Skip to main contentAccessibility Statement
NewsAll services
  1. Home
  2. Council tax

What to do in the event of a death

Heading

Following an issue earlier this week with council tax payments via direct debit in the former South Northamptonshire area, we have investigated and discovered this was due to an administrative error on our part.

Anyone for whom this has caused financial or bank issues should call us on 0300 126 7000 selecting options 2, 3, 2 and 1 to reach the dedicated customer service team for the South Northamptonshire area

Please contact us to advise about the death of an occupant of a property if they lived in the Daventry or Northampton area. In South Northamptonshire you can complete a form linked below.

What information do we need?

You need to let us know:

  • the name of the deceased person and the date they died
  • the address where they lived
  • whether a Single Person Discount is now required.

If the deceased was a Council Tax payer we will need the following information:

  • the names and addresses of any executors to the will of the deceased person
  • the name and address of an appointed solicitor if you want us to deal directly with a solicitor.

What if I am unable to provide all of this information?

There is no need to worry. If you are providing this information only a short time after a person's death you may only be in a position to give their name and address. You can give us more information once you have it.

When a property had been occupied by a single person, who either owned or rented the property, and that person dies, the property is exempt from council tax payment for as long as it remains unoccupied, until probate is granted.

Following a grant of probate, a further six month exemption is possible as long as the property remains unoccupied and has not been sold or transferred to someone else.

Executors must let us know:

  • the date probate is granted
  • details of the transfer or sale of the property or the end date of the tenancy
  • when the estate is settled

During this time we may contact the executors periodically to review entitlement to the exemption.

Six months from the date probate is granted the full Council Tax will be due to be paid by the executors of the estate.

If a property was occupied by more than two adults, and one person dies, we will transfer the council tax into the name of the remaining owner/occupiers or joint tenants.

Providing only one person continues to live in the property we will transfer the council tax name solely into their name and grant a 25% sole occupier discount.

When probate is granted, a document is issued to the executor providing them with the authority to deal with the estate.

Executors are the people appointed in the will to deal with the estate of a person who has died.

If, after probate is granted, ownership of a property is transferred to a beneficiary of the will, any liability for Council Tax passes to the beneficiary.

If for any reason after probate has been granted the property remains under the control of the estate for more than six months, a full Council Tax charge is due. The executor is responsible for making payment of the Council Tax.

The executor is not personally liable for Council Tax charges, and payment should be made from the deceased estate.

If the executor cannot make payment for any reason they should contact us immediately.

Select your local area for more information:

If your area isn't listed, you may be a resident of North Northamptonshire.

Why information is on a different website
We are in the process of adding information to this new unitary council website. Some pages will give you a link back to a previous council website to help you find what you need. Read more about the council changes.

Last updated 02 March 2022