Running your Home

Moving into a new home is always a big step and particularly so if it is the first time you have been responsible for running your own household. Becoming a tenant means you will have a lot expenses that need to be met from your income. This can be a shock for people who have been living with family and maybe only contributing to a share of the bills. To try to give prospective tenants an idea of what they can expect we have compiled a list. The figures given are an indication only and your actual costs may be higher.

For example a family of two adults and two children in a 3 bed house would have average weekly expenses of £206.42 plus £84 for rent and council tax making a total of £290.42.

ITEM	Estimated weekly figure
RENT
This depends on the size of property but on average	£65
COUNCIL TAX (2007/8)
Band A	£19
Band B	£22
Tenants on a low income can make a claim for Housing and Council Tax Benefit for help towards the cost of rent and council tax.
GAS
single person / couple	£5.50
single person / couple with 1 child	£11.50
single person / couple with 2 or more children	£15.50
ELECTRIC
single person / couple	£4
single person / couple with 1 child	£7
single person / couple with 2 or more children	£10
WATER RATES
1 Bed Flat or Bungalow	£4.40
2/3 Bed House	£6.85
4 Bed House	£7.20
FOOD
Each adult	£30
Each child	£25
INSURANCE
Contents insurance	£3.50
HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES
single person / couple	£10
single person / couple with 1 child	£13
single person / couple with 2 or more children	£16
CLOTHES
Each adult	£10
Each child	£12
TV LICENCE	£2.56

You also need to calculate any additional expenses you may have in addition to the basic items listed above. These could include:

• Telephones (land line and mobile)
• Child care costs
• Vehicle tax
• Vehicle insurance
• Vehicle expenses – fuel, servicing and parts
• Regular bus or taxi fares
• Fines or court orders
• Overdraft repayments.
• Credit card payments
• Loan repayments
• Catalogue, hire purchase or club repayments
• Cable or Sky TV