We understand this is a difficult time and there are a number of ways you can notify us of a bereavement. A relative, friend or solicitor of the deceased should inform us of the death. They should inform us as soon as possible, using one of the methods below.
Tell Us Once Service
If you register the death at the registry office, you will get a unique Tell Us Once reference number.
You can use this to inform all the relevant government departments, including council tax, in one transaction.
Report a death directly to the Council Tax department
In most cases, the 'Tell Us Once' scheme or Registrar of Deaths will inform us. If the information is received another way, there is no automatic sharing of information between the council tax office and other Departments. If you only need to inform the council tax department of the death, you can let us know directly.
We will need to know:
- the name of the deceased persons and the date they died
- the address where they lived
- the names and addresses of executors or administrators to the will
- the name and address of an appointed solicitor if you prefer the council to deal with your solicitor directly
- any other properties that the deceased person owned in Warwick District area, even if they are currently let out or empty
If you do not have all the information at once, you can provide it later. You can provide all this information to us on this online form or you can call us on 01926 456760 and select option 2.
What happens after the death is reported?
If the property was occupied by one person
If the taxpayer lived alone, the property may be exempt from council tax as follows:
Until the date probate is granted and then for up to 6 months after the date of probate unless one of the following occurs and then the exemption will end:
- the property is re-occupied or was still occupied on the date of death
- the tenancy ends
- the property is sold
If the property is rented, then the liability for the estate will end on the date the tenancy ends.
You will need to inform us of when one of the above events occur using the general enquiry form.
If an exemption is granted, the council may contact the executors to review the case regularly.
If the property was occupied by two adults
If the deceased person was jointly liable for council tax with another person we will remove the deceased person from being named on the bill.
A 25% discount may also be given to the remaining occupier as long as they are the sole adult remaining in the property, for more details see single person discount.
If the remaining person is claiming local council tax reduction or housing benefit they must also notify the benefits team by completing a change of circumstances form.
If the property was occupied by more than two adults
If the property was occupied by more than two adults, you will need to confirm the names of the people still occupying the property. Please send the details using the general enquiry form.
If the property has been sold
If the ownership of a property is transferred to a beneficiary of the will, after the probate exemption is granted (up to six months), the responsibility for the council tax will then pass 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 and may be subject to a premium charge depending on whether the property is empty or if it is furnished. The executor is responsible for making payment of the council tax. The executor is not personally responsible for council tax charges, and payment should be made from the deceased estate.
If there are any difficulties with paying the remaining bill from the estate please contact us for advice.
When probate is granted
Once probate is granted, you must tell us when ownership is transferred / registered on Land Registry. This is so that we can keep our records up-to-date.
We will need to know the name, address, and contact details of who is dealing with the estate so we can send bills to the correct person.
You can send the details using our general enquiry form.
If it remains unoccupied from the date of probate, there is a further exemption period of up to 6 months. This will end if:
- the property is sold.
- the property is reoccupied as someone’s sole or main residence.
Executors
Executors are the people appointed in the will to deal with the estate of a person who has passed away. The will, or letters of administration, advise if you have been appointed to be the executor of the estate. When probate is granted a document is issued to the executor providing them with the authority to deal with the estate.
Requesting a refund on overpaid council tax account
If there is a credit on the account at the date of death, we will need:
- a completed refund form
- a copy of either the grant of probate, will, or letters of administration (you can upload this onto the refund form online or send it back with the paper refund form)
- a copy of the bank statement where the refund will be going back to (you can upload this onto the refund form online or send it back with the paper refund form)
Multiple homes
If the deceased person owned more than 1 property in the district, we will need to be told about each address. The exemption will not necessarily apply if the property was not being used as their sole or main residence. You can send the details using our general enquiry form.
When there is no will
You will need to seek letters of administration.
Financial help for the bereaved
Visit Gov.uk for more on financial help for the bereaved.
Page updated for clarity on 19 March 2025