Household Bills: How to Beat The “Awful April” Price Rises

Households will face an increase in bills, including broadband, council tax, and water from 1 April 2026, driving up the cost of living for many customers.

Despite the “awful April” rises, there still could be ways to make a saving. From Council tax to water bills we run through everything you need to know.

Water bills
Millions of households across England and Wales will see their water bills rise 5.4% on average.

That works out to a monthly rise of £33 or £639 per household.

Customers at Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South East Water, Southern Water and Wessex Water will face an additional hike ranging between 1.7% and 3.7%.

Tips for saving
Although you can’t switch your water bills there are still ways to save:

• check your tariff: you might be able to get a cheaper water tariff if you live alone and don’t have a water meter, are disabled or have reached State Pension age and get Pension Credit. Simply contact your supplier to see if you’re eligible.
• consider a water meter: if you live in a small household and don’t use a lot of water a meter might help you save. A free water meter calculator could help you check whether you’ll make a saving.
• get water efficient: switching to more efficient shower and tap fixtures could help you save between £75 to £210 per year.

Council tax
Most households in England and Wales will see a Council Tax increase of around 5%.

For a typical band D property in England this could result in a rise from £111 to £2,392 and similar properties in Wales will see a jump of £113 to £2,283.

Tips for saving

• Check for discounts: see if you’re eligible for a discount on your Council Tax due to living alone, being on low income or due to your property type.

TV licence fee
The TV Licence fee is increasing to £180 per year, up £5.50.

You have to pay a TV licence if you watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on any TV channel.

You’ll also need to pay if you watch or stream shows live on online TV services, including ITVX or YouTube. If you download or watch any BBC shows on iPlayer you’ll also need to pay too.

Households will face an increase in bills, including broadband, council tax, and water from 1 April 2026, driving up the cost of living for many customers.

Despite the “awful April” rises, there still could be ways to make a saving. From Council tax to water bills we run through everything you need to know.

Tips for saving

• Free licence: if you’re aged 75 or over and you receive pension credit or you live with a partner who does not qualify for a free TV licence. You can apply online or by calling TV licence on 0300 790 6071.
• Discounts: if you’re in residential care or sheltered accommodation you can get a licence for £7.50. If you’re registered blind or living with someone who is, you can get a 50% discount.

Broadband and phones
On average bills are likely to rise by £39.60 for broadband customers and £27.60 for mobile customers.

Tips for saving

• Shop around: check how your contract stacks up against other providers and switch if you can to make a saving.
• Haggle: if you find a cheaper deal but prefer to stay at your current provider, try haggling to see if you can get a cheaper offer.
• Switch your plan: if you don’t use your full allowance, check if you can move to a more suitable plan which could work out cheaper.