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Do not chase Council Tax arrears from households that can least afford it, say MPs
There have been reported instances of local authorities adopting heavy-handed tactics to recover unpaid Council Tax.
Council Tax
Featured
Council tax in England increases by an average of 5.1% in the past year, research reveals
RIFT has analysed average council tax rates in England in the years 2022/23 and 2023/24.
News
Scotland to consider doubling Council Tax on second homes from April 2024
There are 24,287 second homes in Scotland as of September 2022, according to the latest figures.
Buy-to-let Mortgages
Propertymark welcomes end to practice of single council tax bands for HMOs
Greater clarity in the assessment of houses of multiple occupations for council tax will be provided to ensure that they are treated as one property with a single council tax band where appropriate.
News
Landlords and renters to benefit from council tax changes after NRLA campaign
The Government has announced an end to the practice of banding individual rooms in shared houses for council tax purposes, a move that previously placed a heavy financial burden on tenants in such accommodations.
Scotland
Council tax and rent arrears on the rise in Scotland, says StepChange
StepChange found an uptick in new clients with rent arrears, rising to a quarter (25%) in Q3 of 2023, up from 21% in Q2.
Featured
Homeowners paid £2bn more in Council Tax last year, data reveals
Hackney has seen the biggest year on year increase in total council tax paid (+52%).
House Prices
Scottish councils may charge higher tax rates on second and empty homes to increase housing availability
A new consultation in Scotland aims to empower councils to raise council tax on second and empty homes, helping to increase housing availability for local communities.
Featured
Propertymark submits thoughts in Government consultation to review council tax housing banding for HMOs
Propertymark has submitted a response to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ consultation reviewing council tax bandings for Houses in Multiple Occupation.
Featured
NAPB backs higher council tax on unlet second homes, but exceptions should be made, says spokesman
The National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB) has suggested that unlet and vacant second homes should be subject to higher levels of council tax.
Featured
Council tax hikes set to send average above £2,000
This comes as the Chancellor announced today in his Autumn Statement that councils can raise tax by 5% without holding a referendum.
Buy-to-let Mortgages
Average council tax bill equivalent to 17.7% of a tenant’s rent – Ocasa
With the average UK rent sitting at £926 per month, rising council tax can cost an equivalent of 17.7% of rent for tenants in some areas.