If you are living in rented private accommodation (living with other people in landlord owned property) you will most likely be having to pay for EVERYTHING: Gas, electricty, water, TV license and phone line. Of course TV and phone line are optional but it's likely that you will want to have TV and Internet to fall back on after a day at university.

Now when you move in take meter readings and photographs of the meters as proof, in a small but still sizable amount of cases in rented accommodation, final bills have not been paid and you could receive a full water bill or gas/electricity bill within the first two weeks of moving in, but don't worry. Simply ring up the company and tell them you have just moved in and give them your landlords name and contact details, you will not be liable for any of the money, but under no circumstance don't ignore them.

If you are paying bill's as a group it may be a good idea to all put £100 into a 'bill account' and whenever you receive a bill you simply pay straight from that account. If the account runs dry simply put in another £100 and any money left in the account at the end of the year divide it equally between you all. With electricity, water and gas it is best to just simply split the bill equally and not argue over who uses the most, unless of course the bill is £100 a week and one person has 20 computers on all day every day, but that isn't likely.

However if you are living in halls of residence, the bills are most likely included in the cost of rent, however dependent on the hall's there maybe an extra cost if you wish to have an Internet connection and phone line.