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The short answer
In England, water is billed by a water company, not through council tax, and if one company supplies your water and another takes away your sewage you may receive two bills, Ofwat says. What you pay depends on where you live and how your company charges you, set out in its charges scheme. If money is tight, water companies offer help such as WaterSure for certain metered customers, Water Direct through benefits and charitable trust funds.
A water bill is often the first household bill that surprises new arrivals in England. In Lagos or Abuja many homes rely on a borehole, a tanker or a water vendor, and the cost is paid as you go. In England the supply comes through the mains, the bill comes once or twice a year from a company you did not choose, and it can arrive weeks after you move in. Knowing how it works stops it from turning into arrears.
Who sends the bill and why there may be two
Ofwat, the water regulator for England and Wales, explains that customers are billed for water supply and for sewerage. In some areas one company does both. In others, different suppliers provide your water and your sewerage, so you may receive two bills, one from each company. Neither is a mistake, and both need paying.
Water is not part of council tax in England. That is different from Scotland, where councils collect Scottish Water charges with council tax; Glasgow City Council's 2026/27 bill, for example, shows separate water and waste water amounts inside each band. If a Nigerian friend in Glasgow tells you they never get a water bill, that is why. For council tax itself, see how council tax works for new arrivals.
How the amount is worked out
Ofwat says your annual amount depends on where you live and how your water company charges you, and each company's charges and terms are set out in its charges scheme, which you can ask for or read on its website. In practice most homes are charged in one of two broad ways:
- Metered: you pay for the water the meter records, plus any fixed charge in the company's scheme.
- Unmetered: you pay a set annual charge that does not depend on how much you use; the basis is in the company's charges scheme.
- Some companies use an assessed charge where a meter cannot be fitted; check your own company's scheme.
Ofwat also notes that empty properties may still be charged, so a gap between tenants can still produce a bill for whoever is responsible at the time. We could not open Ofwat's metering page or a current national average bill when writing (October 2026), so we do not give a typical amount. Your company's website shows its current charges.
Who pays in a rented home
Your tenancy agreement decides whether water is included in the rent or paid by you. Most private tenancies in England leave it to the tenant. When you move in:
- Find out which company supplies water and which handles sewerage for your postcode (your landlord or agent should know, and the previous bill will name them).
- Tell each company your move-in date and take a meter reading if there is a meter. Photograph it with the date.
- Ask whether you are on a metered or unmetered charge, and how the bill is split across the year.
- Set up a payment plan. Many companies spread the annual charge into instalments; the company sets the options.
- When you move out, give the company your leaving date and a final reading so the next tenant's use is not billed to you.
Help if you cannot pay
Ofwat's customer assistance page lists the kinds of help water companies may offer. It uses the word "may": what is available, and who qualifies, is set by each company.
| Help | What Ofwat says |
|---|---|
| WaterSure | Available for certain customers with a water meter; bills can be capped |
| Water Direct | A DWP scheme where water payments are taken directly from benefits |
| Charitable trust help | If you are in real financial difficulty, your company may help through a charitable trust |
| Special assistance | Your company may offer support to meet a particular need |
Many companies also run their own discounted tariffs for low-income households. Ofwat's page we opened does not list them, so check your company's website. Some help is tied to benefits. If your visa carries no recourse to public funds, read what no recourse to public funds means before claiming anything that depends on a benefit. A water company's own discount does not appear on the Home Office's list of public funds, but Water Direct only works if you already receive benefits.
If you think your bill does not follow the company's charges scheme, Ofwat says to contact the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) for advice after raising it with the company.
A worked example of budgeting
Example only. Suppose your company tells you your annual unmetered charge is £540 for water and sewerage together, and offers ten monthly instalments. That is £54 a month for ten months. If you move in partway through the charging year, the company should bill only from your move-in date, so the instalments may be smaller. Put the amount into your monthly plan alongside rent, council tax and energy (see setting up energy in your first flat).
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account holds GBP with local account details, so you can keep household bill money in pounds separately from savings you hold in naira. If you send money home as well, the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve a Swap, and Pryme's Personal Assistant can remind you before a bill date. Nothing moves without your approval.
Questions people ask
Is water included in council tax in England?
No. In England a water company bills you directly. In Scotland councils collect water charges with council tax, which is why the systems look different.
Why have I got two water bills?
Ofwat says that where different companies provide your water and your sewerage, you may receive one bill from each. Both are valid.
Do tenants pay water bills in the UK?
Usually yes, unless your tenancy says water is included in the rent. Check the agreement and tell the water company your move-in date.
What help is there if I cannot pay my water bill?
Ofwat lists WaterSure for certain metered customers, Water Direct through benefits, charitable trust help and special assistance. Your company's website explains its own discounts and who qualifies.
Sources
- Ofwat: Your water bill · accessed Oct 2026
- Ofwat: Customer assistance · accessed Oct 2026
- Glasgow City Council: Council Tax 2026/27 (includes Scottish Water charges) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Public funds (updated 9 Apr 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.