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Household Bills

Are your household bills higher than next door’s?

Emma Lunn
Written By:
Emma Lunn
Posted:
Updated:
25/05/2021

A new online tool helps households see if they are paying more for broadband, energy and home insurance than their neighbours.

Compare the Market has launched the Neighbourhood Bills Calculator which shows the estimated average price of household bills for similar homes in local areas.

Research by the price comparison site found that the average Brit knows five of their neighbours’ names and considers two of them to be good friends. A nation of friendly neighbours, 11% claim they get on with them like family and 23% would go to their neighbour for help or advice before going to a friend.

The study of 2,000 adults found that a third (33%) of neighbours ensure they catch up with those living nearby at least once every few days, and 14% speak to them throughout the day. Hot topics of conversation between next door neighbours include the weather (47%), bin collection (39%), a pet (27%), while one in 20 (5%) have even sought relationship advice.

However, despite neighbourly friendships, conversations about money are still very limited and considered a taboo topic, with 87% having no idea what their neighbours pay for bills in comparison to them.

A third (34%) say that they would help their neighbours save money on their bills if they could and if they found out they were paying more than their neighbours, they’d feel surprised (21%), disappointed (15%) and confused (10%).

Ursula Gibbs, commercial director at Comparethemarket.com, said: “It’s great to see how close neighbours are and the friendships that have struck up as a result of moving to the same area. People may be surprised to realise they are paying different amounts in bills compared to those next door, and we want to make it easier for people to compare their outgoings.

‘’With the comparethemarket.com Neighbourhood Bills Calculator, we want to open up a conversation that would often be unspoken, to help those in your area get the best value for money on their household bills.”


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