Summary
Council tax is one of the most reliable area specific running costs to check before buying or renting. The amount depends on the property’s council tax band, the local authority charge for that band, and any precepts added by other bodies such as the county council, police, fire authority, parish council or mayoral authority.
A buyer should not estimate council tax from national averages. They should check the exact property band, then check the current year charge on the relevant council website. Discounts and exemptions can materially change the amount payable, especially for single adult households, full time students, disabled adaptations and some empty property situations.
Definition
Council tax is a recurring local tax charged on domestic property. Each home is placed in a valuation band, and the household normally pays the annual charge set for that band by the billing authority, including any relevant precepts and adjusted for eligible discounts, reductions or exemptions.