Glossary

HMO banding

Whether a house in multiple occupation is banded as one property or one band per room.

Since December 2023, HMOs are banded as a single dwelling by default — landlords, not tenants, are liable for council tax. Before that, the VOA sometimes banded HMO rooms individually. If your room is still individually banded, ask the VOA to reassess under the current rules; that alone can save hundreds a year.

Related terms

Chargeable dwelling
A property that attracts council tax — most homes, but not all buildings on a plot.
Billing authority
The council that issues your council tax bill and collects the money — usually your district or unitary council.

Check your own band

The fastest way to see if your band is wrong is the neighbours test. Enter your postcode and compare every band on your street.

Check my street →