All your household bills are changing in April 2026 – here’s what’s going up and what to do

A wave of household bill increases is landing in April 2026 as the new financial year begins. According to comparison site Uswitch, the average household could pay around £214 more a year on key bills including council tax, water, broadband, mobiles and more. 

Below, we break down the major changes, why they’re happening and how you can soften the blow.  

Council tax bills will rise again 

Council tax is going up across England in April. The average Band D bill for 2026–27 will be £2,392, an increase of £111 (4.9%) on last year. This figure includes adult social care and parish charges.  

Most councils are taking the full 4.99% rise, but seven local authorities have been allowed to go higher because of serious financial pressure. For example, Shropshire is raising bills by 8.99%. These increases are happening even though the rate of inflation is currently lower, at around 3%. What you can do: 

• Check if you qualify for a reduction (for example, if you live alone, are a student or receive certain benefits). 

• Ask your council to spread payments over 12 months instead of 10 to reduce the monthly cost. 

Energy bills are falling – but possibly only for now 

There is some good news: Ofgem has confirmed the energy price cap will fall by 7% from 1 April 2026, cutting the average annual bill by £117 for a typical dual‑fuel household. This includes an extra £150 saving due to changes to how environmental schemes are funded.  

The new annual cost for an average home paying by Direct Debit will be £1,641.  

However, global energy markets remain volatile. Experts warn that summer prices could rise again if conflict or supply issues push up wholesale gas. So, this drop may be a short‑term reprieve. 

What you can do: 

• If you’re on a standard variable tariff, you’ll get the price cut automatically. 

• Keep an eye on price cap predictions if you’re considering switching to a fixed or tracker deal. 

Water bills will increase across the UK 

Water bills are set to rise sharply in many areas from April: 

• England and Wales: Average increase of 5.4% (around £33 a year). 

• Scotland: Average rise of 8.7%. 

• Some providers are raising prices by 10% or more, including Severn Trent and Bristol Water, where increases are around 12%. 

If you’re struggling, ask your provider about social tariffs to see if you might be eligible.  

Broadband and mobile bills are going up 

Most broadband and mobile providers add annual price rises in April, often linked to inflation or fixed percentages. While Ofcom is phasing out inflation‑linked rises for new contracts, many households are still tied into older agreements. 

Typical broadband rises range from £1 to £4 per month. You normally can’t switch mid‑contract, as these increases are written into terms and conditions, except for NOW Broadband, where you can cancel or switch within 31 days of being told about the increase.  

Mobile contracts will see similar percentage‑based increases. 

What you can do: 

• If you’re out of contract, shop around, switching can shave hundreds off your bills. 

• Consider SIM‑only deals or social tariffs if you’re eligible. 

TV licence costs are rising 

The TV licence fee is set to increase from April. It’ll now cost £180 per year to have a TV licence, which works out to an extra £5.50 per year. This is up from £174.50 this year.  

What you can do: 

• Check if you qualify for exemptions (for example, if you're over 75 and receiving Pension Credit). 

• If you don’t watch live TV or BBC iPlayer, you may not need a licence. 

NHS dentistry charges are increasing 

If you pay NHS dental charges in England, prices are rising by an average of 1.7% from 1 April 2026. That means: 

• Band 1 (check‑up): from £27.40 to £27.90 

• Band 2 (fillings, root canal): from £75.30 to £76.60 

• Band 3 (dentures, crowns): from £326.70 to £332.10 

Effectively, for Band 3 work, you’ll be paying around an extra £5 for treatments on average, which is the steepest price increase. Normal check-ups, however, will set you back around an extra 50p.