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: