Student Housing Bills Included Vs Not Included: The Pros & Cons

When you’re choosing your next student house, one of the first questions you need to ask is “Do we want to manage our own bills, or go for a house with everything included?”. It sounds like a minor detail, but it can affect finances, friendships, stress levels, and day-to-day comfort during your time at uni.

In this guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of both options, using experience and insights. You’ll come away with a clear understanding of what’s involved in each option, what to expect, and which route is likely suits you best.

What Do We Mean “Bills Included”?

Before we compare the two options, here’s a quick breakdown of what’s typically included in all-inclusive student rent:

• Gas and electricity

• Water

• Broadband/Wi-Fi

• TV licence (sometimes)

• Contents insurance (occasionally)

Instead of setting up and paying for each of these separately, everything is bundled into one monthly payment, usually as part of your rent. It means no extra contracts, no bill splitting, and no tracking who owes what.

If you'd like to better familiarise yourself with all the costs involved in student housing, take a look at our guide on student house bills.

Option 1 – Managing the Bills Yourself

This is still a common setup, especially in older or budget properties. The landlord charges a lower base rent, and it’s up to you (and your housemates) to handle the utilities.

Potential Advantages

• Lower rent Your monthly rent may look cheaper on paper, although this doesn’t include essential bills, so make sure you're comparing like-for-like.

• Control over suppliers Want to use a green energy provider? Prefer faster broadband? You’re free to choose your own.

• Pay for what you use If you’re ultra-frugal and rarely home, you might save money compared to bundled pricing, though this depends on market rates and usage habits.

Drawbacks and Risks

• More responsibility You’ll need to set up every account, remember payment dates, deal with suppliers, and manage logins. It’s time-consuming and often frustrating, especially if no one takes charge.

• Shared financial risk If one housemate delays payment or doesn’t transfer their share, you’re still liable. Things can get tense when money’s involved.

• Fluctuating costs Utility prices aren’t fixed, especially gas and electricity. A cheap summer could be followed by a painful winter.

• Long contracts and early exit fees Most providers lock you into 12-month deals. If someone moves out or the house splits early, you could be stuck with the bills.

• No service = no study If Wi-Fi isn’t set up on time, or the heating fails midwinter and you’re on hold to a supplier, it affects your ability to live and work comfortably.

Reality Check: Sorting bills yourself might seem like a smart way to save money, and in some cases, it can be. But things can unravel quickly. A single late payment from one housemate or a spike in winter heating costs can turn small savings into big headaches. What looks cheaper on paper doesn’t always feel cheaper when you’re dealing with the stress.

Option 2 – All-Inclusive Student Rent

With this model, everything is handled by your landlord or accommodation provider. You move in, pay your agreed rent, and everything else is already taken care of.

Key Benefits

• One simple payment Rent and bills are bundled, so there’s no need to budget for separate utilities.

• Predictable monthly costs No scary surprises or fluctuating bills. This makes budgeting easier and protects you from energy price hikes. If you use a student budget planner, this will allow you to track and forecast more accurately, instead of having unknown outgoings for every month/quarter, etc.

• No admin, no chasing You don’t need to set anything up, and no one has to nag their housemates for money.

• Everything works from day one Wi-Fi is active, heating is sorted, and hot water is ready to go. No waiting around or wondering what’s been switched on.

• Great for groups, internationals, or busy students The less you have to worry about, the more time you have for uni, friends, and downtime.

Potential Downsides

• Slightly higher rent You may pay more up front, though once you factor in utilities, this often balances out or works out cheaper overall.

• Less control over providers You won’t get to choose your energy supplier or Wi-Fi provider. But in a good house, this is rarely a problem, especially if the landlord uses reliable services.

• You still need to be energy-conscious Some providers include fair usage caps, so it’s worth checking if there are any limits in your contract.

So, Which Option Is Better?

It depends on your priorities, but here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:

Feature	Bills Included	Bills Not Included
Admin	✅ None	❌ You handle it all
Monthly costs	✅ Predictable	❌ Can vary
Housemate disputes	✅ Avoided	❌ More likely
Provider choice	❌ No	✅ Yes
Potential savings	❌ Unlikely	✅ Possible, but risky
Move-in setup	✅ Ready to go	❌ Must organise
Time & stress	✅ Low	❌ High

For independent students happy to manage their own utilities and bills, and with ultra-low usage, paying bills separately might seem attractive. But for most groups, all-inclusive rent is the safer, smarter, and more stress-free option.

If you're looking for ideas for other ways to save money during your studies, take a look at our smart money saving tips for students.

Why We Chose All-Inclusive at UniQ Lets

At UniQ Lets, we’ve been providing premium student accommodation in Loughborough for over 14 years. Over that time, we’ve seen the frustrations that come with managing separate bills, from surprise charges and broadband delays to disagreements between housemates.

That’s why we designed our offering to be completely all-inclusive, not just for utilities, but for peace of mind.

When you rent with UniQ Lets, your monthly payment doesn’t just cover gas, electricity, water, and broadband, it also includes:

• Regular cleaning of communal areas

• Garden maintenance throughout the year

• 24/7 monitored security alarm systems, with full response service

These extras make a genuine difference to your day-to-day comfort, safety, and overall quality of life. Whether it’s walking into a clean kitchen, knowing the lawn isn’t your problem, or sleeping soundly with monitored security in place, it all adds up to a better student living experience.

If you’re looking for student accommodation in Loughborough, we’d love you to explore our collection of fully refurbished, all-inclusive student homes, all within walking distance of campus and town.

Final Thoughts

When comparing bills-included vs not-included student housing, the real question is: how much is your time, energy, and peace of mind worth?

While managing your own bills can sometimes save a little money, it comes with added pressure and responsibility, and no actual guarantee of savings. For most students, that trade-off just isn’t worth it, especially when you’re already juggling studies, part-time work, and uni life.

If you're aiming for a smooth, stress-free experience, all-inclusive rent gives you clarity, convenience, and comfort, and makes your student house feel like a true home from day one.