Council Tax - Rented Property 10 Month vs 12 Month

NoNoDrama

I pay 10 monthly, I move at the end of January. At my new address, what if they were on 12 monthly? Who is responsible for the the remaining 2 months payments?

I always (as i think most do) pay the default 10 monthly, which gives me a nice little bonus of not having to pay in February and March ........but what if tenant if property i would be moving too has gone for 12 months?

I hope this makes sense?

BorisThomson

You are liable for the remaining two months. If the previous occupier has already paid they will be given a refund.

davidmcn

NoNoDrama wrote: »

I hope this makes sense?

Not really, as you've misunderstood how it works - February and March aren't "free", your council tax liability is the same every day of the year. When you move the council calculates what you actually owe for the council tax year pro rata on a daily basis. Doesn't matter what date you move or how the previous resident paid.

jackieblack

Even though you pay over 10 months, the bill is for the year 1st April to 31st March. You have been paying 1/10 of this (roughly) each month.
If you move at the end of January you will be owed a repayment for two months or 2/12 (approx) of the bill for 2017-18 on your current home and will get a bill for 2/12 of the annual bill on your new home. How the previous occupants paid is irrelevant.

NoNoDrama

So I will get a refund too? And if they have gone 10 monthly , they will get a refund?!

Regardless February and March won't be 'free' months for me this year as I will have to pay 2/12?

But my refund will offset this I guess. Thanks, got it now i think.

boliston

I wish they would end this "12 months over 10 months" nonsense - a lot of people don't realise they can spread it evenly over the year and a succoured into giving the council an interest free loan.

Kim_13

NoNoDrama wrote: »

So I will get a refund too? And if they have gone 10 monthly , they will get a refund?!

Regardless February and March won't be 'free' months for me this year as I will have to pay 2/12?

But my refund will offset this I guess. Thanks, got it now i think.

That's correct. They don't just transfer your payment from one account to the other as your new home might be in a lower or higher band than the previous one, or have different local precepts etc. And of course some people will be moving into a different council area.

CIS

In England (and I don't think Wales have chnaged this part either);
If the new council tax liability is in the same area and it begins directly after leaving this property then the council can transfer the credit directly to the new account, they don't have to refund it under reg24(6) of the A&E regs.

Craig

jackieblack

boliston wrote: »

I wish they would end this "12 months over 10 months" nonsense - a lot of people don't realise they can spread it evenly over the year and a succoured into giving the council an interest free loan.

Personally, I actually prefer to pay over 10 months but I do think that councils should make the option to pay over 12 months clearer.

SuboJvR

I also prefer to pay over 12 months - I get paid every month and every other bill is monthly so it makes much more sense when budgeting monthly to me.

Anyway to the OP

It doesn’t really matter when in the year you move, as has been said you are liable for CT the day you move in, and your liability ends the day you move out where you are now.

For ease we assume no overlapping days!

You will have something to pay to take you through to the year end, at which point the new yearly bill will be sent and monthly payments calculated. They won’t be very quick about this I’m sure but it is possible you will need to pay new Council tax before you get a refund from the old. So just bear that in mind. And budget the full amount/12 to see how much it is “worth” on a monthly basis.

You can check the council tax bandings online if you know the postcode and house number (search for “check council tax band”) and then marry that up against the new council’s banding prices.

G_M

When you move out, if you've overpaid, you get a refund.

Jut make sure you contact them with your move-out date, and details of how to refund you.

When you move in elsewhere, you inform them and they'll bill you from that date.

If it's the same council, a single letter or phonecall should cover both events.