Most students consider access to the internet as vital, so you'll probably want internet access established in your house as soon as possible. The internet is normally offered as a fixed amount per month for an agreed number of months. Payments are usually paid by direct debit.

To keep costs to a minimum when deciding on which internet provider to use, and the type of contract you want, it is important to think about the following points:

• Length of contract - some providers offer a 9 month contract rather than the usual 12, just for students. It is important that the contract is no longer than the tenancy agreement or you will be paying for internet access that you won't be able to use. Cable.co.uk are a comparison site that have a special student section to try and help you find the best deal.
• Installation costs - providers often charge a one-off fee to install the required equipment eg the router.  Check if you can self-install the equipment for free.
• The number of people using the internet - this will determine what speed is required and the amount you can download per month. The provider may be able to advise.
• Factor in the reality that you will not always get the speed quoted on your contract - At peak times (notably late evenings) the speed of your connection can be restricted.
• Wireless internet  - Most routers have a limited range.  Check it is sufficient for you all to have access when in your rooms.
• Check how you pay for the contract.

It is also important to note that some internet providers require you to have a landline installed in your house, which can add costs to your bill such as line rental and installation costs. 

An internet contract is ususally set up for a minimum period and then continues until you cancel.  Make sure you cancel your contract when you leave the house.

As a student household there are different ways in which you can sort out paying your utility bills.  

It could be useful to have a house meeting to analyse the different methods and make a joint decision. 

Joint bank account

One way to pay the bills is through a joint 'house' bank account. Joint accounts are offered by all major banks and are quite easy to set up. Each member of the household agrees to pay a fixed amount into the account either termly, when they receive their student finance, or monthly.

All the household utility bills will then be paid from this account using a variety of methods. The most common way to pay is by monthly direct debit. You can often get the best deals if you pay this way. Alternatively you can pay the bills when they arrive by online direct payment.

Points to consider:

• You are financially linked to the other members of your house, so it is important that you trust them.
• If a member fails to pay into the joint account this could potentially lead to a direct debit not being paid by the bank. This can affect your credit score which could impact on your future ability to gain loans or credit cards.

Individual responsibility

An alternative way to organise paying household bills is by appointing each household member respnsibility for a specific bill. The assigned student has to collect money from each of their housemates and then pay the bill. 

You should bear in mind:

• You must trust your housemates - it is easy for you to pay the bill and for your housemates to 'forget' to reimburse you.
• If the bill you are responsible for is unpaid it is your credit rating that will be affected.
• Responsibilty for the whole bill lies with one person - this can cause problems for everybody if a household member is unreliable and fails to pay the bill they are responsible for.