Estimate fuel bill (and bedrooms for housing allowance for UC)

[DoggerelBank]

I wonder if anyone could help us decide what to allocate in the household budget for fuel bills? I'm helping a Ukrainian family to set up home in the UK and don't want them to underestimate the cost of things.

They're looking at a house with 2 bedrooms upstairs and 2 reception rooms + kitchen downstairs, one of which will be used as a third bedroom. EPC rating D. Southeast England. Gas central heating. They don't have baths and only have short showers. Cook mostly on hob rather than oven. Tend to use iPads and phone rather than big TV.

All I can find online is figures from 2015, which are obviously no good at all. If anyone could point me in the direction of a good up-to-date online calculator, or know from experience what it might cost them, I'd be so grateful.

On a separate note, does anyone know how Universal Credit decides if a house is a 2-bed or 3-bed? They're entitled to more help with housing if they have a 3-bed, it seems, but does UC decide that based on the estate agent listing (it's listed as a 2-bed) or on actual usage (they'd use it as a 3-bed)?

if they are entitled to 3 bedroom rate then that's what Uc will pay housing element up to. I'm not sure they actually look at whether the house is 2 or 3 bed.

Calculate how many bedrooms they are entitled to here
lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/bedroomcalculator.aspx
then calculate the maximum they can get here
lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/
bear in mind this is the absolute maximum and it’ll vary if things like benefit cap apply. Also UC is paid monthly. UC is paid according to what how many bedrooms they are entitled to not how many bedrooms the property has

I'd say approx £200/m for fuel if it's a Victorian semi with an oldish gas boiler. Less if it's a new build mid terrace with top notch insulation and a brand new boiler. Older all electric heating/immersion heater for water tend to be expensive. So, I guess I'm saying it depends on the specific house, but I'd probably use £200/m as a tough starting point.

Thank you so much. It's a 1930s semi, not very well insulated. So your suggestion of approx £200/m may be a good starting point. Thank you!

@Sharioo, @Babyroobs Interesting you say this. Another Ukrainian had a letter from the job centre saying a single monthly rate that the family was entitled to. But the person I'm helping has a letter specifying two possible monthly rates, depending on whether she gets a two-bed or a three-bed.

I was paying £250 a month last winter in a Victorian terrace - one side was abandoned, the other side was a house share, there was a cellar, a badly converted attic bedroom with zero insulation, nor was there any insulation in the rest of the house. And it was still bloody cold in most rooms!

My rented house is 1930s semi, exactly the same set up you described. The council I rent from have it down as a 3 bed (because it suits them to have more bigger properties on register) so I don't get UC to cover the entire rent as I'm only entitled to 2 bed now eldest has gone to uni. I am on prepay, gas central heating currently costing approx £10 per week for hot water, obviously will go up lots with heating on too as these houses get VERY cold (I'm in a sleeping bag right now on sofa!). Electric currently £25-30 per week.

@HardLanding @POTC Thank you so much. Very useful to know.

Martin Lewis has a calculator on his website, based on the new cap figures from October.