A–H
Council tax bands in England and Scotland
A–I
Bands in Wales
25%
Single person discount
1 month
Notice to give your council before moving
What is council tax when moving house?
Council tax is an annual charge on residential properties in the UK that funds local services such as bin collection, schools, social care and the emergency services. When you move house, your liability transfers from your old address to your new one - the amount you pay can change completely because rates and bands vary by local authority and by nation.
Council tax replaced the Poll Tax in 1993 and is set independently by each local council. Two identical houses in different councils can have very different annual bills, so checking the band and the local rate of your new address before you move is the only reliable way to know what you'll pay.
The rules are also not uniform across the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each run the system slightly differently. Northern Ireland, for example, uses domestic rates rather than council tax, so a move across the Irish Sea means learning a different system entirely.
How does council tax work?
You normally receive your council tax bill in April, at the start of the financial year. The bill shows the total amount due for the year and the period it covers. Most households pay by direct debit in 10 monthly instalments, although you can ask to spread it over 12 months instead to reduce each payment.
Your bill carries a council tax account number at the top - keep it to hand, because you will need it every time you contact your council, especially when you move house. Payments can also be made online, by phone, by standing order or at PayPoint and Payzone outlets.
Who pays council tax?
Council tax is paid by the resident aged 18 or over who occupies the property, whether they rent or own it. If at least two adults live there, the full bill applies. Tenants in social or council housing also pay, usually at a reduced rate combined with housing benefit, and couples are jointly and severally liable for the whole amount.
Because liability follows the resident, not the owner, private landlords are normally not responsible for the council tax on a let property - unless the property is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) let room by room, in which case the landlord pays. This distinction matters a great deal during the council tax moving house process, as we'll see below.
Several circumstances entitle you to a discount on the annual bill. These have to be claimed from your local council: they are never applied automatically, and if you forget to re-apply after moving you will be charged the full rate at your new address.
| Circumstance | Discount |
|---|---|
| Living alone (single person discount) | 25% |
| Only one adult counted in the household | 25% to 50% |
| All residents are full-time students | 100% |
| Property left unoccupied between tenants (varies by council) | Up to 100% |
Source: gov.uk - council tax discounts and exemptions. Exact rules vary by local authority.
Who is exempt from council tax?
Some residents are disregarded for council tax purposes, meaning the council ignores them when counting adults in the household. If everyone in the property is disregarded, the bill can be reduced by 50% or dropped entirely. The main categories are:
- Anyone under 18
- Full-time students and student nurses
- People on an approved apprenticeship scheme
- People classed as severely mentally impaired (with a doctor's certificate)
- Live-in carers caring for someone who is not their partner or child
- Members of the armed forces living in service accommodation
- Diplomats and members of visiting forces
Who pays council tax in a house share?
In a house share, liability depends on the type of tenancy. With a single joint tenancy - where all tenants sign the same agreement - everyone named on the contract is jointly liable for the full bill, and the council can chase any one of them for the whole amount. With individual room-only contracts in an HMO, the landlord is normally liable and usually includes council tax in the rent.
This matters when one tenant moves out mid-tenancy: under a joint agreement, the remaining tenants still owe the full amount, and any single-person discount claimed earlier will be recalculated. Agree in writing before moving in who will hold the council tax account and how bills will be split.
How much council tax will I pay?
The amount of council tax you pay is set by your local authority and depends on the valuation band assigned to your property. Every home in England, Scotland and Wales sits in one of eight or nine bands, based on what the property was worth on a specific valuation date - 1 April 1991 in England and Scotland, and 1 April 2003 in Wales.
Because the valuation dates are historic, the band reflects what your home would have been worth then, not what it is worth today. A modern Band D in England therefore corresponds to a property that would have sold for between £68,001 and £88,000 in 1991, which today can easily be a £400,000 home.
What are the UK council tax bands?
There are 8 bands from A to H in England and Scotland, cheapest to most expensive, and 9 bands from A to I in Wales. The table below shows the value thresholds that determine each band. The actual annual charge for each band is then set by your local council and its precepting authorities (police, fire, parish).
| Band | England (1991 value) | Scotland (1991 value) | Wales (2003 value) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | Up to £27,000 | Up to £44,000 |
| B | £40,001–£52,000 | £27,001–£35,000 | £44,001–£65,000 |
| C | £52,001–£68,000 | £35,001–£45,000 | £65,001–£91,000 |
| D | £68,001–£88,000 | £45,001–£58,000 | £91,001–£123,000 |
| E | £88,001–£120,000 | £58,001–£80,000 | £123,001–£162,000 |
| F | £120,001–£160,000 | £80,001–£106,000 | £162,001–£223,000 |
| G | £160,001–£320,000 | £106,001–£212,000 | £223,001–£324,000 |
| H | Above £320,000 | Above £212,000 | £324,001–£424,000 |
| I | - | - | Above £424,000 |
Source: Valuation Office Agency (England and Wales) and Scottish Assessors Association.
How is council tax calculated? Band D is used as the reference and all other bands are expressed as a fixed proportion of it (for example, Band A is 6/9 of Band D, Band H is 18/9). Your local authority sets the Band D figure each March, and every other band follows automatically.
Am I in the right council tax band?
Because valuations were carried out in 1991 (England and Scotland) or 2003 (Wales), a significant number of properties are thought to be in the wrong band. If you believe your new home is over-banded, you can ask the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England and Wales, or the Scottish Assessors in Scotland, to review it.
Sorting out council tax when moving house
Sorting out council tax should be near the top of your moving checklist, alongside your gas connection and electricity supplier. Failing to notify either council on time can leave you paying two bills at once, or facing arrears at an address you no longer live at.
The process is essentially the same wherever you move in Great Britain: tell the council you are leaving so they can close your account, and tell the council at your new address so they can open a new one. Most local authorities now handle the whole change online, and aim to issue your final and opening bills within a few weeks.
How do I tell the council I'm moving?
If you are moving within the same local authority area, you only need to contact one council and give them your change of address. If you are moving to a different area, you must contact both the council you are leaving and the council at your new address. The fastest route is the online "moving home" form on your council's website.
Have the following details ready before you start the form:
- Your council tax account number (top of your current bill)
- Your current address and move-out date
- Your new address and move-in date
- Contact phone number and email
- Names and dates of birth of everyone moving with you
- Whether you own, rent or are a new tenant
- Forwarding address for your final bill (if different)
Setting up council tax at your new home
Once you have moved in, you need to open a council tax account at your new address, confirm the valuation band, and set up a payment method. If you are staying within the same council area, this is usually done as part of the same change-of-address form. If you have crossed into a new area, you are starting a fresh account from scratch.
Pay attention to your direct debit: the one you had with your previous council is automatically cancelled, it does not follow you. Set up a new one with your new council as soon as you receive your first bill, and choose a payment date that fits your salary cycle. Most councils now offer a choice of payment dates and can spread the bill over 12 instalments instead of 10 on request.
When you register, re-claim any discounts or exemptions you were getting before - single person discount, student exemption, disregard for a severely mentally impaired resident. These are not transferred automatically, and the council will bill you at the full rate until your claim is processed and backdated.
How to cancel council tax when moving house
To cancel council tax at your old address, contact your current council at least one month before you move and give them your leaving date and forwarding address. They will close your account, calculate the balance owed up to your move-out date, and send you a final bill - or a refund if you have overpaid by paying in instalments.
If you are moving out of rented accommodation, keep a copy of the email or online form confirmation as proof of the date you gave notice. If the council continues to bill you after you have left, this evidence is what you will rely on to get the extra charges removed.
Advantages
- Closes your account on the exact move-out date
- Triggers a refund if you are in credit
- Stops you being chased for arrears at an old address
- Lets the council apply any end-of-year adjustments
Disadvantages
- Needs at least one month's notice in most areas
- Final bill can arrive several weeks after moving
- Discounts must be re-claimed at the new address
Council tax and moving house - FAQ
Next steps for your move
Council tax is only one of the accounts you need to update when you move. Take the opportunity to sort out your utilities at the same time, so everything is live from the day you arrive. Compare tariffs before you set up the new address - moving is the easiest moment to switch supplier, because you have no exit fees to worry about.