With bills set to skyrocket next month, Katy Ward examines the key increases – and how you can fight back.
Cash-strapped UK households look set for even more pain starting next month.
According to research from money-saving tool Nous.co, the average household's annual bills will surge by £450.75 from April 2025 – almost double the £245 increase endured last year.
The increase is mainly thanks to increases in energy, water, Council Tax, mobile bills, broadband services and entertainment subscriptions.
Excluding the latter, these are bills you can't simply cancel if you're looking to reduce your costs or if the increases are too much to bear.
In this article, we reveal the worst-hit areas in the UK and look at what you can do to minimise the pain.
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Water: biggest increases since 1989
The research found that one of the most substantial price hikes will come from water bills.
As of April, households will be hit with an average hike of £123.
This is the largest increase since the industry was privatised in 1989.
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What you can do
Reduce water usage
Installing a water meter ensures you only pay for what you use.
Swap baths for showers, fit water-saving showerheads and fix any leaks promptly.
Even simple habits, such as turning the tap off while brushing your teeth can help.
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Energy bills: up by £111
Following planned changes to the Price Cap from regulator Ofgem, energy bills are set to soar by 6.4% this April.
The Price Cap is the maximum a company can charge per unit of energy.
In real terms, this is up by an average of £111, the research found.
The typical household bill currently stands at £1,738, but it is set to increase to £1,849 next month.
What you can do
Fix your energy tariff
Locking into a fixed energy deal could help millions of people offset the pain of the impending hikes.
These deals promise to charge a set rate for a fixed period, usually 12 months.
The best deals are still cheaper than the current Energy Price Cap.
Why you need to lock into a fixed energy deal now
Council Tax: up by £109
Following the Government’s decision to freeze the cap on Council Tax hikes, most Local Authorities will likely increase bills by 4.99% for the 2025/26 tax year.
This is the maximum a council can increase bills without requiring a referendum.
If forecasts are correct, this will add £109 to the average bill for a Band D property in England and Wales.
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What you can do
Check Council Tax discounts
Single-person households qualify for a 25% discount, while students and certain residents with disabilities may be exempt.
Some councils offer reductions for low-income families, properties undergoing renovations or those with certain medical conditions.
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Mobile phone contracts: up £43.20
Several providers have already announced painful hikes.
For example, Vodafone will raise prices by up to £36 for 18.3 million customers, according to reports in The Sun.
Customers with contracts signed before July 2024 will see increases based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) and an additional 3.9%.
Other providers, such as Sky, BT and EE are implementing similar hikes.
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Broadband: up by £36
The internet is a necessity for most of us, especially if we work from home or have children who need the tech for school.
The trouble is that many people are paying more than they should.
Alarmingly, prices look set to soar, with Nous.co predicting a £36 annual increase.
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What you can do
Negotiate your mobile and broadband bills
Providers often reserve their best deals for new customers, so don’t hesitate to call and threaten to leave.
Many will offer retention discounts, extra data or faster speeds.
Compare offers from rival firms beforehand and use them as leverage.
Entertainment subscriptions: up by £2
Years ago, streaming services were affordable enough to justify having multiple subscriptions.
That’s not the case in 2025.
Whenever a price hike occurs, it should prompt us to review what we are paying for and how often we use it.
What you can do
Review subscriptions
Cancelling just one could save upwards of £24 per month.
Alternatively, some services allow you to pause or share plans.
Breakdown by bill
|
Bill type |
Average increase |
|
Water |
£123 |
|
Energy |
111 |
|
Mobile phones |
£43.20 |
|
Broadband |
£36 |
|
Council Tax |
£108.55 |
|
TV licence |
£5 |
|
Nettlix |
£24 |
|
Total |
£450.75 |
What does this mean for different regions?
While £450.75 is the average price hike, some areas will be hit much harder.
Households in Brighton & Hove will see the steepest increases, with bills expected to rise by a staggering £542.
Southern Water, which is imposing an annual increase of £224, is responsible for a significant chunk.
By contrast, London Borough of Wandsworth residents will see a comparatively lower increase of £380.
The borough already has the lowest council tax in the country.
Five areas with the highest prices in April
|
Item |
Brighton & Hove |
Isle of Wight Council |
Southampton |
Medway |
Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Council tax* |
£98.70 |
£95.23 |
£90.45 |
£87.56 |
£170.02 |
|
Water |
£224.00 |
£224.00 |
£224.00 |
£224.00 |
£136.00 |
|
Mobile |
£43.20 |
£43.20 |
£43.20 |
£43.20 |
£43.20 |
|
Broadband |
£36.00 |
£36.00 |
£36.00 |
£36.00 |
£36.00 |
|
Energy |
£111.00 |
£111.00 |
£111.00 |
£111.00 |
£111.00 |
|
TV license |
£5.00 |
£5.00 |
£5.00 |
£5.00 |
£5.00 |
|
Netflix |
£24.00 |
£24.00 |
£24.00 |
£24.00 |
£24.00 |
|
Total |
£541.9 |
£538.43 |
£533.65 |
£530.76 |
£525.22 |
A cash cushion
These increases don’t just affect day-to-day spending – they also impact savings pots.
According to investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown’s Savings & Resilience Barometer, we should have three to six months' worth of essential expenses while working and one to three years' worth in retirement.
With the price hikes, working people will need to add between £148 and £297 to their emergency savings.
Retirees will need to store between £593 and £1,780.
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said, "April is going to be every bit as awful as you’d expect this year, with the usual range of price rises squeezing our budgets even harder.
“This doesn’t just mean money will be tighter in the coming weeks; it also has a knock-on impact on your savings.
Have your say
Which price hikes are you most worried about this April?
Do you live in one of the regions with the lowest or highest increases?
We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.