Good Morning Surrey,
Week two of January: the recycling is full, the gym bag is optimistically by the door, and the hall table has become a little administrative weather system, brown envelopes, “important update” emails, and a broadband reminder you keep swiping away.
So today we’re doing one useful thing: pulling out the changes that actually shift the week in Surrey where you can rent, what your bills might do next, and what support is quietly still available if you need it. Quick question: when did you last check the small print on your phone or broadband deal?
In today’s edition,
Budget 2025 changes that quietly affect take-home pay in Surrey over the next few years.
Ofcom’s mid-contract price rules: what to check if you’re on an older deal.
Student loans and fees: the 2026 terms, threshold freezes, and the first tuition fee cap rise since 2017.
Woking expands HMO licensing to 3–4 person shared houses — plus the leisure centre refurb to plan around.
Cost of living help: Household Support Fund e-vouchers and Warm Welcome spaces running through March.
Let’s take a look.
— Prince Khurram
P.S. Our Monday Update leans more towards news, the Wednesday Midweek Brief balances news and events, and the Friday Weekender is lighter on news and fuller on events and Eat & Drink. We would really welcome your thoughts on this format and how we can improve The Surrey Digest for you.
News
2026 telecoms bills - Ofcom clamps down on mid contract price tricks
Image by Ronald Carreño
From 17 January 2025 new mobile, broadband and pay TV contracts must spell out any future price rises in pounds and pence instead of CPI or RPI plus a percentage, but older deals can still see inflation linked hikes through 2026.
Surrey households on pre 2025 contracts may still face spring bill increases unless they switch or re contract, so it is worth checking your paperwork.
2026 student loan shake-up and first tuition fee rise since 2017
Image by Naassom Azevedo
New Plan 5 student loans (for those who started courses from 2023) move to a £25,000 repayment threshold, a 40-year write-off period, and interest set at Retail Prices Index only (listed at 3.2 per cent for 2025–26).
For existing Plan 2 borrowers, the repayment threshold is due to be frozen at £29,385 from April 2027 for three years, meaning more graduates will begin repaying as wages rise.
On tuition fees, the government plans to raise the standard undergraduate fee cap in England for 2026–27, with official material pointing to a new upper limit of around £9,790, the first increase since 2017 subject to the usual parliamentary steps.
For Surrey families, this lands in two places at once: sixth-formers may face higher fees under the newer terms, while recent graduates on older plans feel the threshold freeze.
Budget 2025 - frozen tax thresholds and new levy on £2 million plus homes
Photo by Kelly Sikkema
Income tax and National Insurance thresholds, including the £12,570 personal allowance and £50,270 higher rate threshold, are now set to stay frozen until April 2031, pulling more pay into higher bands over time. A new higher council tax charge is planned for homes valued above £2 million from April 2028.
For households close to the higher rate band, this quietly increases what comes off the payslip over the next few years.
New licensing rules for smaller shared houses in Woking
From 5 January 2026, many smaller shared houses in Woking fall under a new Additional HMO Licensing Scheme, bringing some three- and four-person shared homes into licensing.
Here’s what you should know:
It covers properties where 3+ people or 2+ households share kitchen/bathroom.
Fees are in the high hundreds of pounds, depending on licence type and term.
Operating an unlicensed HMO can mean civil penalties up to £30,000 (or prosecution in serious cases).
The council says it’ll raise management standards and improve safety over time.
If you let or manage shared homes in Woking, this is a change to act on now rather than wait for enforcement.
Surrey Household Support Fund supermarket e-vouchers until March
Surrey County Council’s Household Support Fund is still offering supermarket e-vouchers to help with everyday essentials, running in monthly pots through to 31 March 2026 or until funding runs out. Applications are handled centrally, with Guildford residents now directed straight to the Surrey scheme.
Current round covers 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, with around £9.3 million allocated to Surrey.
Everyday Essentials e-vouchers are released monthly, so each pot can close early once that month’s allocation has gone.
Eligibility focuses on low income households facing financial hardship, via a short online form and limited supporting evidence.
Guildford Borough Council’s own fund has closed, so residents there now apply direct via Surrey County Council.
If you think you might qualify, it is worth checking early in the month rather than waiting.
Sponsored by HIRE5 Menswear Guildford
Guildford Get Burns Night Ready
Burns Night falls on Sunday, 25 January, and a standard suit rarely cuts it for a proper supper. HIRE5 Menswear in Guildford makes it easy to get the Highland look right without the heavy investment of buying a full outfit. Here is why hiring is the smart move:
Full ensemble hire: Prince Charlie jackets, sporrans, and ghillie brogues included.
Professional fitting: Avoid the "costume" look with precise tailoring.
Wide range of tartans: Find the right colour palette for the evening.
Local convenience: Easy collection and return in Guildford - no London trek.
Beat the rush: Get measured now to secure your outfit for the 25th.
Properties of the Week
Home A
Price: £300,000
Address: Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1
Details: One bedroom/3rd floor with balcony/ over the River Wey
Parking type: Allocated parking
Click here: To view the full listing and plan a visit
Home B
Price: £475,000
Address: Woking GU21
Details: 3 bedroom/ semi detached/modern kitchen and bathroom/ garden
Parking type: Off street parking
Click here: To view the full listing and arrange a viewing
Home C
Price: £800,000 (guide)
Address: Silo Drive, Godalming GU7
Details: Brand new/ detached/ 3 bedroom/ generous plot/ long driveway/ landscaped gardens
Built in: New
Parking Type: Driveway parking and garage
Click here: To view the full listing and arrange a viewing
County Updates
£1.2m upgrade for Woking Leisure Centre gym and studios
Woking Leisure Centre is getting a £1.2 million refurbishment in early 2026, with a revamped gym, a new dedicated cycling studio and refreshed group exercise spaces as part of a wider investment in the borough’s leisure facilities.
Phase one works are scheduled for early 2026, with detailed closure and disruption dates to be confirmed by the operator.
Gym kit will be replaced and reconfigured, aiming for more modern equipment and a better layout for busy times.
Plans include a new indoor cycling studio and upgrades to existing studios used for group classes.
The project sits within a broader investment programme of around £1.85 million across Woking’s leisure estate.
Worth keeping an eye on the timetable if you rely on the centre for regular classes or swimming.
Woking budget consultation 2026-27 for business rate payers
Woking Borough Council is consulting local business rate payers on its draft 2026-27 budget, with a focus on setting an affordable, sustainable plan while it continues to work through its financial recovery.
Consultation is open now and runs until 11.59pm on Sunday 18 January 2026.
Businesses that pay rates in Woking are invited to comment on priorities, planned savings and proposed investments.
Responses will feed into the final budget that sets service levels and spending for the coming financial year.
Background papers include the Medium Term Financial Plan, savings proposals and investment options.
If you run or manage a business in the borough, this is one of the chances to have a formal say before decisions are final.
Community Digest
Warm Welcome venues across Surrey
A network of Warm Welcome venues is open across Surrey through to 31 March 2026, offering free heated spaces where you can sit, chat, work or simply take a break from the heating for a few hours.
Here’s how it works.
Venues include libraries, community centres, churches and other public buildings.
Most offer hot drinks, some provide light refreshments, activities or advice sessions.
Opening days and hours vary, with some weekday only and others at weekends.
You do not need a referral, though some venues may ask for basic contact details for safety.
It is worth checking the map to see what is within a short bus ride or walk.
Events This Week
Cathedral Tots monthly family service | Wednesday 14 January 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Guildford Cathedral, Guildford
Description: A short, toddler friendly service with songs, story and space for little ones to roam, followed by time to play and chat. Free to attend, though donations are usually welcomed.
Joy to the World Christmas art exhibition | 30 Nov 2025 - 2 Feb 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Guildford Cathedral, Guildford
🛍️ Markets
Guildford Farmers’ Market High Street | Tuesday 3 February 2026
Location: High Street, Guildford
Description: Monthly farmers’ market with around fifty stalls of local produce, baked goods and street food, running roughly 10.30 to 15.30 on the first Tuesday of the month. The January date has just passed, so the next one is on Tuesday 3 February.
Click here: To check timings, parking and stall information
🍽️ Eat & Drink
Ferma Farm Shop & Bistro
Location: Ripley
Description: Ferma’s January Supper Club is a set menu evening in the farm bistro, usually built around seasonal local produce and a handful of well judged courses. Expect a relaxed dining room rather than white tablecloth formality, and book ahead as seats are limited.
Click here: To see sample menus and booking information
Discover the World of Wine – Sparkling Wine
Location: Surrey Wine School at The Guildford Institute, Guildford
Description: Thu 29 Jan 2026 class tasting six sparkling wines (ticket around £45).
Click here: To see what’s included and book a place
Ten Tables Valentine’s tasting menu
Location: Ten Tables, Guildford
Description: One-night ten-course tasting menu on Saturday 14 February 2026 (£99 pp).
Click here: To see the details and reserve a table
💼 Local Jobs
Support Worker - Surrey County Council
Location: Guildford and surrounding area
Description: Front line support worker role with Surrey County Council, working with adults in the community, with full training provided and enhancements on top of a base salary of around £27,634. Closing date is now confirmed as 28 January 2026 at 23.59.
Click here: To read the job description and apply online
Resourcing Operations Team Lead - Royal Surrey
Location: Guildford
Description: Band 6 role leading the resourcing operations team at Royal Surrey, looking after recruitment workflows and processes. The deadline is today, Monday 12 January 2026, so this is very much a last call.
Click here: To see the advert and application details
📒 Directory
Nigel Adams Electrical
Location: Guildford, Cranleigh, Shere and Surrey Hills villages
Description: NICEIC registered electrician for rewires, upgrades and EV charging.
Click here: To see example projects and arrange a visit
Surrey Hills Handyman
Location: Surrey Hills and surrounding villages
Description: General handyman service including small repairs and flat-pack assembly.
Click here: To see services offered and request a quote
Bright & Beautiful Guildford
Location: Guildford, Burpham, Merrow and nearby villages
Description: Employed, insured housekeeping teams for regular or one-off cleans.
Click here: To see packages and arrange a home visit
And Finally,
On the way back from the school run or the station this week, you might notice the light hanging on for a minute longer. It’s small, but it changes how the day feels.
If you spot something in Surrey that needs a quiet heads up, a deadline, a closure, a helpful scheme, just hit reply and tell us.
Thank you for reading. See you on Wednesday.
