How much council tax will be rising in the UK

Cash-strapped households are being advised to check how much their council tax will be rising in April to avoid any nasty shocks.

Researchers at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have calculated the possible rise in council tax for 20 cities in the UK for households living under the band C category.

The average home is expected to see a rise of £74 and above for their annual council tax based on a maximum increase rate of 4.99%.

Millions of households are expected to see this rise in April partially due to Britain’s inflation rate of 10.01%, resulting in a gap in council budgets.

With living costs continuing to spiral due to rising energy and food costs, this rise in council tax will mean more homes are likely to face deeper financial struggles amid the worsening cost-of-living crisis.

Out of the 20 cities studied, residents in Oxford are expected to be paying one of the largest price increases in April, with the amount totalling £2,090.85, meaning households will be paying an extra £99.38 per year.

Bristol and Liverpool’s residents are predicted to see a rise of £98.93 and £97.36 in their annual payments.

The increase will also impact Scottish homes, as those living in Glasgow expected to see a maximum increase of £84.56.

This comes after the Government recently announced that councils don’t need to hold a local referendum if they want to increase the price of council tax.

Those who are over 18 and either rent or own a home have to pay the new rate in council tax fees unless they are already exempt from the payments.

John Stirzaker, consumer expert at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “With the announcement of council tax going up, many Brits are bound to be worried about the price increase as they’re already experiencing a massive rise in energy bills and food costs.

“We’ve researched how much the 4.99% rise in council tax will impact 20 cities in the UK for those living in homes under band C by calculating an average total in each area.

“Our data shows that most areas will see an increase of £70 and above, but the total increase will vary in each area.

“For example, Cardiff is set to see a rise of £74.06, while Bristolians face an even higher price increase of £98.93, despite only being an hour’s drive away.

“This rise is going to happen across the entire country no matter the area or council tax band.

“While it’s understandable that local councils may need to put their rates up to improve their services for their residents, this rise in costs is only going to put a strain on people’s budgets.

“We hope our research encourages people to check how much their tax is planned to go up in the next month, so they have time to prepare and budget accordingly for the change.”