Other cost when renting

Our experience was that electric and gas was "just there" as well.  We moved in the day after the previous tenants moved out- one of the previous tenants took a meter reading right before he left the house and it was no problem using that to set up an account with our electric and gas company a few days later.

Yes, I was going to say that.  Take meter readings when you move in, so you can pay the supplier your due amount for electricity and gas. 

Yes, I was going to say that.  Take meter readings when you move in, so you can pay the supplier your due amount for electricity and gas. 

Wow, I would not have done that. Thank you for the suggestion.

Utilities: the council pays for sewer, so count that as a service included in your council tax bill.

Not in England.  Sewer charges are incorporated with your water bill.  If you're on metered water, then sewer charges are based pro rata on the amount of water used; if you're on unmetered (flat-rate) water supply, then the sewer charges are flat-rate as well.

TV license is currently running at £11.95/month and is mandatory.

Mandatory only if you receive broadcast TV in any form -- From a UHF rooftop antenna, satellite dish, cable, or via internet.   It's not required to own a TV, use it to watch DVDs, watch non-broadcast TV via the internet (e.g. archived clips), and so on.

An MOT should cost £53.10 for a car (it's a set, standard cost for your type of vehicle), unless you have to pay extra for repairs and things (i.e. new tyres etc.).

£53.10 is currently the maximum which may be charged.   Garages are free to charge less if they wish, and some do.

It seems like water would just be there, but that I would need to contact the electric and gas companies.

Unless the place has been empty for a while and the services cut off at the request of the owner/previous occupant (or they were disconnected for non-payment), then electric and gas will likely be on when you arrive.   You might need to turn on the main switch and open the main gascock though, as it's not uncommon for people to shut off the services at the main when vacating a property.  Ditto for water.

As mentioned already, just make a note of the meter readings when you move in so that you don't end up paying for power/water used by the previous occupant.

Hi Beeper!

Pretty much everything has been covered by everyones responses. Just to give you some other elements,

1. Depending on your individual circumstances, having your possesions insured is optional but highly recommeded, even if it's for accidental damage that you may in the future need to claim. I rent my flat/apartment out and it's on the ground floor of a purpose built block, and I've stressed to tenants to take out insurance as it's 'relatively' easy to break in. Indeed, there have been attempts and one incident where they actually got in, but we suspect that was down to one of the renters having some sort of vendetta. If the flat you rent turns out to be 1st floor and above, you'll enjoy a cheaper premium as well (less risk of break in)

2. The only other 'cost' to you will be getting items to keep the flat/apartment clean as per the contract you'll sign. Figure those costs into your budget(s) for the month/duration of your stay.

As already discussed - if you speak to an agent or a private landlord, ask to see the meter to get readings on the day of you moving in or an agreed time. Once you have that information, you can call up the utility company and quote that figure and they'll look after the rest. I think it is possible to switch suppliers even if you are in a purpose built block of flats etc as the bills will be in your name, check the usual comparison websites for that. Also, some flats may or may not have a Gas supply (my flat is all electric for instance) so factor that in as per your (possible) cooking preferences! - lastly in relation to this, all your costs could vary as you haven't as yet decided on a town/city or region of the UK you'll want to be in - South east and London are of course the most expensive areas overall !
All other costs will be primarily optional to you and your individual lifestyle!

Hope the above helps! cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet but aren't there some leases that dont' let you change utlility providers?

wow, council tax seems to be a lot!  Is this strictly by area/council or does it vary also by type of house/flat/accommodation.  Say, within a block with different type/size houses, is council tax standard or varies?

South/East London most expensive?  Hmm.. Then where is it the least?

wow, council tax seems to be a lot!  Is this strictly by area/council or does it vary also by type of house/flat/accommodation.  Say, within a block with different type/size houses, is council tax standard or varies?

South/East London most expensive?  Hmm.. Then where is it the least?

Both! The overall price bands vary by area- the more expensive cost of living areas will have houses with more expensive council tax.  This is because council tax is determined on the value of the house- which means that two similar houses in the same area will have the same amount of council tax due but a few counties over, those same two houses might cost more in council tax (but still be the same as each other.)  On another side of that, two houses in the same area which would command wildly different price tags would be in different council tax bands.

wow..  better find that site where you can calculate/estimate council tax and find the areas with the least amount, then move there...     as it is very taxing   :\\\'(

South/East London most expensive?  Hmm.. Then where is it the least?

That's not necessarily true.  Wandsworth Borough, which is in south-westish London has the cheapest council tax of ALL of London (hmm, £650something for a Band C), but then next door is Richmond which is among the pricier at over £1300 for a Band C!  It's pretty much utterly random, but as you can expect, the more "affluent" boroughs TEND to have higher c-tax.

not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet but aren't there some leases that dont' let you change utlility providers?

Hmm, I've never personally heard of it - can't see a reason why that would be in a lease - unless your utilities are included in the rent, in which case you wouldn't care about switching anyway!

Hmm, I've never personally heard of it - can't see a reason why that would be in a lease - unless your utilities are included in the rent, in which case you wouldn't care about switching anyway!

Our lease requires us to notify our landlord and he can deny us if he wants.  He hasn't yet though.

I didn't see it mentioned, but confused.com can be pretty decent in listing your options for utilities/etc.

Our lease requires us to notify our landlord and he can deny us if he wants.  He hasn't yet though.

yeah i think my lease had something like that too so we just used the same utilities as before, well except we didn't get a landline with BT as we used Vonage.

You may find your accomodation has prepayment meters fitted for gas and electricity. (There are over 10 million of them in the UK). You buy as much credit as you wish at a participating shop or garage via a card or plastic key which you then transfer to the meter at home. If you do have a prepayment meter, check that the meter is not set to pay off an existing debt by the previous tenent.

Is it only prepayment meters that can have a debt from a previous tenent?

As for council tax I have been using this website: http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/

It seems like a good starting point. I can see the different rates for the different bands for different areas and also can see the bands of the different properties that I am looking at.

If you do have a prepayment meter, check that the meter is not set to pay off an existing debt by the previous tenent.

Good looking out! But how do you check? And what should you do if you find this to be the case?