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Moving house and council tax – the facts

Tuesday 12th June 2018
Written by GRIT Digital
Storage Specialist

In this blog post, we’ll cover the facts of how to cancel your council tax when moving home.

When you move house, there’s a lot of admin involved! From updating your insurance provider and bank of your new address to switching your council tax account to your new address. This can be a stressful and busy time for you – on top of all the other things you need to do before you move home, such as making arrangements for removals.

Luckily, if you plan ahead the process of paying off your existing balance and closing the account to moving your council tax to your new address, can be relatively simple.

Getting registered for council tax at your new home

The easiest way to make the administrative side of moving less stressful is to notify your local council ahead of time. Get in touch with your local council before moving day so that they can stop charging you on your existing home.

If you’re moving locally and your new home is within the same local authority, you may be able to set up your council tax account for your new home at the same time as you close your old one.

If your new home isn’t located within the same local authority, setting up your new account is as simple as making a quick call to your new council and informing them of your new address.

You can also report a change of address online. Search for your local council website and find the change of address form in the Residential section. Some councils have online form for people moving into or within its council area.

It’s important to know that your old council will continue charging you tax until they’re notified that you’ve left the area. Avoid paying more than you need to by informing your local council of your moving date ahead of time.

How long does it take?

It can take several weeks for your old council tax account to be closed, depending on the processing queue at your local council. Avoid paying any bills you receive for at least four weeks following your account closure to make sure you don’t overpay.

If you’ve overpaid your council tax account, your local council can transfer the credit to the account for your new home. Alternatively, your balance can be refunded and used to pay the council tax at your new property.

What information do I need to provide to cancel my council tax account?

You’ll need to provide detailed information on your account and living situation in order to close your council tax account. You may need to provide the following information:

  • Your council tax account number
  • Your name, address and contact telephone number
  • The address you are moving from/to
  • The date you are moving
  • The date the property is being sold
  • Tenancy end date
  • If the property is furnished/unfurnished
  • The date furniture was moved in/out
  • The name and address of the solicitors acting on your behalf
  • The name of the person the property has been sold to
  • The landlord’s or agent’s name and address

What will my new council tax band be?

The amount you pay in council tax depends on your living situation and the value of your property. Your new bill will list your new instalments and explain what you’ll need to pay in council tax at your new home.

If you want to work out your council tax payments ahead of time, simply head to GOV.UK. In order to calculate your council tax, you’ll need to know the following three pieces of information:

  • The valuation band for your home in England and Wales or in Scotland
  • How much your local council charges for your valuation band
  • Whether you’re eligible for a discount or council tax exemption

A range of council tax discounts are available for people in certain living situations or properties. For example, people living on their own in a property are eligible for 25% tax reduction off their bill.

So, don’t waste any time! By alerting your council that you’re moving ahead of time, you’ll save money and enjoy a far smoother, less stressful moving process.

Please note: content provided by robinsonsrelo.com is for information purposes only.  If you have any question re. your personal situation, please get in touch with your local Council.