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Original poster

Can I ask about power bills - shocked really!

68 replies

Ozgirl75 · 23/12/2022 06:28

So, my DH and I are currently in Australia and are moving back to the U.K. and renting at first. We’ve been asking about power bills and have been absolutely taken aback at how high they are and I wondered if this was just how it is, or if we’re looking to rent from people who just have the heating on all the time!

4 bed houses, normally 1-2 living areas, energy costs coming in at around £800-1000 a month? I knew they had gone up in the U.K. but this seems so high? We pay about £200 a month here, and maybe £300 in the hot summer months.

This seems to be the feedback whether there’s a mixture of oil and electricity, gas, or just electricity.

So are families of 4 mainly paying around £1000 a month on all power or does this seem really high? We’re not looking at mansions, just normal 4 bed family homes.

OP posts:
LittleBearPad · 23/12/2022 06:32

That seems unlikely - ours on average are about £400 a month for same size hoisted. Who are you asking?

OzziePopPop · 23/12/2022 06:33

£800-1000 a month?? No, not unless you like your house around 30 degrees all winter and run a swimming pool…

I pay £150 a month in our well insulated 4 bed. I’d allow up to £250-300 if you like the heating on a lot or use the tumble dryer multiple times a day etc

Whoever told you those figures is either joking or doing something odd…

TimeForMeToF1y · 23/12/2022 06:34

Where are you getting the figures from? Energy costs have rocketed and will go up again but no one's paying £1000 a mth

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Cost of living
Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 23/12/2022 06:34

We have a 4 bed semi with 2 receptions. It’s also about £400-£430 a month. Heating on about 3-4 hours a day.

Original poster
Ozgirl75 · 23/12/2022 06:34

This was from the letting agents! One we looked at said they spend £10 a day on electricity and £18 per DAY on oil?
I just couldn’t believe that!

OP posts:
OzziePopPop · 23/12/2022 06:35

Bollocks they do!

Beanbagtrap · 23/12/2022 06:36

Our bill for the last 4 weeks inclusive of the cold snap we've just had was £250.

Original poster
Ozgirl75 · 23/12/2022 06:36

This was the email we received from one place.

Can I ask about power bills - shocked really!
OP posts:
girlmom21 · 23/12/2022 06:37

£400 a month in a 5 bed detached with an excessive amount quite a few downstairs rooms, fairly consistent heating and tumble dryer/dishwasher use here.

Original poster
Ozgirl75 · 23/12/2022 06:37

Ok so this is reassuring that you’re all paying a lot less than that! I was thinking, how are people EVER affording bills like this?!

OP posts:
torquewench · 23/12/2022 06:38

Unless the tenants are currently growing weed or something, that's very unlikely. I'm paying about £350. Large 4 bed semi.

Original poster
Ozgirl75 · 23/12/2022 06:39

I did say to my husband, maybe these are the houses that you go into and they’re a million degrees and you’re sweating even in midwinter (looking at you BIL family)

OP posts:
OzziePopPop · 23/12/2022 06:39

torquewench · 23/12/2022 06:38

Unless the tenants are currently growing weed or something, that's very unlikely. I'm paying about £350. Large 4 bed semi.

Exactly. Or have a swimming pool/hot tub running 24/7

Original poster
Ozgirl75 · 23/12/2022 06:39

No pools, just normal houses - some of them old, but not huge.

OP posts:
Aidagreenwhistle · 23/12/2022 06:39

Remember most people pay by direct debit. If you pay £400 a month that includes the summer months when you use very little gas. If you had asked in June the daily kWh would be very little but if they have told you the average the past 30 days then it sounds feasible as we have had a very cold spell.

Aidagreenwhistle · 23/12/2022 06:42

Mines a 4 bed detached with 5 reception rooms and I use 400 a month - 4800 per annum. 18 degrees all day 14 at night to stop pipes freezing/ fulfil insurance requirements.

Original poster
Ozgirl75 · 23/12/2022 06:42

Also, most of these places have a fire as well. I grew up in a house with a fireplace and we barely needed to heat the rest of the house as it made it so warm. I can’t understand why they would need heating on as well, or maybe just a bit in the morning to take the edge off.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ozgirl75 · 23/12/2022 06:43

Yes maybe I’m extrapolating the colder month amounts over the whole year.

OP posts:
RobinRobinMouse · 23/12/2022 06:46

1000L of oil in 49 days is insane, we use about 1200-1300L a year to heat our old 3 bed detached house (heating and hot water).

xmaslurgy · 23/12/2022 06:49

I imagine oil deliveries are pricey but I don't know as I'm on gas and electricity. We have had a cold snap mind. My figures are more like yours but switched - more in our winter

Hollyhead · 23/12/2022 06:53

we have a 4 bed detached on oil, we use 1200 litres a year although we definitely don’t heat the house ever to more than 18.5 degrees.

Whee · 23/12/2022 06:54

Aidagreenwhistle · 23/12/2022 06:39

Remember most people pay by direct debit. If you pay £400 a month that includes the summer months when you use very little gas. If you had asked in June the daily kWh would be very little but if they have told you the average the past 30 days then it sounds feasible as we have had a very cold spell.

I don't think that's necessarily the case. Many people are on smart meters or carefully tracking their usage so are discussing what they actually pay. We used £160 combined last month in a 5 bed with average sized rooms, though were being fairly frugal and it was a mild month. I expect it to be around £300 this month (actual usage).

girlmom21 · 23/12/2022 06:56

Aidagreenwhistle · 23/12/2022 06:39

Remember most people pay by direct debit. If you pay £400 a month that includes the summer months when you use very little gas. If you had asked in June the daily kWh would be very little but if they have told you the average the past 30 days then it sounds feasible as we have had a very cold spell.

No I'm paying what I use (utility warehouse). £400 was for November. September was just over £100

skippingthroughthedaisies · 23/12/2022 06:57

I just filled up with oil. It cost 92p a litre including vat. We use about 125l a month on average over the whole year, but we have a log burner also. 4 bed bungalow.
Our electricity is currently around £140 a month
If you’re renting I would look for a well insulated modern house.

farawayplaces · 23/12/2022 07:00

We pay not far off that but our house is old and a large five bed in an isolated location.

electricity is about £10 a day before the standing charge and but we run an everhot range cooker and have three freezers.

we probably pay £15-20 a day in oil at the moment for heating but that isn’t typical, it’s been extremely cold. We probably pay about £4000 a year. It’s more difficult to monitor oil usage.