April is the month the UK gets a collective kick in the finances. Council tax, water, energy, broadband, mobile, TV licence — they all reset at once, and this year is no different. If your bank balance felt lighter this month, this is why.
Here's what changed on 1 April 2026, the actual numbers behind each rise, and — more usefully — one practical thing you can do about each one.
Council Tax: Up 5% Across Most of England
The majority of councils in England pushed through the maximum 5% increase without a referendum. Of 384 local authorities, 274 went for the full 5%, with another 50 landing just below that. A Band D property paying £2,171 last year is now paying around £2,280 — roughly £109 more per year, or £9 extra a month.
Some areas got hit harder. North Somerset, Shropshire, and Worcestershire were given government permission to raise bills by up to 8.99%. Trafford, Warrington, and Windsor & Maidenhead went up 7.49%. If you're in one of those areas, you'll feel it more than most.
Scotland saw rises of between 4% and 10% depending on the council. Wales landed between 4% and 5%.
Around 400,000 homes in England are thought to be in the wrong council tax band. Challenging yours is free through the Valuation Office Agency and takes about five minutes.
What to do: Check whether you're in the right council tax band. If you're on a low income, also check whether you qualify for Council Tax Reduction — the criteria vary by council but it's worth a look.
Water Bills: £33 a Year Higher on Average
The average household water and sewerage bill rose from £606 to £639 — a 5.4% increase, or about £2.70 extra per month. That's the national average, though. Regional variation is significant.
Where the biggest regional rises landed:
- Severn Trent — 10% rise
- Sutton and East Surrey — 11% rise
- Bristol Water — 12% rise
- Affinity Water (central region) — 13% rise
The money is going towards a £104 billion investment programme running until 2030. Whether that translates into better service is another question, but the bills are going up regardless.
What to do: If you're not on a water meter, get one fitted — it's free from your water company and most one or two-person households save money by switching to metered billing. You can try a meter for the first 12 months and switch back if it doesn't work out. If you're already metered and struggling, check whether your provider offers a social tariff. Most water companies have one, but they don't exactly shout about it.
Energy: Down 6.6% Now — But a Big July Rise Is Coming
This one's actually good news — for now. The Ofgem price cap dropped to £1,641 per year from 1 April, down 6.6% from the Q1 cap of £1,758. Average electricity rates fell to 24.7p/kWh and gas to 5.7p/kWh.
Part of the drop comes from the government's £6.9 billion energy bill discount scheme, which strips out certain policy costs from household bills for three years from April 2026.
Cornwall Insight is forecasting the price cap will jump to around £1,861–£1,929 from July — a rise of 13–18% in a single quarter. A typical household could be paying £220–£290 more per year from July compared to right now.
What to do: This is the window to consider fixing your energy tariff. If you're on a standard variable tariff, you're protected at £1,641 until 30 June. But if the July forecast plays out, locking in a fixed deal now — even one slightly above the current cap — could save you money over the next 12 months. We've broken down the maths in detail in our guide to whether to fix your energy tariff before Ofgem's 27 May decision. Good deals are appearing and disappearing within days, so don't sit on it.
Broadband: £3–£4 a Month Added to Your Bill
The big providers all pushed through their annual price hikes on 1 April:
April 2026 broadband price rises:
- BT, EE and Plusnet — £4 a month (£48 a year)
- Virgin Media — £4 a month across broadband, TV and phone
- Sky — £3 a month
- Vodafone — £3.50 a month
Since January 2025, Ofcom has required these increases to be stated as a fixed pound amount in contracts, rather than the old inflation-plus-a-bit formula. So at least you know what you're getting into when you sign up.
What to do: If you're out of contract, you're almost certainly overpaying (here is how to check the date). Call your provider and ask for a new deal — most will offer a retention discount rather than lose you. If they won't budge, switch. If you're mid-contract and unhappy with the rise, some providers give you a 30-day window to leave penalty-free after a price notification. Sky, for example, lets mid-contract customers cancel without early termination charges when a price change is applied. Check your provider's specific terms.
Mobile: £1.80–£2.50 a Month Extra Across the Major Networks
Mobile networks followed the same pattern as broadband. EE, Vodafone, and O2 all added £2.50 a month to existing plans. Three increased by £1.80–£2.30 depending on your data allowance.
These are now fixed-amount rises rather than percentage-based, thanks to the same Ofcom rules. Small comfort when you're paying an extra £30 a year for the same service.
What to do: SIM-only deals are almost always cheaper than handset bundles. If your phone is paid off, switch to a SIM-only plan and pocket the difference. If you're mid-contract, check whether your provider's price rise triggers a penalty-free exit window — it varies by network and contract date.
TV Licence: Now £180 a Year
The annual colour TV licence rose from £174.50 to £180 — an increase of £5.50, calculated using CPI inflation of 3.15%. It'll rise by CPI again next year.
What to do: If you don't watch live TV or BBC iPlayer, you don't need a licence. You can legally cancel it and save £180 a year. You'll need to make a declaration on the TV Licensing website. If you do watch live TV, paying by annual direct debit is the cheapest option — monthly or quarterly payment plans add a small premium.
The Total Damage: £360–£600 a Year for the Average Household
Add it all up for a typical household and you're looking at roughly £30–£50 extra per month across all these rises — before the potential energy spike in July. That's £360–£600 a year in additional costs for essentially the same services.
The good news is that most of these bills have a lever you can pull. Whether it's switching provider, checking your banding, fitting a meter, or fixing a tariff ahead of summer — the people who act in April tend to be better off than those who absorb the hit and move on.
April price rises will cost the average UK household £360–£600 a year. Almost every bill has a switch, challenge, or tariff lever you can pull — but only if you remember to act before the next renewal slips past. The Home Concierge keeps your renewal dates and contract end dates in one place, so you can act in the window that actually saves you money.