moving home - council tax questions

Dean1532

I'm moving out of my current address soon and am planning to stay with a friend outside the local council area for a couple of weeks, after which I will either move elsewhere in the UK or abroad. My plans are not finalised in this regard yet. My local council insists on their online form that I must tell them where I’m moving to (no option to call and speak to someone). I have fully paid up my council tax bill instalments until moving date. Am I legally obliged to give them an address I’m moving to? Will my friend lose their single-person council tax discount if they put me up for a couple of weeks?

Brie

Do you own the house you are moving out of?  Or are you renting and moving out at an agreed date with the LL?

If you own the house and no one is moving in to it yet you are still responsible for the CT.

If you are renting and moving out earlier than the end of the tenancy you are also still responsible.  

If you are selling the house and moving out when it is no longer yours or moving out at the end of tenancy there should be no further CT to pay.  UNLESS there's something miscalculated on your CT which of course the council will expect you to pay. 

That's why they want your address as the moving date is really material = it's when you stop being responsible for the bills and ensuring they are all paid.  Send them an email to explain if a form doesn't allow submission without something filled in.  Obviously if you don't know your future address you can't give it!

If you are a temporary guest that shouldn't affect your friend.  If your stay lasts more than a month I would suggest they need to declare it.

Dean1532

Hi Brie,

Thank you for your detailed reply. I'm moving out after giving notice to the LL as specified in my tenancy agreement. I'm not staying at my friend's longer than two weeks. I will indeed email the council to let them know of my situation.

elmer

As Council Tax is a daily charge, we usually need a forwarding address to issue you with a refund after your account is closed. 

Dean1532

The council have my bank details as I pay by direct debit. If there is an overpayment, can't the money just be credited to my bank account?