Flats or Houses to rent or buy in the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames

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

Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames: http://www.kingston.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.

Home of the commuter and firmly suburban in character, Kingston forms London's most southwestern tip. Kingston itself dominates the north of the borough whilst Surbiton to the south does not disappoint in offering true commuter living. Chessington lies at the borough's most southerly point before the open fields of Surrey take over from London's sprawl. Property is dominated by mid war terraces and semis with some Victorian and Edwardian homes near the town centres.