Bills included
What it really means
The rent already covers costs like gas, electricity, water and often internet. Always ask exactly which bills are included, because council tax and internet are sometimes not.
Context, tips & common mistakes
'Bills included' is common in student lets and house shares, but the phrase alone is not a contract — get an exact list in writing of which bills: gas, electricity, water, broadband, TV licence and (crucially) council tax are all separate items, and adverts often mean only some of them. Many inclusive deals also carry a 'fair usage' cap on energy, with overuse rebilled to tenants, so ask for the cap figure and how it is measured.
Inclusive rents carry a convenience premium, which can still be worth paying to avoid flatmate bill disputes. Compare the all-in figure against a non-inclusive rent plus realistic bills before deciding — and note that in an all-student household council tax is exempt anyway, so 'including council tax' adds less value than it sounds.