Over a third of rental properties in the North East are being advertised with bills included, according to new analysis from LegalforLandlords. This figure, at 34.4% of listings, reveals a sharp regional divide in how landlords structure tenancies.
The analysis, based on Zoopla rental listings from 1 September 2026, found that across Britain, only 14.9% of rental properties included bills. In contrast, Scotland recorded a much lower proportion, with just 8.6% of listings offering bills-included arrangements.
LegalforLandlords noted that bills-included renting is concentrated in specific markets, such as parts of the student accommodation sector and some build-to-rent developments. For tenants, this arrangement can simplify monthly budgeting, while landlords take on responsibility for fluctuating utility costs.
The research comes as the energy price cap is set to increase by 4% in October, rising from £1,663 to £1,723 a year for a typical household paying by Direct Debit. This adds another factor for landlords to consider when deciding whether to absorb household bills within the rent.