Who pays Council Tax

You usually have to pay Council Tax if you're over 18 and own or rent a home.

A full Council Tax bill is based on at least 2 adults living in a home. 

Married couples, partners and joint owners or tenants are jointly responsible (liable) for paying Council Tax. You'll receive one bill showing all the names.

You have to pay Council Tax if you're:

• an owner-occupier
• a tenant
• a licensee (for example, a landlord of a public house who lives on the premises)
• a resident (including squatters) 
• a non-resident owner

If you're a student or a student lives in your home, apply for a student discount or exemption. 

If you're a tenant

If you share a property with other people, who should pay Council Tax will depend on the type of tenancy agreement you have.

Joint tenancy

If you've signed a joint tenancy agreement, then the people named on the agreement who live at the property will be jointly and individually responsible to pay the whole bill. 

This means that you are responsible for making sure the whole bill is paid.

If your Council Tax bill is not paid, we can ask anyone named on it to pay the whole amount.

You may get a discount if you live with people we do not count for Council Tax.

Individual tenancy

If you live in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) it will usually be your landlord’s responsibility to pay the Council Tax for the HMO. For this reason the bill will be in their name. 

If you're struggling to pay your bill get Council Tax help and support.