What do I do if I have moved into a newly built property? 

From the date you take possession of a newly built property, you will become liable for Council Tax. You must notify us you have acquired possession of the property immediately.  

As you have moved into a newly built property its possible that the property has not yet been allocated a band by the Valuation Office. The Valuation Office will provide the Local Authority with an official band within the next three months.  

Any delay in banding can have a marked effect on what instalments (if any) are available. 

If you have just moved into a newly built property, please complete the "moving into a new build property" form. 

Moving Into A New Build Property Form

Provisional banding 

A temporary statement will be issued to you with a provisional banding applied. There is no legal obligation for you to pay a council tax notice which is based on a provisional valuation. 

Issuing you with a provisional council tax notice will avoid a large amount becoming due when the Valuation Office officially bands your property. It also enables you to start making payments towards your council tax notice if you wish to do so. 

However, please be aware that if you do not start making payments towards your bill and there is a delay in your property being allocated a band you may find that your instalments are higher than you would anticipate because of the limited number of instalments available in the financial year. 

The provisional valuation should not be taken as any indication of the band which will be allocated by the Valuation Office.  

Council Tax is normally payable in 10 monthly instalments, from April to January inclusive. As the financial year progresses, the number of months available for instalments reduces depending upon when the bill is issued. Where a bill is issued towards the end of the year there may be no entitlement to instalments and any Council Tax due to the end of the current year will be payable immediately.