Home | Living | Benefits & Council Tax | Council Tax - information to help you | Council Tax - Bereavement

Council Tax - Bereavement

When somebody dies, the person who has to pay the Council Tax may change. The amount of Council Tax is sometimes affected too.
The Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages usually advises us of deaths occurring in Portsmouth but we often need more information in order to amend our records properly. If the Registrar hasn't told us then we will need to see a copy of the death certificate.

Did the person move out before the date of death?

We can often reduce the Council Tax bill from the date a person permanently moved into a care home or hospital. Please inform us of the details when you phone or write in.

Is there Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit in payment?

You must inform us straight away when somebody dies as this may affect how much benefit is paid. Please contact the Benefits section (see the internal link to the right of this page).

Is the property rented?

Contact the landlord straightaway if the property is empty and you wish to end the tenancy.

Further information

How the Council Tax is affected
If the deceased person was a landlord or owner of an empty property
What you need to tell us