From council tax to water, broadband to stamps, UK household costs are set to rise again from next month, even before any additional impacts from the Middle East conflict are felt.
UK savers are advised to act before the Easter Sunday cash ISA deadline.
In April, UK households will experience an average annual increase of over £200 in essential bills, including council tax and water, prior to the full effects of price rises linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The so-called "awful April" increases are particularly unwelcome as financial instability caused by the conflict has already contributed to rising prices.
Higher council tax accounts for more than half (£109) of the £214.10 average annual rise in combined household bills, according to price comparison site Uswitch. Additional increases include £32.40 for water, £39.60 for broadband, £27.60 for mobile phones, and £5.50 for TV licences. However, the exact amount varies depending on location and individual circumstances.
There is some relief, including a seasonal decrease in energy costs and the removal of certain charges.
Below are the main bills increasing and advice on mitigating their impact.
Council tax
Most households in England and Wales will see council tax rise by approximately 5%. In England, a typical band D property will see an increase of £109; in Wales, the rise is £93.
Some councils in England have been permitted to increase rates beyond the usual 5% cap. For example, band B and D bills will rise by an average of 9% in Shropshire and 8.6% in North Somerset.
The smallest increases, around 2.5%, will be in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Rutland, and the London borough of Merton.
Scottish council tax bills will increase between 4% and 10%, with Aberdeenshire and Moray at the higher end, resulting in double-digit rises. The average band D bill in Scotland will rise to £1,653.
Northern Ireland operates a domestic rates system instead of council tax, with councils implementing increases ranging from 3% to 7%.
What can I do about it? Check eligibility for discounts if you are on a low income, live alone, or receive benefits. The annual bill is typically spread over 10 months, but you may request 12 payments if finances are tight. If you believe your property is incorrectly banded, you can request a review, though this may result in an increase.
Water bills
Metered and unmetered water bills in England and Wales will increase by an average of 5.4%, raising the annual cost to £639. The largest increase is from Severn Trent Water at 10%, while Thames Water has the smallest rise at 0.4%, following a price reduction last year.
In Scotland, Scottish Water is increasing bills by an average of £42 annually (8.7%), bringing the total to £532. Northern Ireland does not charge for domestic water.
What can I do about it? Unmetered customers in England and Wales pay a fixed amount based on their property's rateable value; in Scotland, charges are based on council tax bands. Whether installing a water meter saves money depends on usage. The Consumer Council for Water website offers a useful calculator.
If installing a meter is not feasible, you may be moved to an assessed charge, which estimates usage based on bedrooms and household size.
Water companies in England and Wales provide social tariffs for low-income households; contact your provider for details. In Scotland, council tax discount recipients automatically receive water and sewerage discounts.
Broadband and phones
Broadband and mobile phone bills will rise by an average of £39.60 and £27.60 annually, respectively, according to Uswitch.
Telecom companies are prohibited from imposing mid-contract price increases linked to inflation and must disclose any expected rises upfront in fixed amounts.
Ernest Doku, a telecoms expert at Uswitch, states: "While Ofcom’s new rules, introduced in January 2025, have improved transparency, this hasn’t automatically translated into lower costs this April.
With the government’s telecoms consumer charter set to phase out inflation-linked rises from April 2026, pounds and pence increases will become the standard for all customers after this year.
By moving to a set monthly increase, such as £4 for broadband with providers including BT, Virgin Media and Plusnet, and £2.50 for mobiles with networks such as EE, Vodafone and O2, providers have created a predictable – but often more expensive – reality.
For those on average tariffs, this represents an 11.1% jump on a typical £35.90 broadband bill and 13.4% on a £18.60 mobile plan, highlighting how flat increases hit those on cheaper deals hardest, making a significantly larger share of the total bill than those on more expensive plans."
What can I do about it? Typically, you cannot cancel mid-contract without penalty, but if your contract has ended, it is advisable to negotiate or switch providers. Vodafone, Virgin Media, BT, EE, Plusnet, and Hyperoptic are among providers freezing prices until 2027 for customers who switch before April increases. Regional providers such as Trooli and YouFibre do not increase prices mid-contract.
TV licence
The licence fee for a colour television will increase by £5.50 from 1 April to £180, while the black and white licence will rise by £2 to £60.50.
What can I do about it? A TV licence is required to watch or record live TV and to use BBC , but not if you exclusively use on-demand services such as Netflix or All 4. If you no longer need a licence, you can cancel it and request a refund for any remaining months. Support is available for households in severe financial difficulty, and free licences are provided for over-75s on pension credit.
Vehicle excise duty
Vehicle excise duty (VED) is adjusted annually in line with inflation, with rates depending on vehicle age and fuel type. From 1 April, the standard rate will increase by £5 to £200 per year. The long-standing exemption for electric vehicles has ended, so EV owners must now pay VED. Vehicles costing over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric cars) may be subject to an additional "expensive car supplement" of £425.
What can I do about it? Some vehicles remain exempt, including those used by disabled persons or manufactured before 1 January 1985. Exemptions must be applied for through the DVLA.
Stamp prices
First- and second-class stamp prices will increase from 7 April. First-class stamps will rise by 10p (6%) to £1.80, and second-class by 4p (5%) to 91p.
What can I do about it? Consider purchasing stamps before the price increase.
Passport fees
The cost of an online adult passport application will exceed £100 for the first time from next month. Standard online applications will increase from £94.50 to £102 for adults and from £61.50 to £66.50 for children. Postal applications will rise to £115.50 for adults and £80 for children. The premium one-day service will increase from £222 to £239.50.
What can I do about it? The fee increases take effect on 8 April, so if you plan to renew soon, submit your application before then. Otherwise, set a reminder for your next renewal to avoid using the more expensive last-minute service.
Positive changes
National minimum wage rates will rise on 1 April. For those aged 21 and over, the rate increases by 50p to £12.71 per hour. For 18- to 20-year-olds, the increase is 85p to £10.85 per hour. Apprentices and those under 18 will receive a minimum of £8 per hour, a 45p increase.
The state pension will increase by 4.7%, in line with earnings growth. The full new state pension will rise to £241.30 per week from £230.25, while the basic state pension will increase from £176.45 to £184.90 per week.
Universal credit and child benefit will increase by 1.7% in April. The standard allowance for single claimants aged 25 and over will rise from £400.14 to £424.90 per month. The carer’s allowance will increase to £86.45.
The two-child benefit cap, which limited universal credit or tax credits to the first two children, will be lifted from April. The "child element" of universal credit, worth approximately £3,650 annually, will be available for all children in a household, although the overall benefit cap remains.
Energy price caps fall … for now
Household energy bills could increase by more than £300 to nearly £2,000 this summer, but in the short term, costs will decrease as the price cap in Great Britain resets in April.
This reduction is partly due to the government removing some green charges, resulting in an annual saving of £117 for a typical household. All consumers benefit, including those on fixed deals, as suppliers adjust tariffs accordingly.
The Middle East conflict has caused oil and gas prices to rise sharply, but households in England, Wales, and Scotland remain protected by the quarterly price cap set by energy regulator Ofgem.
From April to June, the average annual dual-fuel bill will be £1,641. However, from July, energy consultancy Cornwall Insight projects a rise to £1,972.
Before the US-Israeli war on Iran began, fixed energy tariffs offering savings of several hundred pounds were available, but these have now disappeared and are unlikely to return until prices stabilize.
Fixed deals currently cost more than the April price cap but less than the projected July cap, making the choice a gamble.
At the time of writing, Uswitch’s best-buy table lists Outfox Energy’s 12-month deal at £1,760 before green charges are removed.
Following the 2022 surge in domestic bills after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK government introduced a £40 billion subsidy freezing bills at £2,500.
However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently ruled out universal support for future increases, stating that any government assistance would be "targeted."
