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Water, cars and phones: The seven bills set to rise this week Water, energy and phones: What you can do about the seven bills going up this week
(about 1 hour later)
The start of April means several household bills will go up. The start of April means several bills are going up, putting extra pressure on household finances.
The exact amount you pay will depend on your individual circumstances and where you live. For some payments, such as energy, water or broadband, there are things you could do to reduce the impact of price rises.
Although minimum wages are also increasing, and wages on average have been outpacing inflation, household finances could still come under extra pressure. Here are seven ways you could be affected by this week's increases.
Here are seven ways in which you could be affected from this week.
Read more on the April bill rises
Three ways to cushion the blow of bill rises
Will I have have to pay more for water?
How much is council tax going up?
Why are gas and electricity bills rising and can I fix?
How much is the minimum wage increasing by?
1. Water bills1. Water bills
Water bills for households are going up in England and Wales by £10 more per month on average, but there's a lot of variation depending on the company. Water bills for households in England and Wales are going up by £10 per month on average.
For example, the annual Southern Water bill will jump 47% to £703, while Anglian Water customers will pay 19% more, or £626. However, there's a lot of variation depending on your supplier.
Factors including whether households have a meter and how much water used will also impact bills, which are being front-loaded for the next five years, meaning the big increase is coming this year. For example, the annual Southern Water bill is jumping 47% to £703, while Anglian Water customers are paying 19% more, or £626.
The increases are being front-loaded for the next five years, meaning the biggest rise is coming this year.
How much your bills will rise depends on a range of factors including whether households have a meter and how much water they use.
Water companies in England and Wales have said the increases are needed to invest in creaking infrastructure, including sewage, and to build more reservoirs.Water companies in England and Wales have said the increases are needed to invest in creaking infrastructure, including sewage, and to build more reservoirs.
In Scotland, water bills are rising by almost 10%. Scottish Water, which is a public body, said spending was needed to cope with periods of "drought and intense rainfall" brought on by climate change. In Scotland, water bills are rising by almost 10%. Scottish Water said spending was needed to cope with periods of "drought and intense rainfall" brought on by climate change.
Domestic customers in Northern Ireland are not billed for water, with the system funded by the devolved government. Domestic customers in Northern Ireland are not billed for water.
How much will I have to pay for my water? Read more: There are a number of ways you can cut your water bill, from taking showers instead of baths to checking your bill for unexplained increases.
2. Energy bills2. Energy bills
The annual energy bill for a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity is going up by £111 a year to £1,849 from April.The annual energy bill for a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity is going up by £111 a year to £1,849 from April.
Regulator Ofgem increased the energy price cap because of higher wholesale costs and inflation.Regulator Ofgem increased the energy price cap because of higher wholesale costs and inflation.
The cap is set every three months and limits the amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and electricity, but not the total bill, so if you use more, you will pay more.The cap is set every three months and limits the amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and electricity, but not the total bill, so if you use more, you will pay more.
It affects 22 million homes in England, Wales and Scotland. It covers 22 million homes in England, Wales and Scotland.
Standing charges - fixed fees to connect to a gas and electricity supply and vary by region - are rising again for gas but dropping for electricity, but it depends on where you live. Standing charges - fixed fees to connect to a gas and electricity supply and vary by region - are rising again for gas but dropping for electricity, but the amount you pay depends on where you live.
Ofgem is suggesting households consider a fixed tariff for a bit of stability. Ofgem is suggesting households may consider switching to a fixed tariff for a bit of stability.
Energy price cap: Why are gas and electricity bills going up and can I fix? Read more: Fixed-price deals are not affected by the energy price cap and offer certainty for a set period. But if energy prices drop when you are on the deal, you could be stuck at a higher price.
3. Council tax3. Council tax
It is likely the tax you pay to your local authority is going up.It is likely the tax you pay to your local authority is going up.
In England, local authorities with responsibility for delivering social care can increase council tax every year by up to 4.99% without triggering a referendum or local vote.In England, local authorities with responsibility for delivering social care can increase council tax every year by up to 4.99% without triggering a referendum or local vote.
Smaller councils without social care duties can increase bills by up to 2.99%.Smaller councils without social care duties can increase bills by up to 2.99%.
For 2025-26, the government is allowing Bradford, Newham, Birmingham, Somerset, and Windsor and Maidenhead to bypass the 4.99% cap, meaning they could raise council tax by more. For 2025-26, the government is allowing Birmingham, Bradford, Newham, Somerset, Trafford, and Windsor and Maidenhead to bypass the 4.99% cap, meaning residents face larger increases.
Council tax rates in Scotland have been frozen or had limited increases since 2007, but they are are going up, in some cases by as much as 10%. Council tax rates in Scotland have been frozen or had limited increases since 2007, but they are are also going up, in some cases by more than 10%.
The Scottish government says it is offering local authorities an extra £1bn in 2025-26 to help reduce the scale of any rise.The Scottish government says it is offering local authorities an extra £1bn in 2025-26 to help reduce the scale of any rise.
In Wales, council tax rates could jump by as much 15% in some areas. Local authorities were given £253m by the Welsh government in its draft budget, but council leaders say more money needed. In Wales, council tax rates are jumping by as much 15% in some areas. Local authorities were given £253m by the Welsh government in its draft budget, but council leaders say more money needed.
Northern Ireland uses a domestic rates system instead of council tax. All of Northern Ireland's councils have reported district rate increases for the next year.Northern Ireland uses a domestic rates system instead of council tax. All of Northern Ireland's councils have reported district rate increases for the next year.
What is council tax and how much is it going up? Read more: There are some exemptions and discounts, for example for someone living alone and homes occupied only by students. You can also check your council tax band.
4. Car tax 4. Stamp duty
The standard rate of tax for cars registered after April 2017 is rising £5 to £195 a year. According to the RAC, you may pay less or more if your car was first used before 2017.
The exact amount for your road tax will depend on the year your car was registered and the type of fuel it uses.
One big change is that electric vehicles (EVs) will no longer be tax exempt. EVs registered from April 2025 will pay the lowest rate of £10 in the first year, then move to the standard rate. The standard rate will also apply to EVs first registered after April 2017.
5. Broadband, phone and TV licence
Rule changes introduced by the telecoms regulator this year mean that mobile and broadband providers must now tell customers "in pounds and pence" about any price rises, as well as when they occur.
The new rules typically only apply to new customers, so any price rise will depend on when you took your contract out, but prices ususally increase around now.
For instance, under the new rules, someone with a mobile Sim only contract with EE will see their bill go up by £1.50 a month, or £18 a year.
But for the majority of EE customers who took their contract out before 10 April 2024, they will face an increase of 6.4%, which is based on the inflation rate last December together with an additional charge.
Similarly, most Virgin Media broadband customers will face a 7.5% rise in bills, but for anyone who took out a contract after 9 January this year, their monthly bill will go up by £3.50.
The cost of a TV licence is also going up by £5 to £174.50, and for a black and white TV is going up by £1.50 to £58.50.
6. Stamp duty
House buyers in England and Northern Ireland will start paying stamp duty on properties over £125,000, instead of over £250,000.House buyers in England and Northern Ireland will start paying stamp duty on properties over £125,000, instead of over £250,000.
First-time buyers currently had paid no stamp duty on homes up to £425,000, but this is dropping to £300,000.First-time buyers currently had paid no stamp duty on homes up to £425,000, but this is dropping to £300,000.
A host of homebuyers had been trying to beat the deadline or face paying more. A host of homebuyers had been trying to beat the deadline to avoid paying the higher rate.
What is stamp duty land tax and how is it changing? Read more: The amount of stamp duty you pay depends on the cost of the property, whether you will live in it, and whether you own any other property.
Read more on the April bill rises
Three ways to cushion the blow of bill rises
Will I have have to pay more for water?
How much is council tax going up?
Why are gas and electricity bills rising and can I fix?
How much is the minimum wage increasing by?
5. Broadband, phone and TV licence
Rule changes introduced by the telecoms regulator earlier in 2005 mean that mobile and broadband providers must now tell customers "in pounds and pence" about any price rises, as well as when they occur.
The new rules typically only apply to new customers, so any price rise will depend on when you took your contract out, but prices often increase at this time of year.
For instance, under the new rules, someone with a mobile sim-only contract with EE will see their bill go up by £1.50 a month, or £18 a year.
But the majority of EE customers who took their contract out before 10 April 2024, will face an increase of 6.4%, which is based on the December 2024 inflation rate plus an additional charge.
Similarly, most Virgin Media broadband customers will face a 7.5% rise in bills, but anyone who took out a contract after 9 January 2025 will see their monthly bill go up by £3.50.
The cost of a TV licence is also going up by £5 to £174.50. The cost for a black and white TV is going up by £1.50 to £58.50.
6. Car tax
The standard rate of tax for cars registered after April 2017 is rising £5 to £195 a year. According to the RAC, you may pay less or more if your car was first used before 2017.
The exact amount for your road tax will depend on the year your car was registered and the type of fuel it uses.
One big change is that electric vehicles (EVs) will no longer be tax exempt.
EVs registered from April 2025 will pay the lowest rate of £10 in the first year, then move to the standard rate. The standard rate will also apply to EVs first registered after April 2017.
7. Hidden tax rises7. Hidden tax rises
The government has kept in place the freeze on tax thresholds on income tax and National Insurance until 2028, a policy brought in by the previous government.The government has kept in place the freeze on tax thresholds on income tax and National Insurance until 2028, a policy brought in by the previous government.
This is often dubbed a stealth tax - as governments don't explicitly label it as a tax. This is often dubbed a stealth tax because of a process called "fiscal drag", which sees more people "dragged" into paying higher rates of tax as wages rise.
But the policy amounts to a tax rise because of a process called "fiscal drag", which sees more people "dragged" into paying higher rates of tax as wages rises.
The new tax year begins on 6 April.The new tax year begins on 6 April.
According to figures from the government's financial watchdog by 2028-29, nearly four million additional people will be expected to pay income tax - and three million more will have moved to the higher rate - due to the threshold being frozen. According to the government's financial watchdog, the frozen thresholds mean that by 2028-29, nearly four million additional people will be expected to pay income tax - and three million more will have moved to the higher rate.
What are National Insurance and income tax and what do I pay? Read more: What are income tax and National Insurance and what do they pay for?
Reporting by Tom Espiner, Vishala Sri-Pathma, Faarea Masud, Shanaz Musafer, Mitch Labiak, Tommy Lumby and Kevin PeacheyReporting by Tom Espiner, Vishala Sri-Pathma, Faarea Masud, Shanaz Musafer, Mitch Labiak, Tommy Lumby and Kevin Peachey