Grab a quote today.
Split The Bills is not a financial advisor. This should not be considered as professional financial advice. Do your own research & consult a professional financial advisor before making any financial decisions!