Moving House and Council Tax: Your Complete Guide

Updating your council tax when moving is an important step to avoid unnecessary charges and make you’re paying the correct amount. By following these steps—informing your old council, registering with your new one, setting up payments, and managing final bills— you can make a seamless transition.

Moving home is stressful. Between packing boxes, arranging school transfers, sorting out your removal service, changing utilities and letting people know of a change of address, it’s easy to forget about council tax when moving out. Sorting it out quickly can save you from unnecessary stress, unexpected charges, or even penalties down the line. Thankfully, it's not as complicated as you may think.

How moving house affects your council tax

Council tax funds essential local services such as schools, waste collection, road maintenance, and community safety. Households are assigned a council tax band based on their property’s estimated value, which determines their payment.

When moving, notify your local council of your new address. If moving within the same council area, you can keep the same direct debit and set up your new account on the same day you close your old one. Remember to keep a record of your communications with the council, including dates and reference numbers, to avoid future issues.

Step 1: Notify Your Current Council

The easiest way to do this is to visit your local council’s website and log in to your council tax account online to cancel your council tax. In most cases, you can log in with your council tax number and provide details such as your name, current address, moving-out date, and forwarding address. It's important to get the dates right so you don't get charged after you've left the property. If you're moving to a new local authority, you'll be able to close your account.

Most councils offer multiple ways to notify them, including online forms, phone calls, or in-person visits. You should get a confirmation that your council tax has been cancelled within a few working days.

Step 2: Register to Pay Council Tax at Your New Address

Once you’ve moved into your new home, you need to register for council tax with your new local authority. Each council manages its own tax system, so it's best to check, even if you’re only moving a few streets away.

Visit the official UK government website or your new council’s website to find the correct registration form. Provide your personal details, your new address, and your moving-in date. In most cases, this needs to be done within 3 weeks (21 days) of moving. The website should give clear instructions on how to set up your council tax account.

Remember to check whether you're eligible for any reductions such as:

Step 3: Set Up Payments at Your New Address

Council tax is usually paid monthly over 10 months, but you can request a 12-month plan for smaller monthly payments or annually in one lump sum if you prefer. To avoid any penalties, you should set a method of paying your council tax bill as soon as possible since you're responsible for payments as soon as you start living in the property.

Most people pay by direct debit, where payments are taken automatically, and you can also pay through most council websites by accessing your online account. Some councils still accept payments by phone or cheque. You'll need to have your council tax account number handy to make sure it's credited correctly.

Step 4: Manage Overlaps and Final Bills

If you’re renting, your old council tax liability ends when your old tenancy ends and begins when your new tenancy starts. But for homeowners, If there’s a gap between moving out and moving into your new home, you may temporarily owe council tax at two addresses.

What to Do in This Situation:

Step 5: Checking Your New Council Tax Band

Council tax rates vary depending on your property’s valuation band and location. Bands range from A (lowest) to H (highest) in England and Scotland, and A to I in Wales. Your tax rate may be different from what you paid at your previous home, and knowing will help you budget.

Use the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) website (England and Wales) or the Scottish Assessors Association website (Scotland) to check your property’s band if you're unsure.

If you believe your band is incorrect, you can appeal to the VOA for reassessment and if no band is listed, such as a new build, the council will arrange to have your new property assessed."

What To Do If There Are Issues

Sometimes, things don’t go smoothly when transferring council tax. Here’s how to handle common problems:

Common Issues and Solutions:

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