Savanna Hoffman
Students often have to navigate the complexities of paying bills for the first time when they move away for university. While the landlord may cover some utility costs in the rent, students are generally expected to pay for utilities like water, gas, and electricity. Students in university accommodation are typically responsible for their water bills, unless they live in Scotland, where water charges are included in the council tax bill, from which full-time students are exempt. Students living outside Scotland will need to pay for water and sewerage services, either annually or every six months if they are on a meter.
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What You'll Learn
Student water bill exemption in Scotland
In Scotland, students living in university accommodation are exempt from paying water bills. This is because most homes in Scotland have their water supplied by Scottish Water, and water and wastewater charges are included in the council tax bill. Since students are exempt from paying council tax, they are also exempt from paying for water.
However, this exemption only applies if everyone in the property is exempt from paying council tax. If a student lives in a shared house with non-students, they may be required to pay their share of the water bill.
Students living in Scotland can also benefit from other cost-saving measures. For example, Scottish Water offers a Water and Sewerage Charges Exemption Scheme for charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC) registered in Scotland. Additionally, if a student's income is up to £199,999, they are exempt from paying water or sewerage charges.
It is important to note that students living in university accommodation are still responsible for their water bills, even though the landlord owns the home. Therefore, it is recommended that students check utility meters and take a water meter reading when they move in to avoid being charged for water used by previous occupants.
While there is no student discount for water bills in Scotland, students can save money by using water efficiently and adopting cost-saving measures such as collecting rainwater for watering plants.
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How to set up your water bill
Students are expected to pay water bills, except for those living in Scotland with other full-time students. In Scotland, water and wastewater charges are included in the council tax bill, and students are exempt from paying council tax.
Setting up your water bill is a straightforward process. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Identify your supplier: Find out which water company supplies your area. You can do this by using an online tool or checking with your landlord or local council.
- Understand your tariff: Determine whether you are on a standard tariff or a metered tariff. A standard tariff means you pay a fixed amount based on an estimate of your home's water usage. With a metered tariff, you pay for the exact amount of water you use, as recorded by a water meter.
- Check your meter: If you have a water meter, take a reading as soon as you move in. This ensures that you are not charged for water used by previous occupants.
- Know your payment options: Depending on your tariff and location, you may be able to pay monthly, quarterly, or every six months. Some water companies may also offer additional payment options, such as paying in instalments or setting up a direct debit.
- Set up your account: Contact your water supplier to set up your account and discuss your preferred payment method. Provide them with your details, including your name, address, and payment information.
- Understand your bill: Familiarize yourself with the various charges on your water bill. These may include facility charges for water and sewer, surcharges, and regulatory fees. Understanding your bill can also help you identify ways to reduce your water usage and save money.
- Keep track of payments: Stay organized by keeping records of your payment dates and amounts. This can help you build a positive credit history and avoid late payment fees.
- Consider exemptions and discounts: If you are a full-time student in Scotland, you may be exempt from water charges. Additionally, some water companies may offer discounts or special rates for students, so be sure to inquire about any applicable promotions.
By following these steps, you can effectively set up your water bill and manage your water usage and costs. Remember to review your water bill regularly and contact your supplier if you have any questions or concerns.
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Payment options
Students are expected to pay water bills in full once a year on a standard tariff or every six months if they are on a meter. Most companies will also allow monthly payments to help spread the cost.
If you are renting a student property, you will need to pay for utilities such as water, gas, and electricity. Whether you pay these or they are included in your rent will depend on your landlord and the terms of your tenancy agreement. If your landlord includes utility bills in your rent, you won't need to worry about setting up payments separately.
If utility bills are not included in your rent, you will need to split them with your roommates. This can be complicated and sometimes lead to disagreements. To avoid this, it is recommended to draw up an Excel spreadsheet outlining all the bills and the split between roommates when you move in.
There are a few ways you can pay your water bill:
- Allocate one bank account to pay the bill (either in full or via direct debit)
- Request a payment card to pay in instalments at your local Post Office or any shop/petrol station that displays the PayPoint sign
- Make one-off online payments using the customer reference number for the property (which will be given when you create an account). Online payments can be made via credit/debit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or your banking app.
- Use a service like Split The Bills, where one person is not responsible for paying all the bills and can even save you money.
If you live in a hall of residence, your water rates will be included with your rent.
If you live in Scotland, you are exempt from paying water charges as a full-time student. This is because water and wastewater charges are included in the council tax bill, and students are exempt from paying council tax. However, this exemption only applies if you live in a home occupied solely by university students.
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Splitting bills with housemates
Students are expected to pay water bills, except for those living in Scotland, where water and wastewater charges are included in the council tax bill. Full-time students living in Scotland with other full-time students are exempt from paying for water.
- Understand how costs will be shared: When moving in with housemates, it is essential to discuss and decide how costs will be shared. This includes determining who is responsible for paying certain expenses, such as water bills, and how frequently payments will be made.
- Use a split bill calculator: To avoid the hassle of manual calculations, you can use a split bill calculator. This tool helps divide expenses among multiple people, taking into account the number of housemates and the cost of utilities like water.
- Equal split: The simplest and most common method is to split the total cost of the water bill evenly among all housemates. This works well when housemates have similar usage habits and comparable room sizes.
- Proportional split: If housemates have varying usage habits or room sizes, you can divide the utility costs based on the number of occupants or the square footage of each housemate's living space. This method assumes that more occupants will use more water and that larger rooms require more water for heating, cooling, and lighting.
- Individual usage: Tracking individual usage through sub-meters is the most accurate and fair method, as housemates are billed only for what they use. However, this option may be more costly and time-consuming to manage.
- Use a joint account: Setting up a joint account can make it easier to track expenses and ensure that bills are paid on time. However, it is important to establish trust and open lines of communication before opting for this method.
- Use cash-transferring apps: Apps like Venmo and Cash App allow for instant deposits and quick transfers between housemates. The person requesting payments can do so a few days in advance to allow time for bank transfers to go through.
- Clear communication: Communication is key to avoiding disputes over utility bills. Before moving in, discuss and outline who is responsible for paying the water bill, how it will be divided, and what happens if someone fails to pay their share.
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Reducing water usage
Students in the UK are expected to pay water bills. Full-time students are required to pay a water bill in full once a year on a standard tariff or every six months if they are on a meter. However, students living in Scotland are exempt from paying water bills if they live with other full-time students.
Install water-efficient products
WaterSense-labelled products are tested and independently certified to ensure they meet the EPA's criteria for efficiency and performance. Installing WaterSense-labelled faucet aerators in your bathrooms can save you enough electricity to dry your hair every day for a year.
Fix leaks
Small household leaks can add up to gallons of water lost every day. Remember to check your plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems annually to prevent this.
Turn off the tap when not in use
Turn off the tap while shaving or brushing your teeth. You can also plug up the sink or use a washbasin when washing dishes by hand.
Take shorter showers
Showers use less water than baths, but it's important to keep an eye on the time to avoid using too much water. An inline shutoff valve can be installed behind the showerhead, allowing you to shut off the water flow when not needed without affecting the temperature.
Collect rainwater
Rainwater can be collected in a water butt or large vessel and used for watering plants. This reduces the amount of water drawn from the supply for gardening.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, students are expected to pay water bills in the UK. However, if you live in Scotland and your home is occupied solely by full-time university students, you are exempt from paying water charges.
Setting up your water bill is straightforward. First, find your supplier and get in touch with them online or over the phone. Then, if you are on a water meter, check the meter reading to ensure you are not charged for water used by the previous occupants. Finally, find out your payment dates and options.
Depending on your supplier, you can pay your water bill via direct debit, in instalments at a local Post Office or shop with a payment card, or make one-off online payments using a customer reference number.
To reduce your water bill, you can use as little water as possible. You can also collect rainwater in a water butt or large vessel to use for watering plants.
