Bills - how much?

Miranda25

Martico said:

Some bills, such as council tax, are fixed for a property and you can research in advance. Depends on the local authority and the council tax "band" of the property. If you're the only person living there, you'll get a 25% discount. 

If you want a (almost certainly different to your likely place) guesstimate for other bills for a single person household, I live by myself in a two-up, two-down terrace in Bristol. So different from your potential place in several ways.

But, for what it's worth: water =16, elec+gas = 100. Council tax = 116. Building + contents insurance works out at £10. (Edit - I pay £60 for Broadband, which I know is way over what I could, but it's very stable, necessary for work, and as I'm self employed tax-deductible so I'm stupidly relaxed about it. Broadband should be cheaper.) It's a freehold house, so no extra charges, I've got no idea about charges to leasehold flats.

which broadband provider do you use? as I also need very stable and faster connection for my work.

Martico

I use Virgin and get their basic TV package with that too. Imagine I could talk them down from the price I'm paying, but they're by far the most stable in my area, and I don't want to risk even a few days of down time, so haven't rocked that boat

Miranda25

Martico said:

I use Virgin and get their basic TV package with that too. Imagine I could talk them down from the price I'm paying, but they're by far the most stable in my area, and I don't want to risk even a few days of down time, so haven't rocked that boat

I have Virgin provider now (in London) and not very happy about connection. Someone advised me to try Hyperoptic.

Martico

I don't really know much about these things, but they seem to be the best where I am, and have been good, so I've stayed with them. Seven years here, maybe four episodes of max two hours downtime in that time. I don't honestly know, but in this area they've been reliable, and that's enough for me

CSI_Yorkshire

Miranda25 said:

Thank you.
Someone told me that bills for 1-bedroom house or flat could be as much as £1000 per month (in London).
Just bills (gas, electricity, water, council tax, service charge.....)
I am trying to see if it is true or not.

But it's like saying "how much could you spend on food in a month".

If you eat out at Michelin-starred restaurants every day, it would be a lot.  If you only shopped in the cheapest possible markets, it would be a little.

I know people whose energy bills are £8 per month.  I have seen people on this forum whose energy bills are £800 per month.

Council tax (I'll use Ealing as an example) could be anywhere from £867 per year to £3470 per year.

There is no general answer to "how much will I spend".

There is only your answer to "how much can I afford to spend" and then you make sure you don't spend more than that.

Martico

While that's certainly true, a broadbrush example of someone with what they deem an "average" existence is probably helpful. I don't skimp, don't go overboard, so hope my example can be a useful ballpark, which is what I think Miranda's after (caveats provided, of course - properties do differ)

CSI_Yorkshire

Martico said:

While that's certainly true, a broadbrush example of someone with what they deem an "average" existence is probably helpful. I don't skimp, don't go overboard, so hope my example can be a useful ballpark, which is what I think Miranda's after (caveats provided, of course - properties do differ)

I also live alone - and yet my expenditures are almost double yours on every stated quantity.

Who's to say that your existence is more "average" than mine?

That's the problem with trying to compare one person to another.

Martico

Better get budgeting then 😜

Seriously, though - seriously? Do you have a much bigger property? Mine would be lucky to be rated EPC E, so it's not even efficient. I've got two computers running throughout work hours. But I don't have a tumble dryer or other excessive use electrics. Even so, doubling any of my fixed bills would be almost impossible, especially considering I'm home almost all the time. 

But you're right, of course, we all differ - as do our houses - but those ballpark figures should help I'd hope

Miranda25

CSI_Yorkshire said:

Miranda25 said:

Thank you.
Someone told me that bills for 1-bedroom house or flat could be as much as £1000 per month (in London).
Just bills (gas, electricity, water, council tax, service charge.....)
I am trying to see if it is true or not.

But it's like saying "how much could you spend on food in a month".

If you eat out at Michelin-starred restaurants every day, it would be a lot.  If you only shopped in the cheapest possible markets, it would be a little.

I know people whose energy bills are £8 per month.  I have seen people on this forum whose energy bills are £800 per month.

Council tax (I'll use Ealing as an example) could be anywhere from £867 per year to £3470 per year.

There is no general answer to "how much will I spend".

There is only your answer to "how much can I afford to spend" and then you make sure you don't spend more than that.

Thank you but I am not quite understand this (I am not from the UK).
People should have an indication of bills BEFORE buying properties.
Council tax should not be so different within one area eg. Ealing. I understand if council tax is different between Bristol and London. I do not understand why council tax is different within Ealing.

If people have an indication of bills then they understand the balance of bills plus mortgage.
Then they know how much income they want to have left after paying all expenses in order to keep their current living standard.
Then they know for what property they should go: should they go for flat for £200k or they should go for a house at £300k.

This is not a good life if people buy properties and know their bills after that and start trying to find ways to reduce the bills by keeping themselves in cold houses. This is poor life.
People should be informed enough to be able to make decisions in advance and not after buying properties.

I do not want to adapt my life for the house.
I want the opposite - the house which would fit to my life.

Martico

Council tax is fixed by the local authority, and each authority have five (I think) different bands. The most expensive properties - decided somewhat randomly in 1990 - carry the biggest charge. So each council has a wide range of charges. Find out the band that your prospective property is in. Those Ealing differences would cover massive townhouses (3470) to bedsits (867)