Rent, bills and benefits
As well as rent, you will have to pay for gas, electricity, phone, water, sewerage rates and council tax, unless your rent includes these things. Ask the landlord exactly what the rent includes before you take the tenancy on.
If you are on benefits or a low income, then Housing and Council Tax Benefits may be available to cover these, but not to pay bills (or the amount in your rent towards them). You will have to pay these yourself. (You do not need your landlord’s permission to claim Housing Benefit and you do not have to tell them you are claiming it if you chose not to). See housing benefit; council tax benefit for more information.
If you are responsible for paying any bills, try and make regular payments to even out the cost. Details of payment plans are usually on the back of the bill. If you have a problem paying a bill, contact them. If you do get cut off, reconnecting can be expensive, and so can court costs. See money problems.
If you have a meter for gas or electricity, take a reading immediately and let the supplier know, or you may end up paying the last tenant's bill. Don't use any payment card left by the last person; you'll be paying into their account. When you move, give the company the last reading and an address to send the bill to, otherwise if you are moving somewhere else in the area they may not reconnect you.
If you use the PayPoint scheme, you can credit your card at various local shops, garages, Post Offices etc. to pay in advance.
Phones can be expensive to install or reconnect, and the phone bill can add up to a small fortune over three months. If you can't afford to run one, consider 'incoming calls only' or a pre-pay mobile phone.
If you are living on your own you will usually need a TV licence. If you are in shared accommodation you may need your own, though you may be entitled to share one with the whole house. The rules are complicated - ask TV Licensing or see their website for details. A one year licence is 135.50 for colour (or £45.50 for black and white). Budget through 'PayPoint', Direct Debit, or their 'cash easy entry' scheme. With cash easy entry you pay weekly for 6 months for your first licence. After that you can pay fortnightly over 12 months. Call TV licensing or look at their website.
Furniture and decorating
When you move into a new place you may be able to get a Community Care Grant or Budgetting Loan from the Social Fund (Jobcentre Plus) to help with the cost of new stuff; depending on your circumstances. Get advice from Castlegate, CAB or your tenant support worker.
If you are on a 'means tested' benefit e.g. Income Support or Housing Benefit, you may get furniture, electrical goods etc. from the Community Furniture Store. You need to be referred by an agency e.g. Castlegate, CAB or Customer Advice Centre. They will make a small charge for each item but you may be able to get help with this - ask the referral agency for more information. They also have some new items, but these will be more expensive.
Get stuff online for free at York Freecycle. Furniture, kitchen things, bikes and baby equipment etc. are all regularly offered. You’ll need an email address and become a member. Respond quickly to any ads as things go quick, and you usually need to be able to pick things up yourself. If you let them know a little about your situation and why you need it, you’ll have more chance of success, especially if you’re struggling financially. Offering something yourself also means you can post an ad asking for what you need.
If you want to decorate, check with your tenancy agreement and landlord before you start! You might get some rent free weeks for decorating when you move in if it needs it. Ask your landlord.