Hammersmith and Fulham: The London Borough Where Poorest Residents Skip Council Tax
Hammersmith and Fulham continues to support low-income residents by extending its council tax exemption scheme for another year
Hammersmith, Fulham, London, Council Tax, Support Scheme, Low-Income Households
London: Low-income families in Hammersmith and Fulham are getting a break from council tax again. The local council decided to keep the support scheme going for another year. This has been in place since 2013, when the government cut funding and left councils to figure things out on their own.
Hammersmith and Fulham is one of just three councils in London that offer full support. Most other councils expect low-income residents to chip in something. The Cabinet met recently and decided to keep the current scheme for 2025/26, and now it just needs a final nod from the Full Council.
A report showed that other options, like income banding, could hurt some residents, so they weren’t recommended. It turns out that support levels vary quite a bit across London. Some councils only offer a 15% discount, while most give around 90%. But Hammersmith and Fulham stands out by providing a full 100% support.
According to the report, they’ve been one of the few councils to keep this level of support since the changes in 2013. Cllr Rowan Ree, the Cabinet Member for Finance, expressed pride in their comprehensive support scheme, noting that about 40% of households benefit from some form of discount. This includes care leavers and foster carers, who don’t pay council tax due to their unique situations.
Council Leader Stephen Cowan pointed out that they’ve managed to keep this support going despite a significant cut in government funding over the years. He mentioned that it’s tough for any organization to handle such cuts and still provide services while keeping taxes low.
The support scheme is expected to cost around £13.9 million for the upcoming year, with a portion covered by the Greater London Authority. The council also offers other financial help, like up to £900 for those who lost their Winter Fuel Allowance, plus a free home care service.
They’ve also been working on an ethical debt policy since 2017, aiming to help residents avoid debt instead of relying on bailiffs. Meanwhile, many other boroughs in London are planning to change their council tax support schemes, with some expecting the poorest residents to start paying council tax for the first time.