Student guide

Which UK bills do international students pay?

Short answer

Full-time students do not pay council tax. A home where everyone is a student is exempt, as is one shared with a non-British spouse or dependant whose visa bars work or benefits. An electricity supplier cannot demand a deposit if you accept a safe, practical prepayment meter. Pay as you go SIMs need no credit check.

Updated 15 October 2026

£0

Council tax for a home where everyone is a full-time student

£180

What a TV Licence costs, with no student discount

30 days

How long a PAC code lasts when you move your number

Check the student council tax exemption Council tax with a non-student

Studying in the UK brings bills that may work differently from home. This guide covers council tax and the student exemption, what changes when a spouse or children live with you, energy deposits and prepayment meters, SIMs and broadband without a UK credit history, the TV Licence and a plan for your first week. It ends with how UK household bills work, for anyone new to the country.

Council tax

Do international students pay council tax?

Not if you count as a full-time student for council tax. Your course decides that, not your visa.

GOV.UK says households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay council tax. In England a full-time course lasts at least 1 year and involves at least 21 hours of study a week.
UKCISA, the UK's national advisory body for international students, says having a Student visa is not necessarily enough on its own: you have to meet the council tax definition of a student.
You still have to apply. GOV.UK says to apply for a discount or exemption even if you are not counted, and UKCISA says your university or college must give you a council tax certificate, free of charge, if the council asks for evidence.
Arriving before term? UKCISA says some councils may charge council tax from the day you arrive in the UK to the day before your course starts, or in a gap between two courses, but you should not be charged in the holidays during a course.
University halls are exempt too: UKCISA lists accommodation provided by a university or college for students among the homes that do not pay.

Sources: GOV.UK: Council Tax discounts for full-time students (read 15 October 2026); GOV.UK: Council Tax, who has to pay (read 15 October 2026); UKCISA: Council Tax for international students (updated 28 January 2026) (read 15 October 2026)

Council tax and bills in your university city

Spouses and children

What if my spouse or children live with me?

The home can still be exempt. It turns on your family's nationality and visa conditions, not on whether they work.

In England, a home lived in only by students and a student's spouse, civil partner or dependant who is not a British citizen, and whose permission to be in the UK prevents them from taking paid employment or from claiming benefits, is exempt (Class N of the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992).
Either condition is enough. UKCISA points to the High Court's 2012 decision in Harrow v Ayiku: a dependant allowed to work but under a no recourse to public funds condition still counts, so the home stays exempt.
Children under 18 do not affect it. Council tax only counts residents aged 18 or over (section 6 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992), and GOV.UK lists under 18s as disregarded.
A British or settled spouse changes it. UKCISA says the home is not exempt if your non-student spouse, civil partner or adult dependant is a British citizen or has indefinite leave to remain. The home gets a bill, with 25% off if they are the only adult counted.
The rules name spouses, civil partners and dependants. If you live with an unmarried partner who is not your dependant, ask the council how it will treat your household.
Do not claim Council Tax Reduction on a no recourse to public funds visa without advice. UKCISA says the Immigration Rules list it as a public fund, while an exemption or a disregard is not one.

Sources: legislation.gov.uk: Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, article 3, Class N (England) (read 15 October 2026); legislation.gov.uk: Local Government Finance Act 1992, section 6 (England and Wales) (read 15 October 2026); UKCISA: Council Tax for international students (updated 28 January 2026) (read 15 October 2026); GOV.UK: Council Tax, who has to pay (read 15 October 2026)

Council tax when you live with a non-student

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Do the rules change in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?

Wales and Scotland have matching exemptions for students and their families. Northern Ireland has rates instead of council tax.

Wales: the Council Tax (Discounts, Disregards and Exemptions) (Wales) Regulations 2026, in force since 1 April 2026, keep the same Class N test for students and their non-British spouses, civil partners and dependants.
Scotland: mygov.scot says you do not pay if everyone in the household is a full-time student or you live in halls. Over 20, that means higher education of at least 21 hours a week on a course lasting at least 24 weeks a year.
Scotland's exemption also covers a student's non-British spouse or dependant whose leave bars work or benefits, and anyone under 18 (schedule 1 to the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) (Scotland) Order 1997).
Scotland: most homes pay water and waste charges with council tax, mygov.scot says, and Scottish Water says councils apply the exemptions, including for students.
Northern Ireland: there is no council tax. UKCISA says students there may have to pay rates instead, and nidirect says the landlord pays the rates on a house in multiple occupation, rented to three or more tenants from two or more families, or on a home valued at £150,000 or less.

Energy

Will an energy supplier ask me for a deposit or a credit check?

It can, if you want to pay after you use your energy. The licence rules limit when it can ask, and how much.

When you move into a home and pay the energy bills yourself, Citizens Advice says you are put on a deemed contract with the current supplier, on its default or standard variable tariff. Tell it you have moved in and give it meter readings from the day.
Ofgem's standard conditions for electricity suppliers say a supplier must not require a security deposit if you agree to be supplied through a prepayment meter and that is safe and reasonably practicable, or if asking would be unreasonable in the circumstances (condition 27.3).
Any deposit must not exceed a reasonable amount (condition 27.4). Citizens Advice says suppliers should work that out from what households like yours use over 3 months: usually between £150 and £300, though it could be more.
To move from prepayment to paying by credit, Citizens Advice says you will probably need to pass a credit check. If you do not, you can ask to pay a deposit instead, but your supplier does not have to agree.
If a deposit looks much higher than that, Citizens Advice says to complain to the supplier and ask how it decided the amount.

Sources: Citizens Advice: moving home, dealing with your energy supply (read 15 October 2026); Ofgem: electricity supply standard licence conditions, consolidated to 1 August 2025 (condition 27) (read 15 October 2026); Citizens Advice: switching from prepayment to paying by credit (read 15 October 2026)

Setting up gas and electricity in a new home

Prepayment

Should I use a prepayment meter?

It avoids a deposit and you pay as you go, but check the meter before you put money on it.

If the home already has a prepayment meter, Citizens Advice says to contact the supplier straight away and not to put money on it until you have, or you risk paying towards debts left by the people who lived there before.
Prepayment is covered by the price cap too. Ofgem publishes cap rates for prepayment alongside Direct Debit and standard credit, and says cap levels vary with how you pay.
You can still switch supplier or tariff on a prepayment meter if you pay the supplier directly, Citizens Advice says.
Later, you can ask to move to paying by credit. If you pay the supplier directly, Citizens Advice says you do not need your landlord's permission, though you might need to change the meter back when the tenancy ends.

A prepayment meter in your new home

Mobile and broadband

Can I get a SIM and broadband without a UK credit history?

Yes. Pay as you go needs no credit check, and you can move to a monthly deal later without losing your number.

Ofcom says pay as you go means no long contract and no credit check. You pay for what you use, which can cost more for each call, text or gigabyte of data.
SIM-only deals give you calls, texts and data without a phone, on contracts of one month (rolling), 12 or 24 months, Ofcom says. If you already have a phone, Ofcom says SIM-only deals are usually the best value.
Keep your number when you switch: text PAC to 65075 and give the code to your new provider. Ofcom says the code is valid for 30 days and the new provider must complete the switch within one working day.
A broadband contract can mean a credit check and a bank account. Virgin Media's credit checking policy, for example, says it can credit check you at any time, needs Direct Debit details for a bank account in the account holder's name, and can ask for a deposit if you do not meet its credit conditions.
Ofcom says providers must offer a contract option of no longer than 12 months for each service, and some offer rolling contracts you can cancel month to month.
In a shared house, Shelter says the person named on a bill is usually responsible for paying it, so agree who holds the broadband contract, and how the cost is split, before anyone signs.

Sources: Ofcom: choosing the right mobile package (25 August 2026) (read 15 October 2026); Ofcom: switching mobile phone provider (updated 25 August 2026) (read 15 October 2026); Virgin Media: credit checking policy (example provider) (read 15 October 2026); Ofcom: checklist for a new phone or broadband contract (updated 26 June 2026) (read 15 October 2026); Shelter England: bills in a shared house (updated 1 May 2026) (read 15 October 2026)

Broadband in a student house share

TV Licence

Do international students need a TV Licence?

Only to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer. The rules are the same for every student.

GOV.UK says you need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV on any channel or service, or to use BBC iPlayer. You do not need one for streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus, or for videos on YouTube.
A licence costs £180. UKCISA says there is no student discount or shorter licence, but TV Licensing offers refunds.
In university accommodation you need a licence to watch TV in your own room; shared areas may already be covered, GOV.UK says.
In a shared house, one licence covers the household on a joint tenancy agreement. With separate tenancy agreements, each person who watches TV in their own room needs their own.
GOV.UK lets students use the licence at their out-of-term home on a battery-powered device that is not plugged in or connected to an aerial. That only helps if that address is covered by a TV Licence.
You can be fined up to £1,000 for watching or recording live TV without a licence, GOV.UK says.

Sources: GOV.UK: TV Licence (read 15 October 2026); UKCISA: bills for international students (updated 28 January 2026) (read 15 October 2026)

The TV Licence in a shared house

Step by step

What should I sort out in my first week?

Seven jobs, in the order that makes the next one easier, from a UK phone number to an agreed split.

1
Get a UK SIM
Start on pay as you go, which Ofcom says needs no credit check, or a one-month SIM-only plan. When you find a better deal later, text PAC to 65075 to keep your number.
2
Open a UK bank account
UKCISA says a basic bank account lets you receive money and pay bills, and your university may give you a letter of introduction for the bank. Broadband providers such as Virgin Media take Direct Debit from an account in your name.
3
Read the meters on move-in day
Photograph the gas, electricity and any water meter with the date showing, find out who supplies the energy and tell the supplier you have moved in. If there is a prepayment meter, contact the supplier before you top it up.
4
Claim the council tax exemption
Ask your university for a council tax certificate and apply to the council for the exemption, even if everyone in the home is a student.
5
Check broadband at the address
Enter the postcode on Ofcom's checker to see which networks reach the house, then agree who will hold the contract and choose a term that fits your tenancy.
6
Decide on the TV Licence
Buy one only if someone will watch live TV or BBC iPlayer, and check whether your tenancy means one licence for the house or one each.
7
Agree how the house splits the bills
Write down whose name is on each account, how each bill is shared and when each share is due, before the first bill arrives.

Best bill splitting apps for housemates

Where Taupia fits

Where does Taupia fit for an international student?

Taupia keeps the house's energy, broadband, mobile and water bills in one place, splits each one by the rule your house sets and shows who has paid. It never moves money itself.
It compares energy, broadband and mobile deals, including energy from 19 suppliers covering around 90% of the GB market, and switches once your household approves.
Taupia asks whether anyone in the house is a full-time student and flags the student and single person discounts that might apply. You apply to the council yourself.
Council tax and water stay with the council and your water company. Taupia does not set up council tax or switch water.
Taupia is free.

New to the UK

How do household bills work in the UK?

Rent is only the start. Each bill comes from a different organisation, and you only choose some of them. The table below sums them up.

Gas and electricity come from an energy supplier, which you can switch once you are responsible for the home, Citizens Advice says. Ofgem caps the unit rate and daily standing charge on default tariffs in England, Scotland and Wales, but not your total bill: the more energy you use, the more you pay.
Ofgem says a standing charge is paid every day, even on a day you use no energy. Northern Ireland has its own energy market, regulated by the Utility Regulator.
Water comes from the local water company for your area, UKCISA says. In England and Wales, a home with a meter pays for the water it uses plus a standing charge, and one without is billed on the property's value (CCW). Most homes in Scotland pay water and waste charges with council tax (mygov.scot), and Northern Ireland's domestic water charges are deferred (NI Water).
Council tax is a local tax set by your council and based on the value of your home; Northern Ireland has rates instead (UKCISA).
Broadband and mobile are contracts you choose and can switch. Providers can credit check you for a contract, but Ofcom says every provider must offer a contract of no longer than 12 months, and pay as you go mobile needs no credit check.
A TV Licence is only needed for live TV or BBC iPlayer (GOV.UK).
Rent in England: on an assured periodic tenancy, GOV.UK says a landlord can usually ask for no more than one month's rent in advance once you have signed, and a deposit of up to 5 weeks' rent where the yearly rent is under £50,000.
The government's Renters' Rights Act roadmap set out an exemption from the assured tenancy system for private purpose-built student accommodation that follows an approved code, so check the terms in halls and purpose-built blocks. UKCISA says energy and water are likely to be included in university halls.

Setting up bills when you rent

Who charges each household bill, and can you choose?

Bill	Who charges it	Can you choose?
Gas and electricity	An energy supplier. In England, Scotland and Wales, Ofgem's price cap limits default tariff rates.	Yes. You can switch once you are responsible for the home.
Water and sewerage	The water company for your area. Most Scottish homes pay it with council tax, and Northern Ireland's domestic charges are deferred.	No. It depends on where you live.
Council tax	Your local council. Northern Ireland has rates instead.	No. Full-time students can apply for an exemption.
Broadband	A provider you choose, which may credit check you first.	Yes. Every provider must offer a contract of 12 months or less.
Mobile	A network or SIM provider.	Yes. Pay as you go needs no credit check.
TV Licence	TV Licensing. A licence costs £180.	Only needed for live TV or BBC iPlayer.

International students FAQ

Questions international students ask about UK bills

Do international students pay council tax in the UK?

Not if they count as full-time students for council tax. A home where everyone is a full-time student is exempt in England, Wales and Scotland, but you still have to apply, usually with a certificate from your university. UKCISA says a Student visa on its own is not enough: your course has to meet the definition.

Does my spouse on a dependant visa have to pay council tax?

Usually not, if they are not a British citizen and their visa stops them from working or from claiming benefits. Either condition is enough, UKCISA says, so a spouse who may work but has no recourse to public funds still keeps the home exempt. A British or settled spouse is different: the home gets a bill, usually with 25% off.

Can an energy supplier ask an international student for a deposit?

It can, if you want to pay after you use your energy rather than through a prepayment meter. Ofgem's licence rules for electricity suppliers say a deposit must be reasonable, and that one cannot be required if you agree to a prepayment meter that is safe and practical for you. Citizens Advice says deposits are usually £150 to £300.

Can I get a UK SIM without a credit check?

Yes. Ofcom says pay as you go needs no credit check and has no long contract, and one-month SIM-only plans are another flexible option. When you want a better deal, text PAC to 65075 to keep your number: the code lasts 30 days and the switch should complete within one working day.

Do I need a TV Licence as an international student?

Only if you watch live TV on any channel or use BBC iPlayer. It costs £180, and UKCISA says there is no student discount. In university halls you need your own licence for your room. In a shared house, a joint tenancy needs one licence and separate tenancies need one each.

Should I claim Council Tax Reduction on a Student visa?

Not without advice. UKCISA says Council Tax Reduction is listed as a public fund in the Immigration Rules, so claiming it could breach a no recourse to public funds condition. A student exemption or disregard is not a public fund, so applying for those does not breach it.

Are bills included in university halls?

Usually energy and water are. UKCISA says electricity, gas and water are likely to be included in halls, but to check with your institution, and it lists university halls among the homes exempt from council tax. You still need a TV Licence for your own room if you watch live TV there.

Related guides

More help for your first UK home

Council tax, bills in your city and splitting the costs with housemates.

Start here

Student council tax exemption

Recommended

Who counts as a full-time student, what happens if one housemate is not, and how to claim.

Official references

Cite this page

Taupia. "Which UK bills do international students pay?". Last updated 15 October 2026. https://taupia.com/students/international-students-bills

Sharing a house with other students?

Taupia splits each bill by your house's rule and shows who has paid, without moving any money. It compares energy, broadband and mobile deals and switches once your household approves. It is free, and nothing changes without your approval.

Get the Taupia app Student house bills, sorted