Flats or Houses to rent or buy in the London Borough of Hounslow

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

London Borough of Hounslow: http://www.hounslow.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.

At its riverside borders with the Thames, Hounslow boasts some of London's most sought after locations. Victorian Chiswick and to the west, Isleworth have long been the haunt of the middle classes whose influence now seems to be focused on the redevelopment of Brentford's old industrial waterfront. Asides from its riverside locations, Hounslow is typical West London suburbia. Mid-war semis linked to London by good tube and road links, all under the flight path of the worlds busiest airport, Heathrow. Traffic can be a problem and the busy M4 and A4 lead a brutal path through the boroughs northern territories.