All of the payments going up in April as households face over £200 in additional prices

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra April is only a week away, that means the beginning of a brand new monetary yr and a slate of invoice rises for households to organize for.

Typically dubbed “terrible April” by cash specialists, the yearly invoice rise is more likely to really feel significantly ill-timed for a lot of, as battle within the Center East threatens to push up the UK’s price of dwelling within the close to future.

Council tax and water payments will each be rising by greater than ordinary in 2026, as households face a median £214 improve in important payments in 2026/27, information from Uswitch has revealed.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/01/28/19/17/01KG2M9V40K0EE0BH9SPM01X9J.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/01/28/19/17/01KG2M9V40K0EE0BH9SPM01X9J.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C42%2C0%2C40&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/01/28/19/17/01KG2M9V40K0EE0BH9SPM01X9J.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C42%2C0%2C40&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Council tax and water bills will both be rising by more than usual in 2026" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> Council tax and water payments will each be rising by greater than ordinary in 2026 (PA) In higher information, most advantages, the state pension and the minimal wage may also be rising in April, serving to tens of millions of households. In the meantime, wages proceed to rise solely modestly, recording the slowest development in 5 years within the November to January interval, in line with official information.

Round 62 per cent of Brits now concern they can not cowl the rising prices on their present revenue, Uswitch researchers discovered, as family incomes battle to maintain tempo with the size of value rises.

Right here’s a breakdown of a number of the key family payments rising this yr:

Council tax – up £109

The vast majority of councils in England have introduced a council tax improve of 4.99 per cent – the utmost allowed with out authorities permission. The common rise will equate to £109 per family, Uswitch evaluation has discovered.

Seven councils in England have been allowed to boost their fee by greater than this in April. Shropshire, Worcestershire, and North Somerset have been permitted the very best, every at 8.99 per cent.

Warring, Trafford, and Windsor and Maidenhead will increase theirs by 7.49 per cent, whereas Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council have been permitted 6.74 per cent.

Water payments – up £32.40

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Common family water payments are set to rise by £33 yearly, a hike two share factors above inflation, sparking renewed public anger over persistent sewage air pollution.

Seeing the largest improve in money phrases are clients of United Utilities, which serves the northwest, at a median £57. That is adopted by Southern Water (up £55), Hafren Dyfrdwy (up £54) and Severn Trent Water (up £52).

Water UK says the rise will fund a £20bn funding between 2026/27, aimed toward securing provides and halting discharges into rivers and seas.

Licence charge – up £5.50

From April, the TV licence charge will rise from £174.50 to £180 – a rise of £5.50. The change will add an additional 46p a month onto the licence charge, and is bigger than final yr’s rise of £5.

The TV licence is a authorized allow that have to be acquired to observe or document stay programmes on any machine. This may both be by buy or given free to these receiving pension credit score and 75 years or older.

Broadband and cellular – up £67.20

Most broadband and cellular suppliers will probably be growing month-to-month payments from April, in some instances by as a lot as £4. Mixed, rises will price households a median of £67.20 additional a yr, Uswitch estimates.

Nevertheless, in contrast to many different family bills, many households can take motion now to keep away from the steepest rises. An estimated 14 million persons are out of contract on their cellular deal, and an estimated 7 million on their broadband. This implies they received’t face a penalty for leaving their supplier, or looking for a greater cope with them – and typically it will pay to take action.

For many who are pleased with their cellular machine, Sim-only offers might be discovered for as little as £4 a month. Cash professional Martin Lewis has additionally suggested that out-of-contract broadband clients may “double the velocity and halve the value” of their contracts for financial savings of as much as £500 a yr.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/03/12/14/14/rtyjthregfwregtrhgf.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/03/12/14/14/rtyjthregfwregtrhgf.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/03/12/14/14/rtyjthregfwregtrhgf.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Money expert Martin Lewis has also advised that out-of-contract broadband customers could ‘double the speed and halve the price’ of their contracts for savings of up to £500 a year" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> Cash professional Martin Lewis has additionally suggested that out-of-contract broadband clients may ‘double the velocity and halve the value’ of their contracts for financial savings of as much as £500 a yr (BBC) Vitality payments – down £117 (for now)

Ofgem’s power value cap will drop to £1,641 for 1 April to 31 June 2026 – reducing by round 7 per cent, or £117. The discount aligns with chancellor Rachel Reeves’ latest pledge that £150 could be lower from the typical family invoice.

The power value cap is the utmost quantity power suppliers can cost these on a regular variable tariff for every unit of power, which incorporates most households. It's expressed as an annual invoice for a median dwelling.

The power regulator’s resolution will come as welcome information to invoice payers, marking one of many few reductions amongst a slate of invoice rises. Mixed with hotter spring climate, power prices needs to be much less of a priority within the brief time period.

In the long term, the outlook is much less constructive.

Revered power consultancy Cornwall Perception has predicted the July value cap will rise by a large £332 from July, as much as £1,973, as battle within the Center East threatens to push up prices.

This could convey the value cap to the very best fee since July 2023, which got here after the document rises seen within the first yr of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.