Help with council tax

You usually have to pay council tax if you rent or own your home.

Council tax funds local council services.

Most people pay it over 10 months. If you pay like this, you do not normally need to pay anything in February and March each year.

You can ask to pay your bill over 12 months instead if this makes it easier to budget.

When your landlord has to pay the council tax

Your landlord is usually responsible for the council tax if either:

• you live with them as a lodger

• you live in a shared house with other tenants

• you live in a homeless hostel or emergency housing like a B&B

A shared house is sometimes called a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

Check with your council if you are not sure about your rights in an HMO.

If everyone living there is a classed as a full time student, none of the tenants or the landlord should have to pay council tax.

Council tax support

You could get a council tax reduction if you get benefits or have a low income. This is often called council tax support.

You apply through your council.

Moving from other benefits to universal credit

Make sure your council tax support continues if you move to universal credit.

Contact your council tax office as soon as you get your migration notice.

Tell the council:

• your name and address

• when your UC claim starts

• your council tax reference number

Your reference number is on your council tax bill.

Copy our letter template into an email to the council.

You can also send the letter as an email attachment or by post:

• Word template: Council tax support when I move to universal credit (docx 17kb)

• OpenDocument template: Council tax support when I move to universal credit (odt 10kb)

If your council tax support stops when you move to UC

Contact your council tax office as soon as possible.

You could ask your local councillors for help if you do not get a reply.

Find your local councillors on GOV.UK

Other types of discount on your council tax bill

You might be able to get other types of discount on your council tax bill.

For example:

• single person discount

• disregarded adult discount

Apply for these discounts through your council to make sure you get them. These discounts can be backdated.

Single person discount

You get 25% off your council tax bill if you are the only adult in your home.

This could be if either:

• you live by yourself

• everyone else in your home is under 18

For example, you are a single parent and live with your children.

Disregarded adult discount

Some people are not counted when the council works out your council tax bill.

You will still get a bill but you should get:

• 50% off if everyone who lives there is disregarded

• 25% off if you count but everyone else is disregarded

See GOV.UK: Who has to pay council tax.

If you cannot pay your council tax or have arrears

Contact your council straight away to explain your situation.

You could agree to a repayment plan to:

• reduce the debt

• stop the council taking further action pay off your arrears

Your council may reduce or cancel your council tax bill if you cannot afford to pay it.

They can also write off arrears but will expect you to get debt advice first.

StepChange debt charity have more advice on council tax arrears.