Aunt Agatha Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 After a short stay with the parentals, we'll be renting in the UK for a while. I know we'll be up for the rent itself, deposit & agency fees, bills like electricity and broadband (and the connections of those services) but does the tenant also pay council tax and water? I think we have been spoiled not having to pay rates or water here. I'm guessing the landlord covers buildings insurance and we just need contents insurance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkstone1975 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Yeah you have to cover everything unless explicitly mentioned, all landlords have building insurance, renter takes out contents insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Oh that's a bit depressing! We are very lucky having rates and water paid for here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 You are lucky to have rates covered, we pay everything here except sewage. I would say though that even paying rates back in the UK it will still be cheaper than here, well it was for us anyway. Has the house hunt stepped up a notch now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 That's interesting Wattsy, I thought the no rates thing must be Australia-wide. It looks like we'll be paying about the same there as here - the rent is a bit less but council tax, water and TV license will cancel that out. DH has been approached about a job so I thought I'd better check out houses just in case we need to move quickly. I think we'll end up still moving back in Feb but I like to be prepared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I thought it was an australia wide thing that the landlord had to pay the council rates too. It certainly is here in SA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Ah, we dont pay any council bills....we pay all our water rates and electricity rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 (edited) That's interesting Wattsy, I thought the no rates thing must be Australia-wide. It looks like we'll be paying about the same there as here - the rent is a bit less but council tax, water and TV license will cancel that out. . So, how much do those extras cost roughly? Edited October 29, 2014 by Marisawright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robswife Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Don't forget your TV licence A colour TV Licence costs £145.50 and a black and white TV Licence costs £49.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 I worked out a few costs monthly so we can budget properly but I think some will be payable quarterly or yearly. All prices are in pounds but I don't have a pound sign on my laptop! Council tax - 115 for tax band C (bands run A to H with A being the cheapest) Water - 34 TV license - 12 Then of course there are all the connection fees for landline, electricity, water, gas etc. I forsee an expensive time ahead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I worked out a few costs monthly so we can budget properly but I think some will be payable quarterly or yearly. All prices are in pounds but I don't have a pound sign on my laptop! Council tax - 115 for tax band C (bands run A to H with A being the cheapest) Water - 34 TV license - 12 Then of course there are all the connection fees for landline, electricity, water, gas etc. I forsee an expensive time ahead! Water might be nearer £50 a month, ours was anyway 18 months a go, family of 4 also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks Wattsy. I can't remember where I got my 34 quid figure from but it wouldn't surprise me at all for it to be closer to 50. Likewise I'm probably being optimistic about the council band! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I worked out a few costs monthly so we can budget properly but I think some will be payable quarterly or yearly. All prices are in pounds but I don't have a pound sign on my laptop! Council tax - 115 for tax band C (bands run A to H with A being the cheapest) Water - 34 TV license - 12 Then of course there are all the connection fees for landline, electricity, water, gas etc. I forsee an expensive time ahead! Oh! Now I know why rents in Bristol looked so cheap, in spite of everyone telling me it was an expensive city. That's nearly another 200 pounds a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benthomas010 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 So, how much do those extras cost roughly? Council tax varies from region to region and street to street... I pay £1230 per year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Average 3 bed house will be band c, large 3 beds/4 beds will be a D, which was £150 a month. Funny you should just post this, I have just been sorting through files on my old laptop and found our monthly bills spreadsheet. Rent - £900 Council Tax - £150 Food - £400 Water - £50 Electricity - £50 Gas (or oil) - £50 Home Phone - £15 Broadband - £25 (can be free if you are in the right area though) Sky - £45 Mobile Phones x 2 - £70 (joint) Car Insurance (2 cars) £100 Fuel (2 cars) £200 Contents Insurance - £20 Life Insurance - £15 TV Licence - £12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Ooh that's handy! I had forgotten to add Sky to my budget so will include that. Don't forget car tax and MOT too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 We used to just pay them as they came in as they arent huge costs. I usually paid elec and gas and car insurance in one hit too but in our last 6 months in the UK i switched to direct debit so that they didnt owe me any money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benthomas010 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I worked out a few costs monthly so we can budget properly but I think some will be payable quarterly or yearly. All prices are in pounds but I don't have a pound sign on my laptop! Council tax - 115 for tax band C (bands run A to H with A being the cheapest) Water - 34 TV license - 12 Then of course there are all the connection fees for landline, electricity, water, gas etc. I forsee an expensive time ahead! There aren't any connection fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benthomas010 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Ooh that's handy! I had forgotten to add Sky to my budget so will include that. Don't forget car tax and MOT too. I pay £55 per month for Sky, including phone line rental, evening calls & unlimited broadband. Have everything except sport and movies which would push the price up by a further 20 quid per month. Car tax varies massively.. but normal cars range between 140 and 280 per year. MOT's 50 per year. Insurance. .. look at around 400 per year, maybe more if you don't have any no claims to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robswife Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I always find this site useful http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/?utm_source=MSE_Newsletter&utm_medium=msetip&utm_term=28-Oct-14-v1&utm_campaign=site&utm_content=4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks guys. That's interesting @benthomas010, an estate agent told us we'd have to pay an admin fee to set up electricity accounts etc. I hadn't thought of being able to combine Sky with home phone and internet, that will save me a fair bit. @robswife - that's the site I used to work our car and contents insurance! Really useful :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benthomas010 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks guys. That's interesting @benthomas010, an estate agent told us we'd have to pay an admin fee to set up electricity accounts etc. I hadn't thought of being able to combine Sky with home phone and internet, that will save me a fair bit. @robswife - that's the site I used to work our car and contents insurance! Really useful :-) That's strange.. I've rented twice recently and never paid any administration fees to setup utility accounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 That's interesting @benthomas010, an estate agent told us we'd have to pay an admin fee to set up electricity accounts etc. I havent heard of that either. What they will sting you with is connecting/re-connecting the phone line. If the property has never had a phone line they charge (2007) £125 to do a first time connection. Also, be aware that your tv licence direct debits will be more than £12 a month for the first few months (maybe 6-12 months) as they build up your account so that you are 6 months (i think) in advance. Cheek! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Hopefully the agent was just referring to the phone line. He was a bit vague shall we say! Its outrageous what what they sting you for. I still haven't got over all the reference checking fees etc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 If you can id just apply for a rental in your or husbands name, save you a few hundred pounds only doing one application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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