UK households face an average increase of more than £200 in annual bills from April, as the annual round of price rises known as 'awful April' takes effect. The increases come amid financial turmoil from the Middle East conflict, which has pushed up mortgage rates, fuel prices and energy bills for rural households.
According to price comparison site Uswitch, the average combined increase is £214.10, with council tax accounting for more than half (£109). Other rises include £32.40 for water, £39.60 for broadband, £27.60 for mobile, and £5.50 for a TV licence. However, the scale varies by location and personal circumstances.
Most households in England and Wales will see council tax rise by about 5%. A typical band D property in England will increase by £111 to £2,392, and in Wales by £113 to £2,283. Some councils in England have been allowed rises above 5%, such as Shropshire (9%) and North Somerset (8.6%). In Scotland, increases range from 4% to 10%, with Aberdeenshire and Moray seeing double-digit rises. Northern Ireland's domestic rates system sees increases from 1.96% to 4.5%.
Water bills in England and Wales will rise by an average of £33 to £639, with Severn Trent Water increasing by 10% and Thames Water by just 0.4%. Scottish Water is raising bills by £42 to £532. Phone and broadband costs will add an average of £39.60 and £27.60 respectively, despite new rules banning inflation-linked mid-contract rises. Telecoms expert Ernest Doku of Uswitch noted that while transparency has improved, costs have not fallen.
Consumers can mitigate some increases by checking eligibility for discounts, spreading payments over 12 months, or reviewing council tax bands. Water customers may save with a meter or social tariffs, and broadband users should compare deals. Some respite comes from a springtime dip in energy costs and the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap.
