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Council tax - change of circumstances

If your circumstances change, you must inform us to ensure you are paying the correct amount of council tax.

Page Contents:

Council tax - change of addressCouncil - notifying us of a deceased personDiscount on your council taxCouncil tax - new properties and completion noticesWho is liable for council tax on unoccupied rented properties?Council tax - contact us
Council tax - change of addressCouncil - notifying us of a deceased personDiscount on your council taxCouncil tax - new properties and completion noticesWho is liable for council tax on unoccupied rented properties?Council tax - contact us

Council tax - change of address

Please advise us as soon as possible if you have changed your address.

If you are moving house, or are new to the area, please notify us by: Council Tax Section
Northumberland County Council
Wansbeck Square
Ashington
Northumberland
NE63 9XL

If you are moving to another property within Northumberland, view the charge for each property band within each parish here or telephone the contact centre on 0345 600 6400.

If you are moving out of Northumberland and are unsure which authority you need to contact, you can find further information on the GOV.UK website.
To change your existing direct debit details, or to set up a new direct debit, you can:
complete the online form here or for more information, please click here.

Council - notifying us of a deceased person

You can notify the council tax team of a deceased person either by:

Please provide the following details:
  • name of the deceased
  • date of death of the deceased
  • name and address of the next of kin
  • ownership/tenancy details of the property of the deceased person
The council also operates a 'tell us once service'. For further details, please click here.

Discount on your council tax

If your circumstances change, you may be entitled to one of the council tax discounts or exemptions.

Council tax - new properties and completion notices

If you are undertaking works to build a property or self contained unit that will be subject to council tax it is likely that in due course you will receive a completion notice to determine the date it is completed for council tax purposes.

For further information regarding completion notices, the criteria used to determine a completion date and your rights of appeal please click on the link below.

Completion notice fact sheet

For further information regarding Completion Notices ;

Tel: 01670 624 884
E-mail: counciltax@northumberland.gov.uk

For queries regarding the inspection of properties;

Tel: 01670 624 882
E-mail: vorevsandbens@northumberland.gov.uk

Write to:

Council Tax Section
Northumberland County Council
Wansbeck Square
Ashington
NE63 9XL 

Who is liable for council tax on unoccupied rented properties?

Section 6 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 sets out who is liable for the council tax. The owner is liable where there are no residents.

The "owner", in relation to any dwelling, is the person who fulfils the following conditions:
  • has a material interest in the whole or any part of the dwelling; and
  • at least part of the dwelling or, as the case may be, of the part concerned is not subject to a material interest inferior to his interest
'Material interest' is defined as “a freehold interest or a leasehold interest which was granted for a term of six months or more”.
A tenant with a fixed-term tenancy for six months or more holds a material interest as defined above. If they move out before the end of their tenancy, they are liable for unoccupied charges until their tenancy end-date.

However, a tenant on a periodic or rolling tenancy does not have a material interest as defined above. Therefore, they cannot be held liable for any unoccupied charge due.
Once a tenant’s fixed-term tenancy expires, and they stay on without a new fixed-term tenancy, it becomes a periodic or rolling tenancy. This means they no longer hold a material interest in the property.

So although they can be charged for the period they are living in the property, they cannot be charged for any unoccupied council tax charges if they move out – even if they haven’t given the landlord notice in accordance with their tenancy agreement.
If their tenancy is a fixed-term tenancy for six months or more, they will be liable for the unoccupied council tax charge from the date their tenancy starts, until the date they move in.

Once they move in, they will be liable for the occupied rate of council tax as long as the property is their sole or main residence.

Council tax - contact us

If you require any further details, please contact us by:

Write to:

Council Tax Section
Northumberland County Council
Wansbeck Square
Ashington
NE63 9XL 

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