Council tax changes

Council tax leaflets will start arriving at households over the next few days – and residents are being urged to ensure they are aware of important changes coming into effect from 1 April

Council tax leaflets will start arriving at households over the next few days –and residents are being urged to ensure they are aware of important changes coming into effect from 1 April.

The leaflets, which accompany this year’s bills, explain some of the Government’s changes to benefit rules and show how people can access support.

Residents will now have the option of spreading their council tax payments over 12 monthly instalments instead of 10. The second big change sees the introduction of Local Council Tax Support as a replacement for the previous Council Tax Benefit scheme. The Government has reduced the amount of money available for local authorities to spend on this support by 10 per cent, whilst handing over responsibility for administering the new scheme from April.

Under the new scheme, those working-age households previously receiving Council Tax Benefit will see a reduction in the amount of support they receive against their council tax. The maximum amount of support that can be paid will be 75% of a Band A charge, regardless of a claimant’s circumstances. Most working-age households will see a reduction in council tax support of about £4 to £5 per week. And those living in higher value properties will see a bigger reduction in the level of support, meaning they will have higher sums of council tax to pay.

The Government has also changed the legislation around long-term empty properties and second homes, giving councils the opportunity to vary and remove entirely the reductions on offer to owners and landlords. Owners of properties empty for over two years will have to pay a premium.

The Government say they see these changes acting an incentive for owners and landlords to bring empty properties back into occupation.

The council is also encouraging residents to pay by direct debit which costs the council much less to administer than cash payments.