I'm so confused...

chaz411989

Hi,

I'm at uni and as a home student I have to move out of halls and into private accommodation next year. We've sorted our home and now it's time for us to start worrying about gas, electricity and water prices.

I know that with four people living in our home in London we pay roughly £40 a month for electricity (top up key), £25 a month for water (fixed) and an average of £70 a month for gas.

Unfortunately, here in Southampton we have a water meter, a paper bill for gas and electricity, so it's different and I could do with some help in understanding how much it'll cost us.

Briefly some info on the house:

Average 4 bedroom house that has been converted into a 6 bedroom house, two bathrooms and 6 people who'll be living there.

How much would water costs roughly be in the Southampton area (Highfield) per month? ...and would the cost of gas and electricity be roughly the same as what was paid in London? The house will be empty between July 1 to end of September.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks.

macman

Water unit charges will be available on the website of the regional utility. You don't have any choice of supplier anyway.
Impossible to say what the other bills will be without knowing how the property is heated and hot watered, what the insulation is like, what your lifestyle is...but 6 students will doubtless use a lot more energy than a family of 6.
Remember that you will all be jointly and severally liable for the bills if all your names are on the account-it's not 1/6 each!
You are in a deemed contract with the existing suppliers when you move in, so take readings and register immediately. You can then switch if you wish-it will take 4-6 weeks.

Cardew

Bear in mind that in a 'normal' family occupied 4 bed house the bedroom radiators are sized so the bedrooms don't get as warm as the living rooms.

Also when the living rooms are up to temperature, the thermostat will cut off heating to the bedrooms.

As students tend to use their bedroom as a living room, the temptation is to use an electrical heater to top up the heating and hence huge bills. My son had exactly that arrangement at university and the electricity bills in a gas CH house were eye-watering.

On average each person will use 50 to 55 Cubic Metres of water per year. Students probably less if they go home outside term time.