Need more information about moving house and council tax?

Moving home is an exciting prospect, but between packing boxes, changing addresses, and organising removals, it’s easy to forget the admin that follows you to your new front door.

One of the most important, and often overlooked, tasks is dealing with your council tax.

Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, or relocating to a new area, making sure your council tax is sorted can save you from unwanted fines or back payments.

In this guide, we’ll break it down into easy steps, so you can spend less time on paperwork and more time settling in, with a little help from Barnes of Lincoln to make the move itself a breeze.

Tell Your Current Council You’re Moving

As soon as your moving date is confirmed, notify your local council that you’ll be leaving.

This ensures they stop charging you from the date you hand over the keys.

Most councils have a simple online form on their website, just search for your current council’s name followed by “moving house council tax” or check the GOV.UK council finder.

You’ll usually need to provide your old address, your new address, and the exact moving date. Doing this early helps you avoid paying for days when you no longer live there.

Register with Your New Council

If you’re moving into a new council area, you’ll need to set up a fresh account from scratch. Again, this is normally done online via your new council’s website.

You’ll need similar details, including who will be living in the property, to calculate your bill.

Each local authority sets its own rates and payment schedules, so don’t assume it will be the same as your last home.

You can use the GOV.UK postcode checker here too, to find the right site for your area.

Getting this done quickly means your payments start on time and ensures that you won’t face a surprise lump sum later.

Check If You’re Due a Refund

There are some instances where, unbeknownst to you, you might have overpaid at your old address, and you might be entitled to a refund.

This can happen if you pay council tax in advance via a monthly direct debit.

Once your final bill is calculated, your old council will either refund you directly or transfer the credit to your new account if you’re staying in the same area.

It’s worth checking your last statement or calling the council to see if any money is owed; it could cover some of your moving expenses!

Check Your New Property’s Council Tax Band

In some cases, your new property may not have been banded correctly.

Every property in England, Scotland, and Wales is assigned a council tax band, usually based on its value at a set date in the past.

Mistakes happen more regularly than you think, and if your new home has been wrongly banded, you could be paying more than necessary.

You can check your property’s band via the Valuation Office Agency.

If it looks incorrect, you can challenge it.

While there’s no guarantee of success, successful re-banding could lead to ongoing savings, it’s worth a try.

Look Into Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions

Your circumstances may mean you’re entitled to a reduction, such as moving to a smaller home, you are now a pensioner or you have a disability, on benefits of some kind, or in some cases, your new home is going to be empty whilst it is being renovated.

Rules vary depending on the local authority. Check your council’s website for specific details.

Alternatively, go to the Gov.UK website page Apply for Council Tax Reduction and see if your circumstances meet the criteria for a reduced rate.

For example, a single adult household usually gets a 25% discount, while full-time students may be completely exempt.

Taking a few minutes to check could save you hundreds of pounds a year.

Update Your Direct Debit or Payment Method

If you pay council tax by direct debit, you’ll either need to update your bank details with the new council or set up a fresh payment plan.

Forgetting to do this can lead to missed payments and, in the long term, penalties if the shortfall is not repaid quickly.

Many councils now offer flexible payment dates, so you can choose when it leaves your account.

This is particularly handy if you’re juggling moving costs.

Time Your Move to Avoid Overlap

If you have a short overlap between leaving your old property and moving into your new one, you might temporarily owe council tax on both addresses.

Councils sometimes offer reduced rates for this period, especially if one home is unfurnished.

Let both councils know your exact situation, so you’re not charged the full amount twice.

Keep Records of All Correspondence

It is also important to note that while most council tax changes are processed smoothly, keeping copies of emails, forms, and payment confirmations is a prudent step.

If there’s ever a dispute in the future, such as being billed twice or charged for a period when you weren’t living in a property, you will have the evidence to resolve it quickly.

A quick folder in your email or cloud storage can make all the difference.

How Barnes of Lincoln Can Help

Sorting council tax is just one of the many moving tasks you’ll face when it comes to moving home.

While Barnes of Lincoln can’t fill in the council forms for you, we can take a huge load off your shoulders by handling the heavy lifting, packing, and transport of your belongings to your new home.

Our experienced team knows how stressful moving day can be, so we work to make the process as smooth as possible, leaving you free to focus on setting up your new home (and ticking council tax off the list)!

If you’d like professional advice tailored to your situation, Barnes of Lincoln is always on hand to guide you every step of the way.

Contact us by phone 01522 254 262, Email: sales@barnesoflincoln.co.uk or complete our online “get a quote form” and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Moving House and Council Tax FAQs for Lincolnshire Movers

Can I be charged council tax on two properties?

Yes — if you’re legally responsible for both properties at the same time. Discounts may apply in some cases.

Can I get a refund?

Yes — if you’ve paid in advance or are due credit from your old property, you can request a refund or carry it forward.

What if I’m eligible for a discount or exemption?

You must reapply when you move. Discounts like the Single Person Discount or student exemptions do not transfer automatically.

How do I set up a new direct debit?

Visit your new local council’s website and follow the steps to register your move and set up a new payment method.