One discount that's available, for example, is 25% off the full Council Tax bill if you live alone.Įstimating your future Council Tax in this way should help you budget but, before you make an offer to an agent or landlord, ask them how much the Council Tax is, in order to confirm your estimates. While you're there, check to see if any discounts apply to you. You could do this by checking out the council's website for its rates. In London and other expensive areas you should probably expect C or D.ĭo your research to find out how much tax you might pay. I reckon that, for most first-time renters, your Council Tax will be between bands A and D. The more expensive the property, the higher the band. Properties in band A have the lowest taxes and properties in H have the highest. This local tax is divided into bands, usually A-H. My own bill halved when I moved to a different area, despite the two properties being roughly the same value, in my estimate. If water charges are included in your rent, it will be your landlord so send the bill to them.Council Tax rates vary wildly from council to council. You should also check who's responsible for paying the water charges to the water company. If the dates refer to a previous tenancy or a time when you didn't live in the property, you should send the bill to your landlord. If you get a backdated water bill, check the dates it refers to. If you try to take any action against your landlord, such as going to court or speaking to a Tenancy Relations Officer, this may lead to your landlord taking steps to evict you.īefore taking any action like this, it's probably best to get advice first. There are some types of tenancy, called an assured shorthold tenancy, where it's very easy for the landlord to evict you. If this happens, you should contact Citizens Advice or get legal advice. If your landlord disconnects your water supply to try to make you leave the property, this is a form of harassment and is a criminal offence. Rent Council Tax Gas and electricity Water Telephone and Internet TV bills Household. You should get legal advice before doing this. Heres what you need to know if youre renting for the first time. You can also apply to the court for an injunction to get the supply reconnected, and claim damages for any costs you've had because of the disconnection. However, sometimes, they’re in your landlord’s name and included in the rent. In most cases, you’re required to pay energy bills (gas and electricity) on top of rent. If your landlord disconnects your supply, contact the local authority's Environmental Health Department or their Tenancy Relations Officer, if there is one, and ask for the supply to be reconnected. Outside of rent, what other bills can you expect to pay as a tenant Gas & electricity Council tax Water TV licence Contents insurance Broadband Other service charges 1 Gas & electricity. If your landlord isn’t paying the water bill, the water company isn’t allowed to disconnect the supply, but can take legal action against the landlord. If your landlord is not paying the water bill Talk to an adviser before you challenge the eviction. A rental deposit is usually five weeks’ rent. Work out how much do you need for a rental deposit. It might not seem like a huge difference, but it could have a big impact on your budget. If your landlord has overcharged you for water, you might be able to stop them evicting you. So if the weekly rate is 250, the annual rate is 13,000. If your landlord is trying to evict you for rent arrears You should only consider doing this as a last resort.įor more information about going to court, see Small claims. If your landlord won't refund the extra, your only option might be to take them to court. If you think you're being overcharged, explain the problem to your landlord and negotiate to pay the correct amount. If you've got a meter, check if it's registering your use of water correctly, check how much your landlord is charging you for water and then compare the 2 amounts. If you think you might have been overcharged by your landlord, keep a record of how much you've paid and how much water you've used. You shouldn’t be charged more than the amount the water company would charge, plus a reasonable administration fee. There are rules to make sure you aren’t overcharged. If you pay your landlord or mobile home site owner for water, instead of paying the water company directly, this means you are being resold water. If you're not sure if you pay for water as part of your rent, check your tenancy agreement. It's particularly common for local authority tenants to pay for water as part of their rent. If you're a tenant you may either have a water bill in your own name, or pay for water as part of your rent.
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