First time renting...

supercelt

I am moving into a flat on Wednesday, really excited as it's the first time I will have my own space away from home. Sharing a small room with an older brother when you're 20 isn't ideal.

Obviously I know how much my rent will be and what council tax will be on the property as well.

But I don't know as yet what like the gas/electricity costs will likely to be.

The flat will be empty during the week 9-5 because I'll be at work. I'll be living alone as well. And my mum will be doing my washing at her house so I won't need to use the washing machine haha! How fortunate, eh? lol..

What sort of monthly cost am I looking at? I wouldn't say I use that much electricity TBH.

Is anyone in a similar situation who could tell me what they pay?

Lavendyr

How big is it, is the oven gas or electric, are the hobs gas or electric, and is the heating gas or electric?

supercelt

Hmm I don't know.

I really should have found this out but I don't know anything about electricity/gas/water/heating....

The flat has two bedrooms, a large living room, small kitchen and bathroom..

Lavendyr

The cost could vary depending on things like whether the heating is gas or electric, and also on how well insulated the place is (double glazing? wall/loft insulation?) - as well as who the supplier/s is/are.

When you get in, before using anything (if possible) locate the meters and get meter readings so you know what they were left at (you will need to give these to the suppliers so they can start billing you at the correct point). You might have one supplier for both gas and electricity, if you have both, or you might have two different ones, so make sure to find out ASAP who the suppliers are (the landlord should be able to tell you this).

In a reasonably insulated house with gas heating and hobs and an electric oven, you could be spending around £10-15 per month on gas and electricity each during the summer, and between 2x and 3x that per month during the winter, depending on how often you have the heating on, whether you use the oven for long periods, whether you fit energy-saving bulbs, turn lights off or leave them on, have hot baths often, etc. If the house is heated by electricity it could be much more expensive in the winter. If the house is poorly insulated you will need the heating on more and higher to keep it warm enough in the winter, so it will cost you more as well. Boiling a kettle and using a hairdryer are two more electricity-intensive things.

Don't forget you will also have to pay water bills, if the flat has a water meter fitted then you will need to get this read as well (usually you have to get the water company to come and do this for you as the meter may not be accessible to you), and if it doesn't, there will be a flat rate per year which you can pay monthly, quarterly or annually (or at other frequencies depending on what your water company will do for you). Assuming you're not a very heavy water user, if you're metered you could be looking at around £10-15 per month on water, while unmetered would probably be more, even up to double that amount.

And for council tax, remember to tell them you'll be a single occupant as this will mean you pay 25% less.

Other bills you might want to think of, if you haven't already:
- TV license
- Telephone line rental
- Broadband

Hope that helps