Council Tax, Can I rent without it?

I was wondering if it´s true what some folks told me; some estate agents or landlords already include the council tax in their rent.. is it possibly when you go to a estate agents to tell them you want a flat but try to be with council tax or without it?

what is normally what you pay for council tax? I mean I know it depends..but like an approximately idea? say you get a studio flat for 360p what would the council tax be??

btw any one can suggest me a good estate agents in the bedfordshire-luton area?
thanks lots

I personally have never seen a rental with council tax included in the rent, but I have heard that they exist. But since it's the person residing at the address who is responsible rather than the owner, I think it's safe to say that the rent would just be higher if it was included - there's no free lunch. 

We live about 35 mins outside of London in a very high council tax area. We pay about £180 or so a month I think, but I can't really recall. We got behind by a month and so were paying £220 for several months to make it up. It's not based on your rent, it's based on the area you live in.

For estate agents I'd suggest just walking down the high street of the area you're interested in and stopping in to all of them!

i too have never seen a rent with council tax included.  council taxes can vary considerably depending on where you want to live.  you hsould be able to find out the amoun by going to the council's website and inputting the postcode & address.  could the estate agent give you a rough amount- they have their fingers on the pulse of the area.

http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/

for reference- my 3 bed in peterborough- east northamptonshire county council- is £110/month. 

Council Tax is banded based on the band of the place you rent.  My husband and I currently have two different properties, in two different councils.

The flat is a one bedroom and is band B - for £76 a month

And the house is a three bedroom - band D and is £110 a month

Of course we are getting 25% off for single occupancy at each property.

fyi - I heard on the news this morning they are raising council tax by I think 40%

Christ...that's a big jump.  First the Tube took a 50% hike, now council tax. 

fyi - I heard on the news this morning they are raising council tax by I think 40%

That might be regional - not country wide.

I think that people should just stop paying council tax - period!  I cannot understand how these councils can raise taxes by any percentage over cost of living - it's not like any of us are getting a 40% raise this year! 

Hiya,
there are some adverts you'll see which say 'including C/tax' but I'd say they make up maybe 1 or 2% of all listings you'll see. Very rare to see indeed. However, you may see an increased number when you look at adverts for single room lettings, houseshares etc, that kinda thing. I hardly ever look through those ads so things may have changed

This week I've seen the Yahoo news mention the British Gas price hike of around another 25% (i think thats the figure) which meant (according to the yahoo article) that average energy expenditure per household has bypassed the £1000 a year figure for the 1st time, also making British Gas the most expensive provider out of all the competing companies. Also this week, there was an announcement of Council Tax increases yet councils are saying they're cutting back on services. Add that into the Tube price increases, petrol the 3rd or 4th most expensive in the world, and today the average price of a house over £200K - means as ever, there is even less value for money here in the UK.

Currently I don't see job salaries being hiked at all! if anything salaries are getting lower! it's just 4% of the UK workforce that is in the upper tax bracket.

Some respite of course is to live in a less expensive area of the country and maybe boosting income with a 2nd job or part time business etc, and these cost of living increases maybe 'easier' to handle - taxes have to be paid, by 'not paying council tax - period' how will the streets be cleaned, rubbish removed, parks be kept etc etc ?!

Good luck to OP for finding a place with a good balance of all expenses - sorry I don't know the Luton/bedford area too well

Cheers! Dennis! West London & Slough UK!!

fyi - I heard on the news this morning they are raising council tax by I think 40%

4%, not 40%.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4732170.stm

yes 4%.  still too much.

I think the Yahoo article mentioned that since Labour came to power Council tax has increased by around 50% -

To me, it doesnt matter which party is in power, labour or conservatives, we all get taxed highly, prices just seem to go up and up and up for cost of living whilst the only things that are reduced are amenities, services, spending.

I agree with an article that came out shortly after sept 11th - that the UK should apply to be the 53rd state of the USA!!  (I allllways get confused, it is 50 USA states? or 52? if its 50, then the article said we should be the 51st state!) that way, we can enjoy super cheap petrol, have property that is more affordable, more choice in everything!

shock horror! can you imagine the ignorant lot here in the UK suddenly finding themselves a part of the USA !  haha

Dennis! West London & Slough UK!

in December when I was looking at places to rent there were a few with council tax included... shared housing and flats. I talked to lots of estate agents before and after i got here. They are easy to find up and down the high streets or if you find their sale or letting signs in an area you like you can ring them and see what else they have.

as a single person, my council tax is £600 a year paid quarterly

I would think that if a landlord is going to advertise that council tax is included, he/she is going to adjust the rent accordingly -- so you're probably not going to find any great savings.

I would think that if a landlord is going to advertise that council tax is included, he/she is going to adjust the rent accordingly -- so you're probably not going to find any great savings.

absolutely!

is there anyone who is excluded from paying council tax? disabled etc..??
also what about a studio flat? what band is that??