Council tax
What council tax band is this property?
Council tax is usually the largest bill a renter pays after the rent itself, and it is set by the property rather than by what you earn. It is worth knowing the band before you sign, not after the first bill arrives.
How to check a band, free
The Valuation Office Agency publishes every band in England and Wales, and you can look up any address at gov.uk/council-tax-bands. That gives you the letter. What it does not give you is the amount, because the charge for a band differs in every local authority, and often between parishes inside one.
What the bands actually mean
Bands run A to H in England, and they are based on what the property was worth on 1 April 1991 — not on what it is worth now. Nothing has been revalued since. A band therefore reflects the relative value of the property more than thirty years ago, which is why two similar homes on the same street can sit in different bands.
Band D is the reference point councils quote. Band A is two-thirds of band D; band H is twice it. So the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive band is a factor of three, on the same street, for the same services.
Who pays when you rent
In most tenancies the resident is liable, so council tax is yours to pay unless the agreement says it is included in the rent. In a house in multiple occupation the landlord is generally liable instead — which is worth checking, because a room let that quotes an all-inclusive rent may be the better deal once this bill is counted.
Discounts worth claiming
- Full-time students
- A household where everyone is a full-time student is exempt entirely. Where one adult is not a student, that adult is usually liable with a 25% single-person discount.
- Living alone
- A 25% discount applies if you are the only adult resident. Certain people are "disregarded" and do not count towards the total, including apprentices, live-in carers and under-18s.
- Severe mental impairment
- A resident who is medically certified as severely mentally impaired is disregarded, which can mean a discount or full exemption. This is widely under-claimed.
- Low income or benefits
- Council tax reduction is run by each council with its own rules, so what you get depends on where you live. It is applied for separately from the discounts above.
Challenging a band
You can ask the Valuation Office Agency to review a band if you believe it is wrong — for instance if comparable neighbouring properties sit a band lower.
Be aware that a review can move the band up as well as down, and it applies to the property rather than to you, so a successful challenge raises the bill for whoever lives there next. As a tenant on a twelve-month agreement, think about whether the saving is worth it before you start.
Check the property
The free check covers the property itself — energy rating, flood zone, crime nearby, conservation area and listed building status, and the sale history. The council tax band and what it costs a month are part of Complete RenterCheck, with the other running costs.