Do you have to tell the council when you move house?
Yes. You need to tell your local council whenever you move, so your council tax is billed at the right address. In fact you need to tell two councils, the one you are leaving and the one you are moving to, unless you are staying within the same council area.
Why it matters
Council tax follows the property, not the person, and it is one of the few moving bills you are legally responsible for. If you do not tell the council, you can keep being billed at your old address, or move into a new home with an unpaid balance from the previous occupier. Sorting it promptly avoids both.
How to tell the council
Most councils ask you to complete a change of address form on their website. You will usually need your old and new addresses, your moving dates, and the names of everyone in the household. Some councils also ask for a council tax account number, which you may not have yet if you have only just moved in. If so, the council can look up the property without it.
Tell your old council you are leaving, giving your move out date, and tell your new council you are arriving, giving your move in date. Each will then send a final or opening bill.
What about the council tax band
Your council tax depends on the property’s band, which is set by the Valuation Office Agency and does not change when you move in. You pay the band that already applies to your new home.
Let Just Move In handle it
Telling the council is part of the home setup Just Move In arranges for you. When we sort your move, we notify the council so your council tax is moved across without you filling in each council’s form yourself. We do it alongside your energy, water and broadband, in one appointment, and confirm it all in writing.
The service is free for movers because our supplier partners pay us. Just Move In is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, a certified B Corporation, and rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
Yes. You need to tell both your old council that you are leaving and your new council that you are arriving, so your council tax is billed correctly. Most councils ask you to complete a change of address form online, and you will usually need your moving dates and the property addresses. If you do not tell them, you can end up paying tax at the wrong property or missing a bill. Just Move In notifies the council as part of your home setup, so your council tax is moved across without you having to fill in each council’s form yourself.
Do I have to tell the council I have moved, and how do I do it?
Frequently asked questions