Flats or Houses to rent or buy in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

For specific information on this borough, or to contact individual departments please click here to visit their website.

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham: http://www.lbhf.gov.uk

In General:
The London boroughs are administrative centres responsible for collecting local taxes (Council Tax and Business Rates) and then spending the funds received on local services. They are run by Borough Councils who are elected by borough residents on a four year cycle. The totals that they spend will depend on the rates of tax that they levy plus funds allocated from central government and other sources.

While many of the services (schools, roads, planning, rubbish collection and social services) are standard, levels of provision will vary according to the overall political will as expressed by the voters.

Your tax liability (as a resident) will be based on the council tax band of your home. These bands are set by Valuation Officers and there is scope for appeal. The rate bands are then used to determine the amounts of tax levied. So, while the bands will remain largely constant the levels of tax can go up and, in theory, down.

You may claim discounts or exemptions based on your circumstances. For example, as the only adult in a property you can get a 25% reduction on your bill. Other reductions are available for qualifying second adults and Council Tax Benefit claimants.

There is more information available at the HM Customs & Excise website.

Until the 1980's Hammersmith and Fulham was often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbours to the east. Now firmly established as fashionable and trendy, the borough has property prices and an attitude to match. Much of the borough is Victorian. The grids of small two and three storey Victorian houses give some parts of Fulham in particular a claustrophobic and slightly monotonous feel. Elaborate redbrick mansion blocks dominate Hurlingham and the borough's borders with the Thames, whilst to the north, West Kensington offers grander white stucco terraces before the monotony of Hammersmith's office blocks and shops. Shepherds Bush and Ravenscourt Park boast nothing more exciting than Victorian semis and terraces.