How to Change Council Tax When Moving in London
Moving out is only half the council tax update. To change council tax when moving in London, notify the council for your old home and register with the council responsible for your new address. For a City of London property, use the vacating occupier form and provide the account number from your current bill; if you’re liable for council tax at a new City of London property and aren’t registered, use the incoming occupier form.
It’s easy to focus on the move itself, but notifying both councils helps keep your accounts aligned with the dates you’re responsible for each home. The process can differ between London boroughs, so follow the instructions for the area where each property is located.
This guide explains what to report when moving out, how to register at your new address and when to use an incoming occupier form. It also covers details that can prevent confusion over your final bill or new account, so you can handle council tax steps alongside the rest of your move.
Table of Contents
Incoming occupier form
An incoming occupier form registers someone liable for council tax at a new property. In the City of London, property owners, occupiers and tenants can use the form to register. If you become liable there and aren’t registered, submit it to start the process. This guidance applies to properties in the City of London, also called the Square Mile, a small area of central London.
First, identify which council covers your new address. The City of London form applies to Square Mile properties, not every London address. For example, if you’re moving to a home in Havering, follow Havering’s requirements. Councils can request different details, so don’t assume a form or process for one borough applies elsewhere.
Havering asks residents moving into or renting a property to provide the full names of all occupants over 18 years old. It also asks for the previous occupants’ forwarding address or their solicitor’s details. Gather those details before completing the relevant registration process. These requirements are specific to Havering and shouldn’t be treated as the City of London form’s stated fields.
For a City of London property, the date you become liable affects the bill. According to City of London Corporation, a council tax bill issued partway through a financial year is apportioned to the dates of liability up until 31 March. A bill issued during the financial year may allow fewer than ten instalments. The number of instalments can therefore be lower when registration happens later in the year.
Use the incoming occupier process for the council responsible for your new home. Keep the move-in date and relevant property details together as you arrange registration. For a move to Havering, include the required adult occupants’ names and previous occupants’ forwarding details. For a City of London home, use its incoming occupier form if you’re liable and haven’t registered.
Notifying the council when moving out
Tell the council responsible for your old home that you’re leaving. The process depends on the borough and your circumstances.
Council Tax Transfers Between Boroughs
A council tax transfer involves closing the account for your old address and registering separately with the council for your new home. Accounts don’t move automatically between London boroughs, so notify both councils and provide the relevant dates and addresses.
In the City of London, owners, occupiers and tenants can use the vacating occupier form to report a change in circumstances or ownership. If you’re moving out, include the account number from your current bill. Hackney residents selling a home can report the sale to close their account and receive a final bill.
A discount or exemption doesn’t automatically carry over when you change address. If you receive Council Tax Reduction, a discount or an exemption in Hackney, report changes in your circumstances, including your move, to Hackney.
If your bill is incorrect, contact the council that issued it and identify the account details or charge you believe needs correcting. Challenging a band is different from correcting account information, so explain clearly if you’re questioning the band rather than the bill.
Late Move Reporting and Payments
Late move reporting means the council receives your change-of-address details after you’ve left. Report your move promptly so the council can update the account using the dates you were liable, rather than leaving the old address details unchanged.
For a City of London home, people moving out receive a revised bill or a refund claim form based on the exact days they were liable. When leaving a Havering property, provide your forwarding address and the name of the new owner, tenants or landlord. Havering residents can report a move up to four weeks in advance.
If a bill still relates to your old home, contact the issuing council with your move date and forwarding address. A move notification isn’t payment confirmation, so follow the instructions on the bill while the account is being updated. Keep the final bill or refund information with your moving records.
Registering for council tax when moving in
Register with the council responsible for your new address. Use the property’s move-in date and accurate household details when opening the account.
Council for the New Address
The council for your new address is the local authority that manages council tax for that property. Identify it from the address, rather than assuming your previous borough still handles the account.
If you’re working out how to change council tax when moving in London, start by contacting the council for your new property. Submit the registration details and the date your responsibility begins. For a Havering home, a new bill starts from the completion date or tenancy start date. Keep that date consistent with your purchase or tenancy records.
Provide the information requested for the property and its occupants. Havering asks for the full names of occupants over 18 and the previous occupants’ forwarding address or solicitor’s details. These details help distinguish the new household from the former occupiers.
Property Calculation and Band
A council tax band is the property category used to calculate its council tax charge. The amount on your bill depends on the property’s band and the charge set by the council responsible for that address.
To find the property’s band, refer to its council tax records or ask the council handling the account. Give the complete address so staff can identify the correct home. If the band or property details appear wrong, explain what you’re disputing; a band query is different from correcting a move date.
The address-specific steps for how to change council tax when moving in London start with registration, followed by a review of the account details. Keep the full address, move-in date and requested household information together. For Havering, the relevant date is the completion date for a purchase or the tenancy start date for a rental.
Set up payments using the instructions the council provides after registration. Your bill or account information explains the available payment methods and schedule. Follow those steps and keep the bill with your moving records so you can refer to the account details if questions arise.
How do I tell my London council I’m moving in or out?
A council move notification tells the local authority that your address or responsibility for a property is changing. Use the council responsible for each address, because a move between London boroughs involves separate council tax accounts.
Start by identifying the councils for your old and new homes. Report your departure to the first and register with the second. For example, moving from Hackney to Havering means contacting both councils, not asking one to transfer your account automatically.
Choose the route that matches your address and situation:
City of London: use the vacating occupier form when leaving, and provide the account number from your current bill.
Hackney: report a move so the council can keep your Council Tax bill correct. If you’re selling your home, report the sale to close the account and receive a final bill.
Havering: residents can tell the council about a move up to four weeks in advance. When leaving, provide a forwarding address and the new owner’s, tenants’ or landlord’s name.
For a move to a new property, send the registration details to the council responsible for that address. Havering starts a new bill from the completion date or tenancy start date. If you’re moving into or renting a Havering home, provide that date and the requested occupant details.
Keep your old and new addresses, move dates, account details and council correspondence together. These records make it easier to resolve a query if a bill still refers to your previous home. If you receive Council Tax Reduction, a discount or an exemption in Hackney, report changes in your circumstances there too.
Report each change through the relevant council’s process, then review the resulting account information. For a move involving a City of London property, the vacating occupier form records your departure; the incoming occupier form registers you at a new City of London home.
The council responsible for your new property handles its council tax account. Register with that council. If you’re moving between boroughs, your old council won’t automatically transfer the account.
Let's Move London: Moving
Let's Move London can help with the practical work of moving your belongings between homes. Once you’ve notified the relevant councils and arranged your council tax accounts, a planned move can help keep the physical transition organised.
Choose moving support when you need help relocating your household belongings. If your move dates don’t align, storage can keep your belongings between homes. For a smaller move, a man and van service may suit transporting selected items.
Keep council tax administration separate from your moving arrangements: the relevant councils handle account updates, while your move plan covers belongings and logistics. Share your moving details when discussing the support you need. Contact Let's Move London to talk through your move.
Make Your Next Move with a Clear Plan
Knowing how to change council tax when moving in London gives you a clear administrative task to coordinate with your move. Set aside time for council correspondence alongside practical arrangements, and keep important property details accessible as plans develop. A clear sequence can help you stay focused when dates, addresses and moving tasks overlap.
Once the council updates are underway, turn your attention to the physical move. A well-organised plan makes it easier to manage what needs moving and when. If your arrangements change, revisit your schedule and adjust the practical details around your new home.
For support with the moving arrangements, contact Let's Move London. Take the next step at a pace that works for your plans, and move forward with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon must I register for council tax after moving in London?
Register as soon as you have a confirmed move-in date; the process varies by council. Havering residents can report a move up to four weeks in advance. If your completion or tenancy date changes after you’ve submitted details, tell the council handling your new address so it can use the correct date when setting up your account.
Can I get a council tax discount or exemption after moving, such as for living alone or being a student?
A discount or exemption doesn’t automatically carry over when you move. Report changes in your circumstances to the council, including if you receive Council Tax Reduction, a discount or an exemption in Hackney.
What happens if I don’t report my move or pay council tax on time?
If you report your move late, the old address details may remain unchanged until the council updates your account. Contact the council with your move date and forwarding address, and follow the bill’s payment instructions while the account is being updated.
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