There is no cancelling, only moving the liability
This matters because people leave it, assuming a final bill will arrive automatically. It will, but only once the council knows you have gone, and until then the liability sits with you.
What you need to hand before you start:
- Your council tax account number at the old address
- Both addresses in full
- Your date of entry, and the date you actually leave the old property
- The name of the buyer or new tenant if you have it, and the landlord or letting agent if renting
- A forwarding address for the final bill or refund
Where this sits in the wider list of who to tell is covered in our change of address checklist for a Scottish move.
The Scottish difference: your water bill is in there
Two practical consequences.
Telling the council is telling Scottish Water. You do not need to contact them separately, and searching for an account you do not have is a common waste of an evening for anyone who has moved up from England.
And because the charge follows your band rather than your usage, moving to a higher-banded property raises your water charge as well as your council tax. That is worth factoring into a budget for the new address, since it is not a line most people look for.
Thinking about your own move?
Send us both addresses and your date. You will get a fixed written quote, usually within one working day, and an honest answer about whether your date is a busy one.
Doing it, in order
- Wait until missives are concluded. An accepted offer is not binding in Scotland, and a change of address filed against a date that then moves creates a mess.
- Tell the council you are leaving. Online is usually quickest. Give the date you move out and a forwarding address.
- Tell the new council you are arriving, if it is a different one. Moving between Edinburgh and Midlothian, East Lothian or West Lothian means two councils.
- Check the closing bill when it arrives. Council tax is usually paid over ten or twelve instalments rather than evenly across the year, so a mid-year move often produces a refund or a balancing payment that looks wrong at first glance.
- Set up payment at the new address. A new account means a new direct debit; the old one does not transfer.
Discounts and exemptions worth asking about
- Unoccupied and unfurnished property. Councils in Scotland can apply a discount or exemption for a period, and the rules and duration vary by council. Ask specifically rather than assuming, because after that period some councils apply an increased charge rather than a discount.
- Single person discount. 25% off if you are the only adult resident. It does not carry across with you, so you have to claim it again at the new address.
- Full-time students. A property occupied only by students is usually exempt, but the exemption has to be claimed with evidence from the institution.
- Council Tax Reduction. Scotland runs its own scheme, and it does not follow you automatically to a new address.
- Disability-related reduction, where the property has features needed by a disabled resident.
If your sale and purchase do not align and you face liability on two properties, published Scottish guidance puts a typical two to four week overlap at roughly £150 to £400. It is a predictable cost rather than a surprise, and it is covered alongside the rest in our guide to what it costs to move house.
Renting: it is your job, not the landlord’s
- Give your tenancy notice properly first. A Private Residential Tenancy needs 28 days in writing.
- Close the council tax account from the day your tenancy ends, not the day you finish moving boxes.
- Keep the tenancy end confirmation. If there is a dispute about dates, that is the document that settles it.
- Tell the deposit scheme your new address as well as the landlord, or the deposit has nowhere to go.
What people get wrong
| Mistake | What happens |
|---|---|
| Only telling the new council | The old account stays open and keeps billing |
| Assuming the direct debit transfers | It does not. Payments stop, arrears build quietly |
| Not giving a forwarding address | The final bill or refund goes to the property you left |
| Looking for a water company | There is not one. It is on the council tax bill |
| Assuming the band is the same | Bands are per property. Check the new one before you budget |
When this does not apply to you
- Moving within the same property, for instance between flats in the same building with the same billing arrangement. Still tell the council, but it is a change of circumstances rather than a closure.
- Moving into halls of residence, which are generally exempt.
- Moving a business. Business rates rather than council tax, and a different process. That is covered in our office move checklist.
- Moving to England or Wales, where you will need to arrange a separate water account, since the Scottish billing arrangement does not apply there.
Common questions about council tax when moving
How do I cancel my council tax when I move house?
You cannot cancel it, only close the account. Tell your council you are leaving, giving the date you move out and a forwarding address, and open a new account at the new address. If you are crossing a council boundary that is two separate notifications.
Do I need to tell Scottish Water when I move?
No. Domestic water and waste water charges are collected on your council tax bill, based on your council tax band, so telling the council is enough. There is no separate water account for domestic customers in Scotland.
When should I tell the council I am moving?
Two to four weeks before, dated from your date of entry, and after missives have concluded. Filing earlier risks having to redo it if the date moves, since an accepted offer in Scotland is not binding until missives conclude.
Do I pay council tax on an empty property in Scotland?
Often a discount or exemption applies for a period on an unoccupied and unfurnished property, but the rules and the duration vary between councils, and after that period some councils apply an increased charge instead. Ask your council directly rather than assuming.
Will my single person discount move with me?
No. Discounts attach to a property and a claim, not to you, so you have to apply again at the new address. The same applies to Council Tax Reduction and student exemptions.
Before you move
Do it once missives conclude, tell both councils if you are crossing a boundary, give a forwarding address, and check the new property’s band before you budget. It takes about ten minutes online and it is the notification most likely to cost you money if you skip it.
More practical guides to moving in and around this city are collected in our Edinburgh moving guides.
Council tax discounts, exemptions and empty property rules are set locally and vary between Scottish councils. Figures and arrangements described here were checked against published guidance on 3 August 2026. Confirm your own position with the relevant council rather than relying on a general guide.
