Your questions answered

Find answers to your most frequently asked questions:

• What can I do if I'm unhappy about the band that my property is in?
• While my band is being reviewed, do I have to pay Council Tax?
• Can I get help paying my Council Tax?
• While my Council Tax reduction claim is being dealt with, do I have to pay Council Tax?
• I live alone. Do I still have to pay the full Council Tax?
• Are there any other discounts available?
• Are there any exemptions from paying Council Tax?
• Can discounts and exemptions be backdated?
• Can I get a reduction if I am living with dementia?
• Can I pay my Council Tax in instalments? 
• Why am I being charged more for my empty property?
• How do I appeal against the council's decision to award or not award a discount or exemption?
• Can the council charge what they want for Council Tax? 
• Can the council choose what to spend money on?
• What else is included in my Council Tax bill?
• Does Medway Council get to keep money raised through Council Tax from the Police, Fire Service and Parish precepts? 

If you are unhappy about the band your property is in

The HMRC Valuation Office (VO) values domestic properties for Council Tax. This valuation is used to set your Council Tax band. You might need to contact the VO if you think your Council Tax band is wrong. You can find out more about when you can challenge your band and what you need to do on GOV.UK. If you challenge your band, you must continue to pay Council Tax at your current band until your appeal is decided. 

You can contact the VO on GOV.UK. If you are unable to use the online service you can also call on 03000 501 501.

While your band is being reviewed

You should pay your Council Tax based on the latest bill you have been sent. If your appeal is successful, we will refund any overpaid Council Tax.

Help with paying your Council Tax

If you have a low income or are unemployed, you may be able to claim Council Tax reduction. 

Make a Council Tax reduction claim

If you are suffering financial hardship, you can also apply for Council Tax discretionary relief.

Get help with your Council Tax

While your Council Tax reduction claim is being dealt with

You should pay your Council Tax based on the latest bill you have been sent. If your claim is successful, you will be refunded any overpaid Council Tax. 

Get a discount on your Council Tax if you live alone

Single adult households can claim a discount of 25%. 

Other discounts

In some cases, a discount can be claimed by a household with two or more adults. Some people are not counted: full-time adult students, trainees, apprentices, 18 and 19 year olds at school, those receiving or providing care, severely mentally impaired, long-term hospital patients, certain categories of prisoners, members of visiting forces, certain international bodies and closed religious orders. If this leaves less than two people in your property you may qualify for a discount.

If your property has space for someone to use a wheelchair or facilities for use by a disabled person, such as an extra bathroom, you may be entitled to a reduction.

There are also reductions available for:

• people living in annexes - provided they are related to the person liable to pay the Council Tax of the main dwelling.
• annexes that are not separately occupied but used with the main property as part of the same residence.

Exemptions from paying Council Tax

Even if the property is occupied, you may not need to pay Council Tax if for example every adult in the property is a full-time student, under-18, or severely mentally impaired. Claims should be made as soon as possible.

You may not need to pay Council Tax for self-contained annexes. To qualify, the property must be occupied by an elderly or disabled relative of the family in the other part of the building. 

Backdating of discounts and exemptions

We will usually only consider backdating a discount or exemption to 1 April of the preceding year unless there are valid reasons why the claim was not made sooner. In all cases you must supply the relevant information or evidence for the backdated period.

If you are living with dementia

If you or one of your household are living with dementia and in receipt of one of a number of benefits, you may be considered ‘severely mentally impaired’ for Council Tax purposes.

This could mean you are entitled to a discount or exemption depending on who else lives in your home. You may also get a reduction if you have someone living with you who you care for, or who cares for you as long as they are not your partner or a child under 18. 

Payment of Council Tax in instalments

You will normally be offered 10 monthly instalments on your annual bill but you can ask to pay over 12 months.

Additional charges (premiums) for empty properties

Any property that has been unoccupied and unfurnished for one to five years will be charged a 100% additional premium (double the usual amount of Council Tax). Properties empty for five to ten years will be charged a 200% additional premium (three times the usual amount of Council Tax) and properties empty for ten years or more will be charged a 300% premium (four times the usual amount of Council Tax).

From 1 April 2025 a property that is unoccupied and furnished will be charged a 100% premium from the date it is vacated.

There are certain exceptions from the premium, including properties that are being marketed for sale or to let and those where probate has recently been granted, for up to 12 months.

How to appeal against the council's decision to award or not award a discount or exemption

Limits on how much Council Tax the council can charge

Each year the government indicates what it considers to be an excessive increase. If a council increases its Council Tax above this figure, it will trigger a local referendum. If the local electorate votes against the increase the council will have to revert to a Council Tax level that is compliant.

Deciding what the council spends its money on

There are some services that the council has to spend money on – it has no choice – that’s what the government tells councils to do to meet central targets, for example, spending on schools. There are other services where the council can decide how much it wants to spend and how much it can afford, for example leisure centres and libraries. The council finds out what is important to residents and then it decides what to spend.

Charges included in your Council Tax bill 

Your bill also includes charges for services that the council doesn’t provide itself, like police and fire services, and if you live in a rural area, a charge by your parish council. There are 11 parishes in Medway.

Money raised through Council Tax from the police, fire and parish precepts

The total that will be raised from Council Tax in 2026 to 2027 is £215.3 million, of which Medway Council will get £178.9 million. The remaining £36.4 million goes to the police, fire service and to individual parishes. If you do not live in a parish, you do not have to pay a parish charge, but everyone pays for police and fire services.