How to Find Your New Council Tax Band and Register For It
Council tax bands in England and Scotland are still based on property values from 1991 and Wales uses 2003. You can look up any address in seconds and you should do it before you exchange because the band decides one of your biggest ongoing household bills.
The short answer
- Check the band free on the GOV.UK council tax band search by postcode
- Register with the new council in the first week using your completion or tenancy date
- Single occupants get a 25 per cent discount
- Students and some carers are disregarded entirely
- A band challenge is free and must be based on comparable properties
Finding the band before you move
Search the address on the GOV.UK council tax band tool which covers England and Wales and use the Scottish Assessors site for Scotland. The listing shows the band letter and you can then find the annual charge for that band on the local council website.
Bands run from A to H in England with A the lowest and Scotland and Wales use their own scales. Two neighbouring houses can sit in different bands because of extensions made decades ago.
Registering at the new address
Every council has an online moving in form. You need your completion or tenancy start date, the names of all adults in the household and the previous address so the old account can be closed.
- Complete the moving out form with your old council
- Complete the moving in form with the new council
- Set up the direct debit and choose ten or twelve monthly instalments
- Apply for any discount in the same submission
- Keep the completion statement in case the dates are queried
Discounts and exemptions worth claiming
Councils do not apply most of these automatically. You have to ask.
- Single adult household: 25 per cent off
- All occupants full time students: usually exempt
- Severely mentally impaired residents and live in carers: disregarded
- Empty and unfurnished property: a short exemption in some areas
- Property undergoing major structural repair: possible reduction
- Low income or benefit claimants: council tax reduction scheme
- Annexes occupied by a relative: 50 per cent off
Paying for two homes during a gap
If completions do not line up you may briefly be liable at both addresses. Many councils offer a short exemption on an empty unfurnished property so ask rather than paying twice by default.
Challenging a band you think is wrong
You can ask the Valuation Office Agency to review a band free of charge. Evidence means similar properties on the same street in a lower band or a documented change to the property. Bear in mind a review can move the band up as well as down so check the comparables carefully first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the council tax band for an address?
Use the free GOV.UK council tax band search with the postcode for England and Wales or the Scottish Assessors Association site in Scotland.
When do I start paying council tax on a new house?
From the completion date or the day your tenancy starts even if you have not moved in yet.
Do I pay council tax on an empty house?
Usually yes although many councils give a short exemption on an empty unfurnished property and some charge a premium once it has stood empty for a long period.
Can council tax bands go up after a sale?
A sale alone does not trigger a revaluation. A band can be reviewed after significant extension work once the property changes hands.
Planning a move?
BlueSky Removals gives fixed written prices after a free video or home survey. Call 0800 090 3125 or request a quote online.