Moving house involves plenty of things to organise, from changing your address and redirecting your post to arranging removals and updating your driving licence. Council tax is another important task to add to your moving checklist.
Whether you’re moving to a new home in the same council area or moving to a completely different part of the country, you need to make sure your council tax records are updated. The good news is that telling your local council about a move is generally straightforward, and you can usually do it online.
Here’s what you need to know about moving house and council tax.
Do I need to tell the council when I move house?
Yes. When you move home, you should tell your local council that you’re moving out of your current property and provide the details of your new address. Council tax is linked to the property you live in, so your council needs to know when you become responsible for your old property and when you become responsible for your new one.
If you’re moving within the same council area, you’ll normally need to provide details of both properties so your council can close your existing council tax account and set up the new one. If you’re moving to a different council area, you’ll need to notify your current council that you’re leaving and contact your new council to register at your new address.
It’s worth doing this as soon as you know your moving date rather than leaving it until after you’ve moved.
How do I tell the council I’m moving house?
Most councils allow you to report a change of address online through their website. You’ll usually need to provide information such as:
- Your name
- Your current address
- Your new address
- The date you’re moving
- The date you’re leaving your current property
- Details of anyone else living at the property
- Your council tax account number, if available
You may also need to provide your new landlord’s details if you’re renting. The exact process varies between councils, so check your local authority’s website for the relevant change-of-address or council tax moving home service.
If you’re moving to a different local authority, don’t assume that your existing council will automatically notify the new council. You’ll generally need to contact both councils.
When should I tell the council about moving?
Ideally, tell your council as soon as you know your moving date. You don’t necessarily need to wait until the day you move.
Giving the council advance notice can help make sure your account is updated correctly and reduces the risk of receiving a bill for a period when you no longer live at the property. If your moving date changes, you can update the council with the new information.
It’s particularly important to keep records of the date you actually moved in and out, as this may be relevant if there is a dispute about council tax liability.
What happens to my council tax when I move?
Your council tax liability will normally end at your old property when you stop being responsible for it and begin at your new property when you become responsible for the new home. For example, if you’re selling your home and moving into another property, you could have two properties temporarily during the moving process.
In this situation, council tax rules can be more complicated because you may potentially be responsible for council tax on both properties for a period of time. If you’re renting, your liability will generally depend on your tenancy and when you become responsible for the property.
It’s important to provide accurate dates to your council so they can calculate your bill correctly.
What if I’m moving to a different council area?
If you’re moving across council boundaries, you’ll need to deal with two local authorities. You should tell your current council that you’re leaving and provide your moving date.
You’ll then need to contact your new council and register your new address for council tax. Your new council will calculate your council tax based on the property you’re moving into and the applicable council tax band.
Remember that council tax charges can vary considerably between different local authorities, so don’t assume your new bill will be the same as your old one.
Can my council tax bill change when I move?
Yes. Your council tax bill can change when you move to a new property. One of the main factors is the council tax band assigned to the property. Your new home could be in a higher or lower band than your previous property.
The amount you pay can also vary depending on the local authority because councils set their own council tax rates. This means it’s worth checking the council tax band and local council tax charge when you’re budgeting for a move.
Council tax is just one of the ongoing costs to consider alongside your rent or mortgage, energy bills, insurance and other household expenses.
What happens if I move into a rental property?
If you’re renting a property, you’ll normally be responsible for paying council tax unless your tenancy agreement or the type of accommodation means someone else is responsible. For example, some properties may have different arrangements depending on the type of accommodation and how it is occupied.
If you’re moving into a rental property, check your tenancy agreement and confirm with your landlord or letting agent who is responsible for council tax. If you’re responsible, make sure you register with the relevant local authority when you move in.
What happens if I don’t tell the council I’ve moved?
If you don’t tell the council about your move, you could continue receiving council tax bills for your old property. You could also experience problems setting up your new council tax account. This can create unnecessary administration and potentially lead to bills being sent to the wrong address.
It’s therefore best to deal with your council tax change of address as part of your moving process rather than leaving it until you’ve been contacted by the council.
Can I get a council tax reduction?
Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to a council tax reduction or discount. For example, a single adult living alone may be entitled to a 25% single-person discount.
There are also specific council tax support schemes for people on low incomes, while students and certain other circumstances may qualify for exemptions or reductions. Eligibility varies depending on your circumstances and local authority.
If you think you might qualify for a discount, reduction or exemption, check with your local council rather than assuming you’re not eligible.
What other things do I need to update when moving house?
Council tax is just one of the many organisations you’ll need to notify when you move. Your moving house checklist could include:
- DVLA
- Vehicle log book (V5C)
- Car insurance
- Banks and building societies
- Credit card providers
- Employer
- GP and dentist
- Electoral register
- HMRC
- Insurance providers
- Pension providers
- Utilities
- Broadband provider
- TV licence
- Royal Mail
It’s also worth updating online shopping accounts, subscription services and any organisations that regularly send you post. Keeping a list of everyone who needs your new address can make the process much easier.
Moving house doesn’t have to be complicated
There’s a lot to remember when moving home, and council tax can easily be overlooked amongst everything else that needs to be organised. The key thing is to tell the relevant council about your move, provide accurate dates and make sure your new address is registered correctly.
If you’re moving to another council area, remember that you’ll normally need to notify both your old and new councils. Adding council tax to your moving house checklist means one less thing to worry about once the boxes are unpacked.
Looking for more help with your move? Our interactive Moving House Checklist can help you keep track of the tasks you need to complete before, during and after moving home.
