Council tax when moving - will I lose "free" months?

[TexMex]

I have paid council tax by DD and it's calculated over 10 months April- jan so I get feb and March free. Looks like completion will be end of jan so when I move into new house I guess I'll lose out on these free months and have to start making payments in Feb? Anyone know? Tried ringing local council but kept on hold longer than screaming children allow!

Will you be staying in the same local authority?

Yes, same local authority.

You should get something back from the old authority as you'll have paid for 12 months and only used 10

Ahh I see! I should have realised that, thanks.

It's not free. You are charged for the full year but pay over 10 months. If you move before the end of March your liability will end on the day you move which will put your account into credit. If you are moving in the same LA the credit will come off your bill for your new address. If you are not, you will get a refund.

It will depend on the banding of your new property. If you're currently in B and move to a C you will have a bill to pay after you move. Same band will just involve the credit being transferred. Only if you drop a band will you be refunded.

I used to work in council tax

You can give your details to the council about the date you are moving, who is responsible for your property once you leave, and the new property you are moving to.

As you are moving within the same area leave your DD set up and they can transfer it. They should only process the information after the date you leave in case of any problems with the move. As they won't get to do this until February the first payment they can ask you for is 1st March.

If your new house has the same band, you won't pay anything. If you are moving up a band there would only be a small amount to pay. Have a look at the cost difference between your current band the house you are moving to. If you don't know it and even if you have been told it check it here

If the new property has been extended it would tell you on the VOA site (link above) if it is pending a re-band. I did have a very upset customer once who thought their council tax would be a C and it was re-banded to an E which where I worked was a hell of a jump.

Every month you are in a property, you pay for that month in advance plus a bit extra to cover those two "free" months. Even if a person knows they are moving in May the council has to assume that the bill covers the entire year, so they would bill a full year, So 1st April to the 31st March the following year. Then in May, they apportion the bill back to cover only April to May. Hope that helps.

That's so helpful, thanks contended Very clear explanation. I should have put off the move to make the most (will be moving up a band) but good to know no payment until 1st march!