Every household bill rising in April – and how you can beat the hikes

Published

2 months ago

April 1, 2025

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Many household bills are rising from today – ranging from energy prices and council tax to mobile phone contracts and broadband.

Coinciding with the new financial year, from today there will be higher bills for:

Energy
Broadband, mobile phone and TV licence
Car tax
Water
Stealth taxes
Stamp duty
Council tax

The Sky News Money blog outlined the hikes – and how you could potentially beat them – in one of its long read features below.

You can read more from the Money blog as well as reactions to today’s increased bills here.

Cost of living calculator: See how much your bills are going up

ENERGY BILLS

The average annual energy bill will rise to £1,849 as industry regulator Ofgem increases the price cap for the third time in a row.

The new figure represents a 6.4% a year – or £9.25 per month – increase in the typical sum the vast majority of households face paying for gas and electricity when using direct debit.

You can read more about the changes and why they’re happening here.

Only those on fixed-rate deals – around 11 million homes – will see no change until their current term expires. An extra four million homes have fixed the cost of energy units since November, Ofgem said.

Standing charges – daily fixed fees to connect to a gas and electricity supply which vary by region – are also rising for gas while dropping for electricity, but it depends on where you live.

So should you fix?

Consumer expert Martin Lewis says that, based on where energy prices are currently at: “If you find a fix for up to 3% more than the current (January to March) or 3% less than the new (April to June) price cap, it’s predicted you’ll save over the year compared with staying on the price cap.”

The best deal currently on the market is with Outfox the Market, which is offering a 12-month fix for 7.4% less than January’s cap and 12.9% less than April’s.

EDF is currently offering a no-exit fee fix, and Octopus is doing the same for existing customers – so if the maths work for you, these could be risk-free options.

We spoke to Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, about switching.

“There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to fixing an energy deal as it will all depend on your individual circumstances,” said Seymour.

“For example, if you have an electric vehicle, you might want to look for a tariff which offers cheaper electricity overnight to charge your car.

“As a rule of thumb, we’d recommend looking for deals close to the current price cap, not longer than 12 months and without significant exit fees.”

Other help

The warm home discount provides a £150 annual reduction on energy bills.

Those wanting to receive the payment must be getting the guarantee credit element of pension credit or be on a low income with high energy costs.

The government advises: “If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.

“You’ll usually get the discount automatically if you’re eligible. You only need to apply if you’re on a low income in Scotland – contact your energy supplier to apply.”

Those on pension credit will also be eligible for the winter fuel allowance later this year – this is worth up to £150.

BROADBAND AND MOBILE

While Ofcom’s new rules banning inflation-linked contracts came into effect in January, many consumers will be on older contracts that will still see a price rise linked to inflation.

This is causing confusion among customers, so for overall clarity: Uswitch says this April’s rises are expected to add an average of £21.99 annually for those on inflation-linked contracts and up to £42 a year for those on newer “pounds and pence” plans that are subject to fixed increases.

How do you know which contract you have?

Many providers started putting customers on fixed increase contracts in 2024 – so if you started a new broadband contract recently, you may be subject to a pounds and pence price hike.

These are the dates the providers started introducing them…

BT/EE/Plusnet: Contract started on or after 10 April 2024
Vodafone: Contract started on or after 2 July 2024
TalkTalk: Contract started on or after 12 August 2024
Three Broadband: Contract started on or after 1 September 2024
Virgin Media: Contract started on or after 9 January 2025

So if you signed up for a deal on any of the above after those dates, you should be on a fixed annual increase – but you’ll want to check your individual policy.

Here’s an overview of the hikes being implemented by major providers…

Consider switching

You might be able to avoid the rises by switching provider as cheaper deals are often available to new customers.

You should check to see if you’re out of contract first, or what the exit penalty may be.

Research by Which? shows switching providers when you’re out of contract could cut bills by up to £235 annually.

If you don’t want to leave your provider, you could also call them and try to haggle down your monthly cost.

Several broadband providers have social tariffs available, helping those on benefits access an internet connection at a lower monthly price.

According to Uswitch, two-thirds of financially vulnerable households are unaware that low-income broadband tariffs exist.

Bundling?

You may be able to get cheaper prices by bundling your phone, internet and TV services – though you need to read the small print as exit fees can be significant.

TV LICENCE

The cost of a TV licence will also go up by £5 to £174.50

The rise comes after a £10.50 rise brought the charge to £169.50 in April last year.

If you’re 75 or over and you get pension credit, or you live with a partner who does, you qualify for a free TV licence.

You can apply for it here or by calling TV Licensing on 0300 790 6071.

Those in residential care or sheltered accommodation can get a licence for £7.50, while those registered blind or living with someone who is can get a 50% discount.

TRAIN FARES

Train fares in England have increased by 4.6% as of 2 March. Railcards are also going to become more expensive, despite the record-low reliability of services.

The Welsh government matched Westminster’s cap, while Transport for Wales is applying various increases to its unregulated fares.

Meanwhile, the Scottish government will increase all ScotRail fares by 3.8% from today.

One of the best ways to beat the price hikes is by getting a railcard – and they’re not just for traditional concession groups. We outlined all the different railcards here…

How can I use a railcard to save money on my train fare?

How to beat the system

Mark Smith, who set up The Man in Seat 61 blog to help people travel cheaper and better, told Money there were various “traps” people fell into.

Tickets are normally released around 12 weeks in advance, but initially you may only see more expensive Off-Peak and Anytime tickets.

There’s often a gap of a week or two before reservations open and the much cheaper Advance fares go on sale.

Smith says you can save money by purchasing any time before your day of travel – a £30 or £40 Advance fare will then turn into an £68.60 Off-Peak one-way or a £184.70 Anytime, for example.

If you are forced to travel at peak times you should consider split ticketing. For example:

If you’re travelling at 5pm on a Monday, instead of getting a peak ticket all the way from London to Manchester, get a peak Anytime ticket to Milton Keynes and then an Off-Peak from Milton Keynes to Manchester.

One final trap to avoid was exposed by a Which? investigation last year that found train station ticket machines could be much, much more expensive than buying online.

CAR TAX

Also going up is the standard rate of road tax for cars registered after April 2017.

The flat rate cost of car tax from April 2025 is £195 (so an increase of £5).

Hybrid cars get a small discount (£10) but if your vehicle had a list price of more than £40,000 when it was first sold then you may also be liable for the “luxury car tax” fee, which adds £410 to your annual costs.

You may pay less if your car was first used before 2017 – the exact amount will depend on the year a car was registered and the type of fuel it consumes.

Perhaps a bigger change is that electric vehicles (EVs) will also no longer be exempt from tax – those registered from April 2025 will pay the lowest rate of £10 in the first year, then move to the standard rate.

Feeling confused? Autotrader gives this example…

It’s April 2025 and you’re choosing between Porsche Macans, petrol or electric (lucky you). A basic petrol Macan will mean you pay £4,680 in car tax in the first year, whereas with the electric one, you’ll pay £10. After that, they’ll both go to the standard rate (£195 per year) plus the £410 Expensive Car Supplement for five years.

WATER

Possibly the most controversial of the April changes is the sizeable increase to water bills.

Bills are going up in a development that has been blamed on problems including higher borrowing costs on large levels of debt, creaking infrastructure and record sewage outflows into waterways.

However, it was reported last March that England’s private water firms made £1.7bn in pre-tax profits – up 82% since 2018-19 – prompting renewed calls for the utility to be renationalised.

The average annual water bill will rise by 26% or £123 in the next financial year alone, figures showed.

Water UK said the increases across households would also vary, depending on circumstances such as water use and whether a water meter was installed.

Get the full story here…

Water bills in England and Wales to rise by average of £10 per month

All water companies offer a social tariff for eligible customers that reduces the cost of water bills – check with your provider to see if you are eligible.

Should you get a water meter?

Martin Lewis has some simple advice on this one: if you have more bedrooms than people in the house, a water meter is likely to save you money.

If your water company says it can’t give you a meter, you can asked for an “assessed charge” – which can offer the best of both worlds. Ofwat explains yours rights here.

STAMP DUTY

Changes come into force from today and affect those in England and Northern Ireland.

The current “nil rate” band (at which you start paying) for first-time buyers will reduce from £425,000 to £300,000, while other home-buyers will also see a reduction from £250,000 to £125,000.

In London, an average first-time buyer could end up paying more than £11,000 extra from April, Santander said.

COUNCIL TAX

Some 85% of top-tier council authorities in England are set to increase council tax by just under 5%.

Additionally, Bradford, Newham, Birmingham, Somerset, and Windsor and Maidenhead have been given special permission by the government to bypass the 4.99% cap – meaning they could raise council tax by more.

Our data and forensics unit has been taking a look at how council finances have deteriorated here.

With the majority of councils increasing their council tax by the maximum amount this month, some households could see their bills jump significantly.

Are you eligible for a discount?

You may qualify for extra support or a reduction in your council tax bill, for example if you’re on a low income, a student, living alone or are disabled.

Another option is to have your council tax bill spread over 12 months instead of the usual 10 – this won’t save you money but could help you to budget, if your council offers this option.

You could also get your home’s council tax band reviewed, which may entitle you to a refund if you’re in the wrong band. However, you should be aware the review could lead to your property being put in a higher band.

STEALTH TAX

Expecting a pay rise?

You may be surprised to see how little translates to your pay cheque.

That’s because frozen income tax thresholds could mean that some people get pushed into higher tax brackets as their wage goes up.

Others could be pushed into paying tax on their savings by breaching the personal savings allowance – which is £1,000 tax-free interest for basic rate taxpayers.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING TO PAY BILLS

If you’re having trouble paying your bills, there’s lots of support out there.

Emily Seymour, from Which?, told Money: “If you’re struggling to afford any household bills such as energy, council tax, water and telecoms, the first step is always to speak to your provider and see what help is available.

“It’s important to remember that energy companies are obliged to help you if you tell them you are struggling to pay and will not disconnect you if you miss a bill payment. You could ask for a review of your payments, a reduction in your payments or a payment break, more time to pay, and access to hardship funds.

“For water and broadband, there are cheaper social tariffs available so it’s worth speaking to your provider to see if you qualify.

“If you don’t qualify for a broadband or mobile social tariff, our research shows you could still make big savings by switching providers – especially if you’re with a firm that hikes prices annually – so it’s always a good idea to compare deals at the end of your contract to find the best offer for you.”

You can check your eligibility for benefits on the government website which may allow you to access lower tariffs and contact your local council to see if you’re able to get support with water and energy bills.

There’s also charities offering help, including Citizens Advice and National Debtline, which are on hand to provide free, impartial advice.

UK

Shouts of ‘genocide’ in Commons as David Lammy denounces Israel’s ‘intolerable’ actions in Gaza

Published

7 hours ago

May 21, 2025

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Shouts of 'genocide' in Commons as David Lammy denounces Israel's 'intolerable' actions in Gaza

The foreign secretary has denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as “intolerable” but stopped short of saying it had committed genocide.

MPs could be heard shouting “genocide” in the Commons chamber as David Lammy announced the government was suspending its trade negotiations with Israel and summoning Tzipi Hotovely, Israel’s ambassador to the UK, to the Foreign Office.

The UK has also sanctioned a number of individuals and groups in the West Bank which it says have been linked with acts of violence against Palestinians – including Daniella Weiss, a leading settler activist who was the subject of Louis Theroux’s recent documentary The Settlers.

Politics latest: Starmer says sorry for being ‘overly rude’ at PMQs

Israel immediately criticised the UK government actions as “regrettable” and said the free trade agreement talks, which ministers have now backed out of, were “not being advanced at all by the UK government”.

Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for the Israeli foreign affairs ministry, said: “If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British government is willing to harm the British economy – that is its own prerogative.”

Mr Lammy’s intervention came in response to Israel ramping up its latest military offensive in Gaza and its decision to limit the amount of aid into the enclave.

Tom Fletcher, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, accused Israel of “deliberately and unashamedly” imposing inhumane conditions on Palestinians by blocking aid from entering Gaza more than 10 weeks ago.

He also told the UN’s security council last week that it must “act now” to “prevent genocide” – a claim that Israel has vehemently denied.

Speaking in the Commons, the foreign secretary said the threat of starvation was “hanging over hundreds of thousands of civilians” and that the 11-week blockade stopping humanitarian aid reaching Gaza was “indefensible and cruel”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to allow a limited amount of aid into the besieged enclave in response to global concern at reports of famine.

Mr Lammy said Mr Netanyahu’s govenrment was “isolating Israel from its friends and partners around the world, undermining the interests of the Israeli people and damaging the image of the state of Israel in the eyes of the world”.

“We are now entering a dark new phase in this conflict,” Mr Lammy added.

“Netanyahu’s government is planning to drive Gazans from their homes into a corner of the strip to the south and permit them a fraction of the aid that they need.”

Referring to one of the far-right ministers in Mr Netanyahu’s government, he said Bezalel Smotrich “even spoke of Israeli forces cleansing Gaza, destroying what’s left of residents, Palestinians being relocated, he said, to third countries”.

MPs from across the house shouted “genocide” as Mr Lammy said: “We must call this what it is. It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”

In the Commons, a number of Labour MPs urged the government to go further against Israel.

Yasmin Qureshi, the Labour MP for Bolton South and Walkden, said there needed to be a “full arms embargo” and said: “Can I ask the foreign secretary what additional steps he’s going to be taking in order to stave off this genocide?”

Another Labour MP told Sky News that while the statement was “better than previously…without a concrete timeline and a sanctioning of responsible ministers, it’s hard to know what tangible difference it will make.”

Israeli officials have said its plans to seize all of Gaza and hold it indefinitely. – which would move the civilian population southward – will help it achieve its aim of defeating Hamas.

Israel also believes the offensive will prevent Hamas from looting and distributing humanitarian aid, which it says strengthens the group’s rule in Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu has defended Israel’s actions in Gaza and reacted angrily to a joint statement penned by the leaders of the UK, France and Canada, in which they urged Israel to end its military offensive in Gaza and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid allowed into the enclave.

The Israeli prime minister said: “By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities.

“No nation can be expected to accept anything less and Israel certainly won’t. This is a war of civilisation over barbarism. Israel will continue to defend itself by just means until total victory is achieved.”

UK

‘Khan Younis looks like Stalingrad’: British doctor in Gaza describes horror – and has message for world leaders

Published

7 hours ago

May 21, 2025

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'Khan Younis looks like Stalingrad': British doctor in Gaza describes horror - and has message for world leaders

A British doctor working in Gaza has urged world leaders to “stop talking and do something” as he described how people are starving and the “massive extent of destruction”.

Dr Tom Potokar – who has compared Gaza to a “slaugherhouse” because of the bombardment by Israeli forces – is part of a group of British specialist doctors and surgeons currently working in Khan Younis.

Gaza latest: UK halts trade talks with Israel

Sky News spent two days filming with them in Nasser and Amal hospitals – two of the last functioning hospitals in southern Gaza.

They are plastic surgeons and orthopaedic specialists. The operating theatres are a rare zone of calm as the medics work with the war outside and a constant stream of wounded needing urgent treatment.

All the patients are malnourished. Children are suffering the worst. The lack of food and water has made them weak and more vulnerable to their injuries.

Hospitals in Gaza have repeatedly come under attack during the war. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims Hamas has been hiding in them or in tunnels underneath.

Nasser hospital hasn’t escaped. The burns unit was one of the busiest parts of the hospital, until it was destroyed in an airstrike.

The doctors sleep and spend downtime in small living quarters within the hospital itself. Food is one ready meal a day, only 400 calories. The 11-week blockade is affecting everyone.

Dr Potokar was working in the European hospital on the western edge of Khan Younis but had to evacuate last week when it came under missile fire and had to close.

He went to Amal hospital next to Nasser and is working again.

He says he’s seen a dramatic change since he was last in Gaza shortly after the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.

“The difference this time I think is the intensity,” he says.

“Back in October to December ’23 was the last time I was here, there was a lot of wounded, and it was very intense as well.

“I think the difference this time is because of the blockade there’s so little stuff getting in, there’s no food getting in so people are starving, there’s very little medical supplies coming in but also the other very noticeable thing is the massive extent of destruction – I mean Khan Younis looks like Stalingrad.”

Speaking about what he has witnessed in Gaza, Dr Potokar added: “What can you say, it’s horrific, it’s a slaughterhouse. That’s what it is, it’s a slaughterhouse.”

He also urged world leaders to “stop talking and do something”.

The United Nations says 100 aid trucks were cleared for entry into Gaza on Tuesday, but Tom Fletcher, a former British diplomat who now heads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, warned that 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if they don’t receive urgent aid.

On Monday evening, the IDF-declared combat zone was only a few streets from the Nasser hospital. Drones flew low overhead through the day.

“An evacuation order for most of Khan Younis went out today, which meant we lost several members of the team,” said Dr Victoria Rose, a plastic surgeon.

“My anaesthetic nurse and Graeme’s orthopaedic colleague had to leave us mid-case to go and evacuate their families to an area of safety.”

Dr Graeme Groom added: “These are people just like you and me, they have their homes, their families, they live normal lives, many are very impressive people and without notice they have to pick up a grab bag and leave… look for food, look for water, look for shelter, but turn up at work each day.”

With the Israeli military operation getting closer, the doctors are also prepared to evacuate at short notice.

Essential supplies have been gathered and packed ready in a storeroom.

But Nasser hospital has the last remaining ICU department in the whole of southern Gaza – one of only two with a working oxygen supply. If it must be evacuated, then the remaining temporary field hospitals would likely be overwhelmed and unable to cope.

UK

Student, 23, who lost all four limbs to sepsis calls on people to get meningitis vaccine

Published

7 hours ago

May 21, 2025

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Student, 23, who lost all four limbs to sepsis calls on people to get meningitis vaccine

A medical student who lost all four limbs due to sepsis has called on people to get the meningitis vaccine to help prevent them going through a similar ordeal.

Lily McGarry was rushed to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with flu-like symptoms in January before her condition rapidly worsened and she went into septic shock.

The 23-year-old was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia, a type of blood poisoning caused by the same kind of bacteria that causes the most common form of bacterial meningitis.

Ms McGarry, who is originally from Jersey but was studying in Cardiff, survived two cardiac arrests before spending a fortnight in a coma and more than 100 days in intensive care.

The infection caused severe blood flow issues in her body and, as a result, she had to undergo surgery to amputate all four of her limbs at the Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

As the Cardiff University student begins her rehabilitation, her father Stuart McGarry told The UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee his daughter now wants people to have the meningitis vaccine to help prevent protect them against meningococcal septicaemia.

Mr McGarry said: “(Lily) wants to get the message out to everyone. The (meningitis) vaccination rate post-COVID for children has dropped off significantly. She just wanted to get the message over to get vaccinated.

“I mean, obviously, Lily proves that it doesn’t work for 100% of the people 100% of the time.

“But the meningitis vaccination programme in the UK has been phenomenally successful… some of the staff at Cardiff hospital hadn’t seen a case like Lily for 10 years. So it’s proven it’s effective. It works. Get it.”

‘Difficult conversations’

Mr McGarry was in Jersey when he received the call from the hospital to say his daughter was unwell.

“It’s the call that no father wants really,” he said.

“They said that I should come over to Cardiff, that Lily was really unwell, and I said, ‘I’ll pack a bag and get a flight tomorrow’ and the nurse said ‘no, you should be here now’.

“Her mum was in Australia when she received the call – so she would have had the flight from hell to come back all the way from Australia to Cardiff.”

Mr McGarry said he later had to have a lot of “very difficult conversations” with NHS staff about what would happen to his daughter’s limbs – with doctors telling him that both of her arms and legs would have to be amputated.

“She’s out of intensive care now after 113 days, she is in the rehabilitation section,” Mr McGarry said.

“The narrative has changed to the body that she has got and what she can do with that.

“I had a wobble for a couple of weeks when I was in front of her and was tearful… she looked me in the eye and she said, ‘Dad, I will make the best of my stumps’.

“And she owned the word ‘stumps’… from that I got a lot of strength because I thought, ‘my God, I think she’s got this’.”

A GoFundMe account set up to help raise money for prosthetic limbs for Ms McGarry had raised more than £370,000 as of Tuesday night.

Mr McGarry said: “People have been very generous. So there’s that. And that will give Lily that choice down the road.

“At the moment, though, we’re focused more on the present – the small steps… getting her wounds to heal.

“The prosthetics – she’s trying now, with just little ones on her arms, just to give her a little bit more independence, which is something she craves.”

Mr McGarry described his daughter as “a delight”, saying: “We went on a walking holiday in the Swiss Alps last year. She was very happy to go walking around, looking at the wonder and the majesty of the Alps, having a nice gooey Swiss fondue and a couple of pints with her dad – it just doesn’t get better.

“She’s the best person I know. She’s my daughter.”