Council tax
There are several ways to pay your bill, including by direct debit, post and online.
Find out more about:
- paying your council tax
- council tax account enquiries
- council tax charges
- how your bill is worked out
- what happens if you don't pay your council tax
- council tax benefit
- council tax band reductions (including disability)
- council tax discounts
- council tax exemptions
- council tax and changes of circumstances
- amending your bill if you move home
- avoiding council tax scams
Download our Council tax booklet 2011/12 (PDF, 2.5MB)
Who pays council tax?
Normally the person living in the property will pay council tax, providing it is their sole or main residence and they are over 18 years of age. See below for a list of people in Hackney who must pay council tax:
- A resident owner
- A resident with a lease
- A resident with a tenancy agreement (including council and housing association tenants)
- A resident with a licence agreement
- A resident (including squatters)
- The owner if the property has no residents
If the property is empty, then the owner is liable; however, there are some cases where the owner is always liable:
- Houses in Multiple Occupation, where the residents have separate leases or licences, and only occupy or pay rent for part of the property (e.g. bedsit with shared facilities)
- Residential Care Homes or Nursing Homes
- Religious communities, such as monks and nuns
- Houses occupied by Ministers of Religion
- Houses occupied by most asylum seekers
If two or more people have the same interest in the property, for example they are joint owners or tenants, or are married or living together as though married, then they are held jointly and severally liable to pay council tax.
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into effect on 5 December 2005. This means that couples in same sex relationships are treated the same as those in opposite sex relationships. This may change who's liable and entitlement to some discounts or exemptions may change. If you think you are affected by this or have any queries please contact the council tax team on 020 8356 3154 or email council.tax@hackney.gov.uk
Can I pay less council tax?
Bills can be exempt, or reduced by a discount of up to 50%, or reduced by the equivalent of one band, for the following reasons:
- Only one adult residing in the property
- Empty dwellings
- Property adapted to meet the needs of a disabled person
- Students residing in the property
- Specific circumstances (known as disregard discounts):
* Carers - see guidance on right for more information
* Apprentices
* Severely mentally impaired
* School leavers
* Members of religious communities
* Foreign language assistants
* Persons in detention
* Diplomats
* Hospital patients
* Care workers
Page updated: 13 Oct 2011
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