Council tax bills tend to increase each year. But what is it and what are the rules if you rent?
Council tax is collected by your local authority and goes towards paying for important local services, like street cleaning, lighting, rubbish collection, libraries and sports centres.
If you're over 18, you'll usually pay council tax, whether you own or rent your home.
Most of the time, it's the tenant's responsibility to pay council tax when renting. While some landlords might include bills in your rent, if you rent a property, the council tax bill is usually in your name.
The bill covers your whole household, so if you live with a friend or partner, you'll get one council tax bill for both of you. If you're both named on the lease, both of you are liable to pay council tax, but the total amount will stay the same.
If you are a renter, most of the time, you will pay the council tax. However, this isn't always true and there are some uncommon situations where you won't be responsible for covering this important bill.
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There are some instances where the landlord will shoulder the responsibility of paying council tax. These are special circumstances and, generally speaking, the only times when liability is reversed.
So, tenants who find themselves fitting into any of the following categories may be exempt from paying council tax:
If you find yourself in a position where paying council tax has become difficult, you need to address the situation sooner rather than later.
Your first call should be to your local authority to explain your situation and ask for help.