The short answer
At GladStay, “bills included” means your monthly rent already covers electricity, gas, water, council tax and internet. There are no extra monthly fees, no meters to read and no bills to split with housemates. Cleaning of the shared areas and a GladStay Welcome Kit are included too; cleaning your own room (£20 an hour) and the GladStay Bedding Pack (£77, or £107 for the Plus) are optional extras.
- Bills in the rent
- 5
- Extra monthly fees
- £0
- Payments a month
- 1
On this page8 sections
The five bills included in every rent
| Bill | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Electricity | Power for your room and the shared spaces. |
| Gas | The gas the house uses, such as for heating and hot water. |
| Water | Water and sewerage charges for the house. |
| Council tax | The council’s charge for the home, paid through your rent. |
| Internet | The house Wi‑Fi. |
It is one clear monthly price, with no unexpected costs and full transparency: nothing to top up, and no bill to split when a housemate moves out. One monthly payment, no surprises.
Each listing also shows how much of the rent goes on bills. On every room listed today that is £295 a month, already inside the price you see.
Also included: the room, the kitchen and the cleaning
Bills are only part of what the rent covers. Every room is renovated before it is rented, and the house is ready to live in from day one:
- A fully furnished room: bed, wardrobe, desk, chair and storage. The exact setup is shown on each listing.
- An equipped shared kitchen: oven or cooker, microwave, toaster, kettle and fridge-freezer, plus basic utensils and cookware.
- Household appliances, including a washing machine and a vacuum cleaner.
- Regular cleaning of the shared areas, such as the kitchen, corridors and shared bathrooms.
- Real human support, 24/7. If something breaks and it is our responsibility, we arrange the repair.
- A GladStay Welcome Kit in every room: clear info, useful contacts, and a smoother move-in from day one.
Optional extras and what they cost
These extras are available if you want them. None of them is required, and none is added to your rent unless you ask:
| Extra | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning of your own room | £20 an hour | Arranged on request. Shared areas are already cleaned regularly. |
| GladStay Bedding Pack | £77 | 1 fitted sheet, 1 duvet cover, 2 pillowcases, 2 pillows and a duvet. Add it when you send your request. |
| Bedding Pack Plus | £107 | Everything in the Bedding Pack plus a small towel, a bath towel and a laundry bag. |
What isn’t part of the bills
Anything personal to you stays with you. Plan for these separately:
- Your mobile phone contract and any streaming or other subscriptions.
- A TV Licence, if you need one. It is not one of the five bills above. Under the Tenant Fees Act a landlord can only include it in the rent if the tenancy agreement says so.
- Contents insurance for your belongings, if you want it. It is your choice: a landlord cannot make you buy insurance as a condition of the tenancy.
- Travel, food and anything else you buy for yourself.
What the law says about bills in the rent
In England the Tenant Fees Act 2019 (opens in a new tab) controls what a landlord can charge. Bills are one of the payments it allows, with a few rules worth knowing:
- Utilities and services like broadband can be included in the rent. If they are, they must be listed as terms in the tenancy agreement.
- Council tax can be included where the tenancy agreement says so. A landlord cannot require a separate payment to them for council tax: either it is in the rent, or you pay the council yourself.
- Landlords cannot make a profit reselling gas, electricity or water. The maximum resale prices are set under energy and water regulations.
- The rent must not be more than the advertised amount, and the landlord must clearly explain what is included when you agree the tenancy.
Check it in writing
Before you sign any tenancy, look for the list of included bills in the agreement itself. If it isn’t written down, ask for it to be added.
How to compare a bills-included room with one that isn’t
A room that looks cheaper can end up costing more once the bills arrive. To compare fairly:
- Ask exactly which bills are included and whether any are capped or charged on top.
- Add council tax, energy, water and broadband to any rent that leaves them out.
- Check how payments work: one payment to the landlord, or separate accounts you have to open and share.
- Count the extras that are free in one place and paid in another, such as cleaning of the shared areas.
- Get the final monthly figure in writing before you pay a holding deposit.
Every room with bills included
From £650 a month: electricity, gas, water, council tax and Wi‑Fi in one payment.
Questions and answers
Are bills included in the rent?
Yes. All bills are included in the rent: electricity, gas, water, council tax and internet. One monthly payment, no surprises.
Is there any extra monthly fee?
No. There are no extra monthly fees. The rent is all-inclusive.
Is council tax included?
Yes. Council tax is included in every GladStay rent, so you do not pay the council separately.
Is cleaning included?
Yes. Regular cleaning is included for all communal areas such as kitchens, corridors and shared bathrooms.
Can I get cleaning for my room?
Yes. Cleaning for your room can be arranged as an extra service at £20 per hour.
Do you provide bedding and towels?
Not by default. When you send a request, you can add the GladStay Bedding Pack for £77 or the Bedding Pack Plus, with towels and a laundry bag, for £107. Every room comes with a GladStay Welcome Kit.
What’s included in the kitchen?
Shared kitchens are equipped with essential appliances and items, including oven or cooker, microwave, toaster, kettle and fridge-freezer, plus basic utensils and cookware.
Is a TV Licence included?
A TV Licence is not one of the bills included in the rent. Under the Tenant Fees Act, a landlord can include it in the rent only where the tenancy agreement says so.
Sources
Checked against these official sources on 28 October 2026:
About this guide
Written by the GladStay team: 1,500+ tenants helped since 2013. We check our guides against the official sources above and update them when the rules change. This is general information for England, not legal advice: for your own situation, use the official sources or get independent advice.
One price. Every bill included.
Rooms from £650 a month, with electricity, gas, water, council tax and Wi‑Fi in the rent.