What you pay is based on what you use. Ofgem set the maximum unit price and standing charges for customers on default energy tariffs. The Energy price cap is reviewed every three months.

Taking control of your bills can help you manage your finances and avoid deposit deductions and disputes at the end of your tenancy. It’s a good idea to talk about how you’re going to manage bills with your housemates; this can avoid arguments later on.

• Discuss your attitudes to money and how warm you want to be; try to reach a compromise.
• Agree who will manage which bills but ensure all tenant's names are on the account.
• Agree how and when you will collect the money to pay the bill, e.g. each term/month; pre pay in advance, or pay when you receive the bill.
• Is there an 'app' you can use to help you keep track or to pay?

How much you pay for gas and electricity will depend on how energy efficient the property is; how much you use; the unit price of the fuel and the cost of standing charges. It’s possible that the current supplier or the letting agent can confirm the previous annual bills cost for the new property.

• You are responsible for bills from the date your tenancy starts until the tenancy ends.
• Tenants must adequately heat the property to avoid damp, condensation and mould; so even if you're happy putting on an extra jumper, you must have the heating on for a few hours a day in the colder months.
• When you go away for the holidays, keep the heating on at a minimum level to avoid freezing and bursting pipes.
• If you’re sharing a house, you are all responsible to pay an equal share of the bill.
• Agree how you will organise the bills - how will you pay? what will you use?
• Consider the environment as well as your wallet and make sure you take regular meter readings during the tenancy as well as at the beginning and end.

It’s up to you whether you stay with the current providers for gas and electric or whether you switch. If you don’t know who the supplier is, ask the landlord or agent. Alternatively, you can check who the current supplier is online (please see our useful links). When you move in you should contact the suppliers for gas, electric and water to let them know the date your tenancy starts. Ensure every tenants name is on each bill and set up a payment method.

Check your tenancy agreement as it may include terms and conditions you need to abide by if you switch suppliers, i.e., you may have to switch back to the original supplier at the end of the contract. Switching can take up to 3 weeks so you will pay the current supplier until the switching date.

Most of the best tariffs come with the requirement to have a smart meter fitted – and some landlords may not be happy about a smart meter being fitted. So, if you want to switch to a tariff where a smart meter is required you need to be explicit about this when requesting consent from the landlord/letting agent, and make sure you get written consent for a new meter being installed to avoid any potential dispute at the end of the tenancy.

It is advisable to check that your utility provider is a member of the Energy Ombudsman. The Energy Ombudsman helps customers to resolve complaints.

Your water bill may be a fixed rate for the year or based on how much you use and measured by a water meter. If you have a water meter, you may want to check the readings when you’re not using any water (i.e., when appliances, taps etc. are turned off). If units are being used when everything is off, you may have a water leak.

This is usually the most expensive choice. Tenants can set up these accounts directly themselves or some letting agents can arrange these accounts for you. Citizens Advice explain the true costs and risks here.

NTSU Advice receive complaints about utility management companies, and it can be difficult to navigate and resolve complaints where the company is not a member of the Energy Ombudsman scheme. Many of the third-party bill splitting companies are not members of the Energy Ombudsman.

This is where your rent includes an amount for specified utilities. This may include gas and electricity only, or could also include water, broadband, landline and TV licence. You will need to check your tenancy to see what is and what is not included. If you are considering this option, please contact NTSU Advice - we can give you general information but also advise you on things to look out for in the terms and conditions.

Cons:

• Tenants do not have control of the utility accounts, so if something goes wrong, they are reliant on the landlord or agent taking action. The utility provider will be unable to communicate with the tenants about the account because it is not in their names.
• Most bills inclusive agreements will include a fair usage policy, so that should you use more than the agreed allowance, the tenant will need to reimburse the landlord or agent – this is usually deducted from the deposit at the end of the tenancy. However, if the tenants use less than the allocated allowance, they are unlikely to get a refund.
• Tenants cannot shop around for a cheaper tariff – the tariff chosen by the landlord may be expensive and if you use more than the fair usage allowance, you may be paying more than necessary.
• If one person doesn't pay, there are implications for their housemates.

Pros:

• If bills are included in the rent you do not need to chase housemates who are disorganised with money.
• It can help with your budgeting.

Top tips: If you decide to go for a bills inclusive agreement, ensure that the tenancy includes clear details of any fair usage policy, agreement that the landlord or agent will provide copies of the bills to the tenants, clarity regarding who is responsible for taking and submitting meter readings. To avoid any potential disputes take dated photos of the meter readings at the start and end of the tenancy.