Buying your first home
What bills do homeowners pay?
If you have only ever rented, the list of bills that come with owning a home can be a surprise. Here is the full set, with how often each one tends to arrive.
The full list
Mortgage repaymentFortnightly or monthly
Council ratesQuarterly
Water and sewerageQuarterly or monthly
Home and contents insuranceAnnual or monthly
Strata / owners corp feesQuarterly, if applicable
ElectricityMonthly
GasMonthly, if connected
InternetMonthly
Maintenance and repairsIrregular
Why it feels like a lot
It is a lot - but most of it is predictable. The reason it feels overwhelming is that the bills arrive on different cycles from different providers. One list, normalised to a weekly and annual figure, makes it manageable.
Frequently asked questions
What bills do you pay after buying a house?
Mortgage, council rates, water, electricity, gas, internet, home insurance and strata where applicable, plus any subscriptions and occasional maintenance.
Do you pay council rates every month?
Usually quarterly. Some councils offer other arrangements, but quarterly instalments are the most common.
Last reviewed: 19 August 2026
