Utilities Costs

I'm looking at renting a place of my own for the first time (having finally resigned myself to the fact that buying is way beyond reach) and am trying to work out what I can afford.

The problem is I have no clue whatsoever about how much things like water, electricity and gas are likely to cost per month.

Can anyone give me a rough idea of how much I should budget for these things for a one bedroom flat (in Wiltshire/Hampshire area)?

TIA

Helen.

Reply to
Helen
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You can reckon on water being about 200 quid a year, less if you can have a meter.

Fuel should be 4-500 pounds. More if the insulation is crap, less if it's really good. Do not consider an all electric property unless it has storage radiators on E7 (SRs are always inconvenient but for a small property they aren't any more expensive than gas)

tim

Reply to
tim

water about 200 ish gas & elec £25+£20 x12 You can save a but by combining them Council tax - boo hiss. this costs me about 60 quid a month I think Telephone rental is about 11 quid a month I think tv licence - erm [1] insurance - very variable. but you can get a quote in advance.

[1] Its over £100 but how much you pay on dd depends on how long you've had a licence....

sure theres something else - oh aye sky tv. 18 quid maybe 19 for the family package.

Can I add that yes I do pay the bills I just don't dare look every month at the dd which come out.

Don't forget the rent too.

Reply to
Mogga

The message from "Helen" contains these words:

unlurkio/ Thanks for all the reading these past few weeks folks, here is where I can offer some help with my figures.

In a detached, 4/5 bedroomed, 12 yo house in the South East with double glazing and loft insulation our *total* bills will come to 3,180 for this last year for two of us at the end of March. We are at home most of the year, early retired. That works out at 265 a month. If you budget account it like we do, it'll be in the red in the 10th month because there is no council tax in the last two months which makes up for it. This includes two telephone lines, and charges, Broad band 28.00/month, caravan insurance and club fees, gas, water, sewerage, electricity, house insurance, council tax, and TV licence. We are expecting & preparing for a CT hike of 14% this coming year.

Ohhhh yessss! Most important. We have no teenagers leaving the doors/windows/lights open/on and spending hours in the power shower. Nor on the telephone for hours 'nhours. ;-) But we do have the heating on all day.

We have experience in trying to keep all bills as near our comfort zone as possible....our telephones are about 3.00 to 5.00 per month via Tspeak but BT still charge us big time for the quarterly charges on two telephone lines. Jim /Lurkio

Reply to
J L Williams

I live on my own in a 2 bed semi in Northamptonshire. Water bills are around 10 p/m but I usually take showers (often at the gym). Electric is around 15 per month and the gas is usually a little less. I have gas central heating and gas hobs in the kitchen but the cooker is electric. Council tax for me is 61 per month. Satallite is 38 per month. Land line is 10 p/m. Broadband internet is 28 per month.

Hope this helps

Reply to
Mr Bean

I pay around 100 a year with a meter.

For a 1-bedroom flat it isn't likely to be that much, I would think more like 2-300. It obviously depends on what you have in the way of electrical appliances.

They're a pain, the first cold day of the year you won't have any heating, and on really cold days you run out of stored heat! Also unless you have an electric shower you have to remember to turn the heater on before you want a bath.

Reply to
Stephen Burke

A bit like having to remember to get food in before you want to cook.

Reply to
Ronald Raygun

Can I ask why you have two phone lines?

Reply to
Mogga

I accept that they are a pain, but as an (ex) landlord gas is a pain (even more so in a small flat). Consequently, if you're in the rental market for a small flat you often don't have the choice of fule that you would have if you are buying.

All I am saying is, don't rule out Storage Rads on the grounds of running costs. A well insulated modern flat with SRs will cost less to run that an old drafty flat with Gas, but if it's individual electric heaters (or underfloor electric) forget it.

tim

Also unless you have an

Reply to
tim

The message from Mogga contains these words:

Certainly can yes ;-) We both need to use the phone at the same time when for both of us 'time is of the essence' for one reason or another. Now I can both be on the net continuously and I can call a broker/bookie etc with out upsetting the domestic arrangements for my wife. We all win, including BT. Jim

Reply to
J L Williams

Many thanks for all your replies, now I can go flat-hunting!

Cheers, Helen.

Reply to
Helen

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