Students warned to beware hidden costs of bill-splitting firms

House sharing with fellow students comes with all the stressful stuff like bill paying. Photograph: Alamy

For students moving into shared accommodation this month, it’s an alluring prospect: the chance to dump the headache of bills on to a friendly agent who will sign the household up to essential utilities, roll the charges into a fixed monthly sum, and then bill each housemate separately for their share.

Bill-splitting companies pledge to take the hassle out of student life, removing the stress of ensuring tenants pay their share.