What will my first bills look like after I move?
Short answer
Your first bills arrive over the first weeks. The council bills from your liability date in instalments to the end of its year; the water company bills on the home's metered or unmetered basis; the energy supplier bills its default tariff from your responsibility date, estimated until it has readings. The old home's final bills follow within six weeks.
Updated
6 weeks
Longest the old energy supplier should take to send the final bill, Citizens Advice says
10 working days
After sending that final bill, the deadline for refunding any credit
10 or 12
Monthly council tax instalments: usually 10, and GOV.UK says councils can spread them over 12
The first month at a new address brings bills that look wrong: a council tax bill for an odd number of months, an energy bill built on an estimate, a water bill for a year you have not lived yet, and letters chasing the home you left. This guide says what each one is based on and what to check before you pay.
See the bills for your new address
Pick your new address to see its council tax band and charge, its water company, who supplies the energy, and broadband deals, in one list.
The first bill from each account
| Bill | When it usually arrives | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Council tax | Within a few weeks of registering | Your liability date to 31 March, in instalments. GOV.UK says the cost is usually split into 10 monthly payments, and councils can spread it over 12 on request. |
| Water | After you register, on the company's own cycle | Unmetered: a charge for the year or part year from your date, based on the home's rateable value. Metered: your use since the opening reading, plus a standing charge. |
| Energy | After the supplier has your readings, or on an estimate | The existing supplier's default tariff from the day you became responsible, with the standing charge from day one, at rates the price cap limits. |
| Broadband | From the activation date | Any set-up fee plus the first monthly price, as the contract sets out. |
| TV Licence | When you buy it | £180 a year from 1 April 2026, in one payment or by instalments. |
| The old home's final bills | Within 6 weeks of your final reading, for energy | Credit refunded within 10 working days of the final bill. The old council and water company close your accounts from your leaving date. |
What does the first council tax bill cover?
From the day you became liable to the end of the council's year on 31 March, which is why a bill that arrives in autumn covers an odd number of months.
- Liability is determined on a daily basis under section 2 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, so the first bill starts on your liability date, normally completion or the tenancy start, whatever day you registered.
- GOV.UK says your bill tells you how much you have to pay for the year, how that amount has been worked out and the dates you have to pay, and that the cost is usually split into 10 monthly payments. Contact the council if you want it spread over 12 instead.
- GOV.UK says a full bill is based on at least two adults living in a home, and that you will usually have to pay if you are 18 or over. If you live alone or everyone else is disregarded, apply for the discount with the registration so the first bill carries it.
- The bill brings the account number the council's online forms ask for later. First-time payers who have never had one should register with the dates instead and wait for the bill.
Sources: Local Government Finance Act 1992, section 2: liability is determined on a daily basis (read 13 October 2026); GOV.UK: paying your Council Tax bill (read 24 October 2026); GOV.UK: who has to pay Council Tax (read 24 October 2026)
What is the first water bill based on?
The company for the address bills whoever is responsible for the home, and the basis depends on whether there is a meter.
- Thames Water says that, as a property owner or tenant, you are responsible for water charges at your property, and that you can tell it about a move as early as 28 days before the move date. Most companies take the move-in date the same way.
- Unmetered homes: Ofwat says the charge is based on the home's rateable value or an assessed charge, set for the year, so the first bill can cover the year or part year ahead from your date rather than water you have used.
- Metered homes pay for the water recorded plus a standing charge. Citizens Advice says to take a reading as soon as you move in, and that you cannot ask for a meter to be removed.
- Scotland: mygov.scot says water and sewerage charges for most homes come with the council tax bill, so there is no separate first water bill.
Sources: Thames Water: moving home (read 24 October 2026); Ofwat: unmetered customers (read 13 October 2026); Citizens Advice: moving home and water bills (read 24 October 2026); mygov.scot: public water and sewerage services (read 22 October 2026)
Why is my first energy bill estimated, or higher than I expected?
Because you start on the existing supplier's default tariff, often billed on an estimate until the supplier has your own readings.
- Citizens Advice says that after you move you are automatically put onto a deemed contract with the current supplier, on its default or standard variable tariff, and that you should contact the supplier to tell it you have moved in.
- Ofgem says the price cap limits the unit rate and the standing charge of a default tariff, not the total bill, and that the standing charge is paid every day even if you use no energy. For 1 October to 31 December 2026 the cap at typical use is £1,935 a year on the like-for-like basis Taupia leads with, or £1,723 on Ofgem's current typical-use measure.
- Until the supplier has your opening readings it estimates, which is how a first bill can cover a previous occupier's usage or a month you were not there. Send the day-one readings and dated photos and ask for a corrected bill.
- Ofgem says you can choose a new tariff or supplier after you have moved in, and that a switch must complete within 5 working days; Citizens Advice says to wait until the day you become responsible. A default tariff has no exit fee.
Sources: Citizens Advice: moving home and dealing with your energy supply (read 24 October 2026); Ofgem: energy price cap and standing charges explained (read 24 October 2026); Ofgem: energy price cap will rise by 4% from October 2026 (26 August 2026) (read 23 October 2026); Ofgem: switch your home energy supplier (read 24 October 2026)
Where do the final bills and refunds from my old home go?
To the forwarding address you gave each company, on timings the regulators and advice bodies set out.
- Energy: Citizens Advice says your old supplier will send the final bill within 6 weeks, must refund any credit within 10 working days of sending it, and might owe you compensation if it misses either deadline.
- Water: Citizens Advice says a metered home needs at least 5 working days' notice for a final reading, or you could be charged for water used after you move out. Give the leaving date and a forwarding address.
- Council tax: the old council closes the account from the day your liability ended and bills or refunds the difference. Brent Council, for example, asks for the move-out date, the tenancy end or completion date, and where to send the final bill.
- Renters: GOV.UK says your landlord must return the deposit within 10 days of you both agreeing how much you will get back, and that the schemes make sure you get it back if you have paid your rent and bills. Settle the final bills first and keep the receipts.
Sources: Citizens Advice: moving home and dealing with your energy supply (read 24 October 2026); Citizens Advice: moving home and water bills (read 24 October 2026); Brent Council: register or tell us you are moving (read 13 October 2026); GOV.UK: tenancy deposit protection (read 24 October 2026)
What should I check before I pay?
Six checks that catch the common errors: the wrong start date, an estimate instead of your readings, and a bill for someone else's usage.
- 1
Match the start date on each bill to the date you became liable or responsible
Council tax from the day you became liable; energy and water from the day you took responsibility. Anything earlier belongs to the previous occupier, so ask for the bill to start from your date.
- 2
Compare the readings on the energy bill with your day-one readings
If the first bill is estimated, send your opening readings and the dated photos and ask for a corrected bill. Citizens Advice says to read the meters on the day you move in for exactly this reason.
- 3
Check the council tax band, the dates and the instalments
The bill shows the band, the period it covers and the payment dates. GOV.UK says the cost is usually split into 10 monthly payments, and that the council can spread it over 12 instead.
- 4
Check whether the water bill is metered or unmetered, and its period
An unmetered bill may cover the year ahead from your date, based on the home's rateable value; a metered one covers use since your opening reading plus a standing charge.
- 5
Chase the final bills and refunds from the old home
Citizens Advice says the old energy supplier has 6 weeks to send the final bill and 10 working days after sending it to refund credit. The old council and water company close your accounts from your leaving date.
- 6
Compare the default tariff once the bill shows your use
The first bill gives you the usage figure a comparison needs. Ofgem says you can choose a new tariff or supplier after you have moved in, and a switch must complete within 5 working days.
Sources: Citizens Advice: moving home and dealing with your energy supply (read 24 October 2026); GOV.UK: paying your Council Tax bill (read 24 October 2026); Ofgem: switch your home energy supplier (read 24 October 2026)
Does it differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Water is where the first bills differ most between the nations.
- Scotland: water and sewerage charges come with the council tax bill for most homes, mygov.scot says, so your first council tax bill carries water too, and a water meter is the exception.
- Wales: Welsh Water bills most homes directly and takes the move through its moving-home service, so the first water bill arrives separately from the council tax bill.
- Northern Ireland: domestic rates replace council tax, and NI Water's 2026-27 charges confirm domestic water charges remain deferred, so there is no first water bill to expect.
Sources: mygov.scot: public water and sewerage services (read 22 October 2026); Welsh Water: moving home (read 13 October 2026); NI Water: 2026-27 charges (read 22 October 2026)
Where does Taupia fit?
- Pick your new address above and Taupia shows the bills for it from your start date: the council tax band and the council's charge, the water company and its average bill, the energy supplier with its default price on the home's usage, and broadband deals. It is free, and nothing changes without your approval.
- Taupia does not set up council tax or switch water: use the council's and the water company's registration routes linked above for those. Water is tracked, never switched, because households cannot choose their company.
- The address picker covers Great Britain. Scotland returns the council but not the band, the water figure is the company's average rather than a quote, and broadband is checked at the exact address only for Virgin Media.
Questions about the first bills after a move
Why is my first energy bill estimated?
Because the supplier bills on readings it has, and until you send opening readings it estimates from the home's history. Citizens Advice says to read your meters on the day you move in and give the readings to the supplier. Send them with dated photos and ask for the bill to be reissued on actual readings.
Why does my first council tax bill cover only part of the year?
Because it runs from the day you became liable to 31 March, the end of the council's year, and liability is worked out by the day. GOV.UK says the cost is usually split into 10 monthly payments, so a part-year bill is spread over the payments left, and you can ask the council to spread it over 12 instead.
When will my first water bill come?
After you register, on the company's own cycle: some bill once a year in advance, others every six months. Register the date you took on the home as soon as you can, because the charge runs from that date whenever the bill arrives, and read any meter on day one so a metered bill starts from your own figure.
Where does my old supplier's final bill go?
To the forwarding address you gave it, within 6 weeks of your final reading, Citizens Advice says. If you are in credit the supplier must refund you within 10 working days of sending that bill, and it may owe you compensation if it misses either deadline. Give the address and the reading before you leave.
Can I switch energy supplier before my first bill arrives?
Yes. Ofgem says you can choose a new tariff or supplier after you have moved in, and Citizens Advice says to wait until the day you become responsible for the home. A switch takes up to 5 working days. Use estimated usage to compare; the capped default tariff covers you in the meantime, with no exit fee.
A bill addressed to The Occupier has arrived: do I have to pay it?
Only for the days from the date you became responsible. A letter to The Occupier is usually the existing supplier introducing itself, which is also how you learn who supplies the home. Usage before your date belongs to the previous occupier, so send your opening readings and the date you took on the home, and ask for a bill from then.
When a first bill is wrong, or a switch is refused
The guides for the three things that go wrong most often in the first month.
Start here
Why was my energy switch declined?
RecommendedObjections, wrong meter details and a previous occupier's debt, and how to clear each.
The previous tenant's energy bill: do I have to pay?
Usage before your date is not yours; the evidence that proves it.
Check money from a closed energy account
How to find and claim credit left with a supplier you have left.
How to set up council tax for a new home
Registering from zero, the first bill and the Direct Debit.
Sort your water bill when moving in
Finding the company, registering the date and reading the meter.
Paying bills on two homes when you move
The overlap, an empty home and the date each bill starts and stops.
Cite this page
Taupia. "What will my first bills look like after I move?". Last updated 24 October 2026. https://taupia.com/move-home/first-bills-after-moving
See what your first bills should come to
Pick your new address above to see the council tax band and charge, the water company's average bill, the energy supplier and its default price on the home's usage, and broadband deals, so each first bill has a figure to check against.