Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: If you live in Merton you should register with the council as soon as you move in, set up Direct Debit, and check whether you qualify for the 25 per cent single person discount or Council Tax Support.Living in Merton means Council Tax goes to the London Borough of Merton, with the GLA precept added on top. This is a practical guide for residents: what to do when you move in, how the bill is made up, how to set up payments, and how to apply for reductions.
Merton covers Wimbledon, Mitcham, Morden, Colliers Wood and parts of Raynes Park. The council is the billing authority for the whole borough; nothing different happens depending on which ward you live in. The Council Tax rate at each band is the same across the borough.
| Band | Property Value (1991) | Ratio to Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | Over £320,000 | 18/9 |
Band ranges set nationally in 1991. Merton sets the cash amount per band each February.
Registering with Merton when you move in
Tell Merton Council as soon as you move in. The "Moving in" form is on the Council Tax pages of merton.gov.uk. You will need the address, the date you moved, your previous address, and details of any other adults at the property. If you are renting, you will also be asked for landlord or letting agent contact details.
Merton Council sets up the account in your name, works out the band from the Valuation Office Agency list, and sends you a bill within a few weeks. If you are eligible for the 25 per cent single person discount or another reduction, the bill is adjusted before it is issued.
If you move within Merton, use the "Moving within Merton" form instead. The old account is closed and a new one opened from the date of the move.
Council Tax bands A to H in Merton
The Valuation Office Agency assigns every home in England to one of eight bands, A through H, based on its value in April 1991. Merton then sets a Band D rate; every other band is a fixed fraction of Band D.
Band A is 6/9ths of Band D, Band B is 7/9ths, Band C is 8/9ths, Band E is 11/9ths, Band F is 13/9ths, Band G is 15/9ths and Band H is 18/9ths. This ratio is fixed by central government and applies the same way in Merton as it does in any other English billing authority.
To check your band, look up your address on the Valuation Office Agency search tool, or use the band shown on your annual bill. If you think the band is wrong because of evidence about your property in 1991, you have a narrow window to challenge it once you first move in.
Paying Council Tax in Merton
Most Merton residents pay by Direct Debit because it spreads the bill across the year and stops any reminder letters arriving. You can usually choose between paying on the 1st, the 15th or the last working day of the month, and you can switch between 10 instalments (the default) or 12 instalments.
Other options at Merton include paying online through the council website using a debit or credit card, paying by automated phone line around the clock, paying at a PayPoint with your bill barcode, or sending a cheque with your reference number written on the back.
If you want 12 instalments instead of 10, you have a legal right to ask for it under the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992, as amended. Merton must agree provided you ask before the bill year starts in April.
Shared houses, students and the single person discount
In a shared house, who pays depends on the tenancy. If everyone is on a joint tenancy of the whole property, all the joint tenants are jointly liable. If each person rents a room on a separate agreement (an HMO), the landlord is normally the liable person and Council Tax is built into the rent.
If everyone in the household is a full-time student, the property is exempt. Send the student exemption certificate to Merton through the online form. If one person is not a full-time student, the property is not exempt but the students are disregarded; the bill is calculated as if only the non-student lived there.
The 25 per cent single person discount applies if you are the only adult at the property. Taking in a lodger normally ends the discount; tell Merton as soon as the lodger moves in to avoid arrears.
Reductions and what to do if you cannot pay
Council Tax Support in Merton is means-tested and depends on income, savings, household make-up and whether anyone is disabled or a carer. Apply through Merton's online Council Tax Support form. Working age and pensioner schemes differ.
If you cannot pay, contact Merton before missing an instalment. Options include extending the bill to 12 instalments, agreeing a payment plan, claiming Council Tax Support if you have not already, or applying for the discretionary reduction scheme for short-term hardship.
Free independent advice on Council Tax arrears is available from Citizens Advice Merton and from National Debtline. Their advisers can speak to Merton on your behalf with your written authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register with Merton if I am a full-time student?
Yes. Even though full-time students are disregarded, the council needs to know who lives at the property and needs to see your exemption certificate. If everyone in the home is a full-time student, the property is exempt; otherwise the bill is reduced.
How do I claim the single person discount in Merton?
Apply through Merton Council's Council Tax pages. You will be asked to confirm you are the only adult at the property and to provide evidence showing other adults no longer live there. The discount is backdated to the date you became the only adult.
What happens if my landlord changes the tenancy structure?
If the tenancy structure changes (for example, from a joint tenancy to a room-only HMO arrangement), tell Merton. The liable person may change from the tenants to the landlord, or vice versa, and the account needs to be closed and re-opened.
Can I appeal a discount Merton has refused?
Yes. Ask Merton for a written reason for the decision and request a review. If you remain dissatisfied, you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England, which hears liability and discount disputes as well as banding disputes.
What if I forget to tell Merton that I moved in?
Tell them as soon as you can. Council Tax is backdated to the date you became liable, so you will owe from that date. If you cannot pay the catch-up in one go, ask for a payment plan before the matter goes to court.
How We Verified This
Framework, liability and discount rules verified against gov.uk, the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Council Tax (Liability for Owners) Regulations 1992. Merton-specific procedures verified against published Merton Council Council Tax guidance.
Sources
- gov.uk - Council Tax overview
- gov.uk - Council Tax bands and reductions
- gov.uk - Apply for Council Tax Reduction
- Valuation Office Agency - How Council Tax bands are set in England and Wales
- Valuation Tribunal England - Council Tax appeal procedures and decisions
- legislation.gov.uk - Local Government Finance Act 1992