Moving into a larger home can sharply increase energy bills. As one U.K. homeowner braced for the worst, others shared their own experiences.

Here's what to know

Before getting the keys, a buyer posting in a Reddit discussion on the r/HousingUK subreddit was using a spreadsheet to forecast monthly expenses. They and their boyfriend were moving from a one-bedroom property to a four-bedroom detached house in Wiltshire.

Their planned move sparked thread visitors to provide their own examples. One commenter said higher energy costs followed their move to a four-bedroom house built in 1989.

"We went from £100 (~$135) a month and always in credit to £193 (~$260) a month and in debit!" they wrote.

Another homeowner reported that their gas and electricity bills increased by roughly 50% after moving from a two-bedroom flat to a four-bedroom detached home.

If the homeowner wants to cut those costs, going solar is one of the best ways to save on home energy, and solar leases in particular can deliver hundreds of dollars in monthly savings without upfront costs. Homeowners can use EasyHome's free explorer tool to see potential savings from vetted installers in their area.

More background

The buyer's prospective home was built in the 1980s and had double-glazed windows, along with an energy performance certificate rating near the bottom of C that could improve to the lower end of B, according to their Reddit post.

The buyer initially chose a combi boiler to replace the property's outdated boiler.

Beyond heating the larger space, the buyer had to budget for heated flooring and a heated towel rail in the bathroom. They also expected to replace a failing dehumidifier and had accounted for the cost of watering the small garden during summer.

Council tax and repairs also came up in the discussion. The homeowner paying £193 a month (~$260) for energy reported an additional £50 (~$67) a month in council tax. Meanwhile, the buyer's chosen property was in council tax band D, and they were setting money aside for emergency repairs.

What can be done?

One commenter recommended putting the bathroom's heated floor on a timer. Their other advice focused on pre-move preparations, like comparing energy and broadband options.

The buyer replied they already timed the heating in their smaller bathroom, and planned to keep radiators low in bedrooms that would see little use.

One commenter reported an annual electricity bill of £1,500 (~$2,020) after their household swapped boilers for a heat pump, added solar, and replaced two gasoline-powered cars with EVs. Other replies urged the buyer to weigh a heat pump against a replacement boiler before deciding.

The buyer said they would ask their mortgage broker about financing options for improvements. The original poster was exploring solar to lower household expenses.

"I like the idea of being more environmentally friendly, my dream has always been to buy a plot of land and be self-sufficient but it's not doable at the moment, maybe in the future," they added.

EasyHome can also help homeowners explore options for backup battery storage alongside solar, making it easier to compare a setup suited to their needs. Pairing solar with a battery allows homeowners to maximize savings and power their home with solar when the grid goes down.

Where can I learn more?

Other U.K. households are also looking for ways to cut steep energy bills. 

• U.K. owners warned a renter that running immersion heaters nonstop could prove costly.

• A U.K. customer received a £9,487 annual energy estimate, with their gas meter in a neighbor's garden.

• A U.K. homeowner facing £375 winter energy bills learned batteries could pay off without solar.

• A U.K. homeowner's zero energy bill goal faced a winter test while weighing electricity tariffs.

• A U.K. homeowner said the latest price cap made heat pumps cheaper to run than gas boilers.

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