Council Tax in Fareham

Bands, rates, and what your council tax pays for

Council tax in Fareham is set annually by Fareham Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, and the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner. The total bill comprises charges from each of these bodies, with the county council element being the largest portion.

Fareham has historically been one of the lower-charging boroughs in Hampshire for its element of the council tax. The borough council has a stated policy of keeping its precept as low as possible, and Fareham's borough charge has been among the lowest in the country in some years. However, the total council tax bill also includes the county and police elements, which are set independently and have generally risen each year in line with government-permitted increases.

Council tax bands are based on property valuations as at 1 April 1991. Band D is the reference band, and most council tax comparisons are made at this level. The banding in Fareham ranges from Band A (the lowest value properties) to Band H (the highest). Most residential properties in the borough fall into Bands C to E, reflecting the mix of housing from terraces to detached family homes.

The services funded by council tax include refuse collection, recycling, street cleaning, and planning (borough council); education, social services, highways maintenance, and libraries (county council); and policing (police and crime commissioner). Hampshire Fire and Rescue is also funded through the county precept. Understanding this split is useful when residents feel frustrated about a particular service, as the responsible authority may not be the one that sets the largest part of the bill.

Single-person households receive a twenty-five per cent discount on the council tax bill. Students, certain carers, and people with severe mental impairment may also qualify for discounts or exemptions. Council tax support (the replacement for council tax benefit) is available for households on low incomes, administered by the borough council.

Payment is typically by monthly direct debit over ten months, with most payers spreading the bill from April to January. Payment over twelve months is also available on request, which reduces the monthly amount at the cost of paying through February and March as well.

Bills are issued in March each year, and any changes to circumstances (moving house, change in occupancy, eligibility for single person discount) should be notified to the council promptly. Overpayments are refunded, and underpayments will result in adjusted bills. The council's website provides online account access where residents can view bills, make payments, and update their details.