Council tax is a substantial monthly bill that will vary depending on property price.
It’s an important consideration when buying or renting a new home.
In this article, we’ll talk you through everything you need to know about council tax in Cardiff, including:
- The average council tax bands depending on property valuation
- How much council tax is increasing,
- Facts on council tax for tenants
- Facts on council tax for those owning empty properties.
What does council tax pay for?
Council tax is an annual fee paid to your local council, which covers the cost of local services and facilities.
Local councils determine costs and will vary depending on location and average property price.
Services that are covered by council tax usually include the following:
- Emergency services (police, firemen, etc)
- Leisure projects such as sports centres
- Education facilities including public libraries
- Rubbish collection services
- Road maintenance including street lighting and cleaning
- Record-keeping (e.g. marriages, deaths, births).
How much is council tax per month in Cardiff?
So, here’s the main question; how much is council tax per month in Cardiff?
The answer varies depending on how much a property is worth and its local area.
So, the property is allocated a Council Tax ‘band’ based on property price and location. This determines how much the owner will be taxed each year.
Here’s a table dictating the ranges of council tax bill by band in Cardiff (the lower band is for the ‘all other areas’ category and the higher for Pentyrch):
| Council Tax Band | Yearly Charge |
| A* – Disablement Relief | £1,013.00 – £1,042.22 |
| A – Up to £44,000 | £1,215.59 – £1,250.66 |
| B – £44,001 – £65,000 | £1,418.19 – £1,459.10 |
| C – £65,001 – £91,000 | £1,620.79 – £1,667.55 |
| D – £91,001 – £123,000 | £1,823.39 – £1,875.99 |
| E – £123,001 – £162,000 | £2,228.59 – £2,292.88 |
| F – £162,001 – £223,000 | £2,633.78 – £2,709.76 |
| G – £223,001 – £324,000 | £3,038.98 – £3,126.65 |
| H – £324,001 – £424,000 | £3,646.78 – £3,751.98 |
| I – £424,001 and above | £4,254.58 – £4,377.31 |
Source: Cardiff.gov.uk
Based on the above data and the average house price in Cardiff being £288,627, we can determine that most homeowners in Cardiff are in band G, pay:
- Average council tax bills of £3,038.98 – £3,126.65 per year (or £253 – £260 per month).
Is council tax payable on empty properties?
Most councils in Wales do impose council tax on empty properties, and even premium charges of between 150% – 200% if the property has been unoccupied and unfurnished for over 1 year.
There is usually an exemption from council tax charges in Wales for up to 6 months, for example in the case of the property owner passing away.
There may also be exemptions from paying council tax on an empty home:
- that is owned by someone in prison (except for not paying a fine or council tax)
- that is owned by someone who is living in a care home or is spending significant time in a hospital
- that has been repossessed
- that cannot be lived in – for example, if they are considered to be derelict.
Do tenants pay council tax in Wales?
The person responsible for paying council tax on a property in Wales is listed on the Council Tax bill.
This will either be the property owner or the tenants, depending on who lives in the property.
If you’re a lodger and share your address with your landlord, the landlord will likely be responsible for paying the council tax bill.
However, you’ll need to check whether your rent covers your portion of the council tax or if this will need to be paid to your landlord separately.
Tenants may be exempt from paying council tax if they meet the following requirements:
- They are part of a low-income household
- They are students
- They live alone
- They are severely mentally impaired
- They are disabled
- The property is empty.
What is the cheapest council tax in Wales?
Council tax varies depending on property price and local area, making some areas in Wales more affordable than others when it comes to council tax.
The area with the cheapest council tax in Wales is Pembrokeshire, with an average annual council tax bill of £1,311.63.
This is significantly cheaper than the average council tax bill in Wales of £2,853 – £2,940.
While this may sound appealing to residents of Pembrokeshire, it also shows a low funding rate for public services.
Over time, this may impact health, social services, and education.
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