Council tax bills across England have seen another sizeable increase this month, with some residents shelling out an additional £150 annually for their local services. Data from home insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk, which compared 13 English cities, revealed that the tax for a typical Band D property has risen from £2,266 a year to £2,385 a year, marking a £119 increase.
For the second year running, people living in Birmingham and Nottingham are facing the steepest rise in their council tax bills. Birmingham saw its rates surge by 7.49%, and it would have been even higher had the Government not stepped in to bring down the proposed 10% hike.
This resulted in a £153.24 rate increase, moving up from £2,083.76 to £2,237 annually. Tax rates in Nottingham rose by 4.99%, the maximum amount councils can typically raise their rates without holding a referendum. Residents in the Midlands city will pay an extra £126.50 following the increase, with rates climbing from £2,529.69 to £2,656.19.
These were how the 13 cities compared for council tax increases:
In light of the recent bill hikes, experts at Quotezone.co.uk are encouraging people to check if they qualify for a discount on their bill. Greg Wilson, savings expert and CEO of the group, explained: “This month has seen all council tax payments increase, so it’s important households understand their bills and what the price hikes mean for their annual budgets.
“Single-adult households are eligible for a 25% discount on council tax. There are also several exemptions from council tax payments, such as full-time students and live-in carers.”
For council tax calculations, certain individuals residing in a property are not included and are categorised as ‘disregarded people’. This includes individuals under 18and specific types of students, such as full-time degree or postgraduate students and student nurses.
People with learning disabilities or severe mental impairments may also be excluded from the count, provided they’re claiming an eligible benefit, like Universal Credit with limited capability for work or work-related activity, or Attendance Allowance. Citizens Advice has an online guide offering more details about available council tax discounts and eligibility criteria.
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