Q: The new tax year has seen my council tax rise significantly. Is there anything I can do to reduce my bill?
A: Council tax bills in England have risen by an average of 4.9% this tax year. The typical Band D bill now stands at £2,392 per year, which is £111 more than last year. So, the first thing you can do is check that your property is in the correct band.
Are your neighbours’ properties similar to yours, but in a lower band? Are you in the same band but your property is smaller? If so, you could challenge your property’s band. The process is quite involved and could result in your band increasing, so should be researched thoroughly first.
Also, councils offer several types of concessions on council tax for situations such as:
you are the sole occupant of the property,
only full-time students occupy the property,
your property has been adapted to meet the needs of a disabled person,
you, or a person you live with has a severe mental impairment.
It is worth checking with your local council to see exactly what criteria need to be met for the above.
