Council tax, gas, electricity, water, TV licence. The UK bill landscape is very different to SA. Here is what arrives in your letterbox in the first few weeks and what to do with all of it.
Council tax
Every occupied property pays council tax to the local authority. This is separate from your rent. Your landlord does not pay it — you do.
- Properties are assigned a band A-H. Check yours at gov.uk/council-tax-bands.
- Annual amount varies by council: London Band D typically £1,200-£2,500/year.
- Single occupant discount: 25% off if you are the only adult in the property. Apply at your council's website immediately.
- Register with your local council within the first week.
Energy: gas and electricity
- When you move in, you inherit the previous tenant's tariff — usually the most expensive available. Switch immediately at uswitch.com or moneysupermarket.com. Saves £150-£400/year.
- Take meter readings on move-in day and report them to the existing supplier.
- Smart meters are free to install. Request one from your supplier.
Broadband
- Main providers: BT, Virgin Media, Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk. Compare at broadbandchoices.co.uk.
- Standard fibre: £30-£60/month. Full fibre (gigabit): £40-£70/month.
- Allow 2-4 weeks for installation after ordering.
TV licence
- Cost: £174.50/year (2026).
- Required if you watch any live TV or use BBC iPlayer on any device.
- Not required if you only use Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and never watch live TV.
- Buy at tvlicensing.co.uk. Monthly payment option available.
Electoral roll
Register at gov.uk/register-to-vote as soon as you have a UK address. Even if you cannot vote in UK general elections, being on the electoral roll is the single biggest thing you can do for your credit score.
Information correct as of August 2026. Energy tariffs, council tax rates and TV licence fees change annually. Always verify current rates before signing up.