Council tax - frequently asked questions

We set the charge annually on budget requirements and Scottish Government funding. Increases apply across property bands.

Your property is placed in a band from A to H based on its 1991 value. Bands are set by the Lanarkshire Assessor, not the council.

You can check your band using the Scottish Assessors Association online search.

Check if discounts or changes have been applied. If still incorrect, contact the council tax team to review the account.

Responsibility for council tax is based on a legal order (hierarchy) of who lives in or owns the property.

The person highest on this list will usually be responsible:

1. Owner-occupier (owns and lives in the property)
2. Tenant (rents the property)
3. Other resident (for example, someone living there who is not the owner or tenant)

If more than one person is responsible (for example, joint tenants), they are jointly responsible for the full amount.

Receiving Adult Disability Payment does not automatically mean you’ll get a council tax discount or exemption. Each case is looked at individually, based on your household and the rules set out in Scottish council tax legislation.

You may be able to apply for:

• Severe Mental Impairment (SMI) discount
• Disabled Person Reduction (DPR)
• Council Tax Reduction

If you think you might qualify, please contact us for advice or an application form or check our website discount & exemption page to check eligibility.

If you’ve logged into your online account before, you can reset your details by selecting “Forgot Username” or “Forgot Password” on the login page.

If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to re-register again. This helps us flag the issue to the revenues team. Requests are usually resolved within 24 hours (Monday to Friday). If you submit your request after close of business on a Friday, access may not be restored until Monday.

If you need further help, you can contact the revenues and benefits team directly at revenue@northlan.gov.uk

In the meantime, you can still get in touch by phone or email if you have any urgent council tax queries while your account access is being sorted.

When acting on behalf of another person, we require a valid mandate or Power of Attorney as authority to discuss the account. Without this documentation, we may be unable to provide information, which could delay the handling of your enquiry.

Appeals against a council tax band are dealt with by the Assessor, not the council. Appeals are only permitted in certain circumstances.

For advice, contact:

Lanarkshire Valuation Joint Board
David Dale House
45 John Street
Blantyre
G72 0AA

Telephone: 01698 476000
Email: assessor@lanarkshire-vjb.gov.uk
Website: www.lanarkshire-vjb.gov.uk

You should continue to pay your council tax in line with your latest bill while any appeal or enquiry is being considered.

If both people were named on the account, you are both responsible for the full amount.

Backdating may be possible depending on your situation. You will need to explain why you didn’t apply earlier and provide evidence.

Council tax is still charged on empty homes:

Discounts are usually short term only, Long term empty properties may have an extra charge. 

When there is a change in liability for a property due to a change of ownership or tenancy, any entitlement to a Council Tax exemption or empty property discount must be considered in accordance with Council Tax legislation.

In determining entitlement for an unoccupied property, the relevant date is when the property was last occupied, not the date on which ownership or tenancy changed.

The Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) (Scotland) Order 1997 defines the "last occupation day" in relation to an unoccupied dwelling as the day on which the dwelling was last occupied. The legislation further provides that where a dwelling that was unoccupied subsequently becomes occupied and then becomes unoccupied again, the later period of occupation is taken into account when determining the last occupation day.

Accordingly, a change in ownership or tenancy does not, in itself, reset the period of exemption or discount. The determining factor is the date the property was last occupied.

If you think your council tax bill is wrong, you should contact us as soon as possible. You may be able to appeal if:

• The bill is in the wrong person's name.
• Your property should not be liable for council tax.
• You believe you are entitled to a discount or exemption.
• You believe you should not be charged an increased rate for a second home or empty property.
• A reduction for a disabled person has not been applied to your bill.

When submitting an appeal, you must explain why you believe the bill is incorrect. You cannot appeal simply because you feel the charge is unfair.

Put it in writing to:

Chief Officer (Finance)
Chief Executive's Office
Civic Centre
Motherwell
ML1 1AB

We have up to two months from the date you first contact us to consider your appeal. We may contact you during this time to request further information or explain our decision.

If you are unhappy with our decision, or we do not respond within two months, you can make a formal appeal to the Local Taxation Chamber of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

You must submit your appeal within four months of your most recent correspondence with us about the matter.

Guidance and appeal forms are available on the Local Taxation Chamber website.

Yes. 

You should continue to pay your council tax as shown on your latest bill while your appeal or enquiry is being considered.

If you are unable to resolve your enquiry via the open portal, then other ways of contacting the team are by phone on 01698 403210 or by email: revenue@northlan.gov.uk

Empty properties can provide much needed homes and help improve local communities. The Council's Empty Homes Team operates separately from the Council Tax Team and has a distinct role in supporting owners to bring long-term empty properties back into use. The team offers free, expert advice and practical support to help achieve this.

If you own an empty property and would like more information about the help available, please contact the Empty Homes Team at EmptyHomes@northlan.gov.uk or follow the Link Empty Homes Page