Council Tax Reduction in Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire (Now West Northants)

One Council, One Scheme

If you're looking for council tax reduction in Daventry, Northampton, or South Northamptonshire, you're now dealing with a single authority: West Northamptonshire Council. On 1 April 2021, the three former district and borough councils — Daventry District Council, Northampton Borough Council, and South Northamptonshire Council — were merged into one unitary authority covering the entire western half of Northamptonshire.

This means one Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme applies to all three former areas. There are no legacy differences, no separate application forms, and no leftover district-level rules. Whether you live in Daventry town, Northampton city centre, Towcester, or Brackley, the same scheme covers you.

What Changed in the Merger

Before April 2021, each predecessor council ran its own LCTRS with its own rules. The three schemes had different minimum payment levels, different discretionary hardship policies, and different processing teams.

When WNC formed, the new authority considered adopting an income-banded model but rejected it due to software integration issues across the three legacy platforms. Instead, WNC adopted a unified traditional means-tested scheme with a 20% minimum payment for all working-age claimants.

Key parameters of the current scheme (unchanged for 2026/27 and recommended unchanged for 2027/28):

• Maximum award: 80% of net council tax liability
• Minimum payment: 20% for all working-age households
• Capital limit: £16,000
• Income taper: 20p reduction for every £1 of income above the applicable amount

As of June 2026, 17,384 residents receive LCTRS across West Northamptonshire, with 10,038 of those being working-age claimants.

Where to Apply

All applications go through West Northamptonshire Council's online portal at westnorthants.gov.uk — specifically the eClaim form for Council Tax Reduction. The old Daventry, Northampton Borough, and South Northamptonshire websites and application portals are no longer active for new claims.

Contact for council tax and LCTRS queries: [email protected].

One important note: you cannot backdate a claim to before 1 April 2021, even if you would have been eligible under the old district scheme. WNC's backdating rules only apply from its formation date onward.

Council Tax Bands Vary by Area

While the LCTRS rules are uniform, council tax bills still vary across the former districts because of different parish and town council precepts. A Band D property in Northampton town pays a different precept from one in rural South Northamptonshire, and these precepts are set by each parish independently.

The main WNC council tax rate (including the adult social care precept) is the same everywhere, but the total bill — and therefore the 20% minimum payment under LCTRS — depends on where in West Northamptonshire you live.

Still Searching by the Old Name?

If an old letter, form, or advice page directed you to "Daventry District Council" or "Northampton Borough Council" for council tax reduction, redirect to West Northamptonshire Council. The old authorities no longer exist, and any references to their schemes are outdated.

For the full application process, evidence requirements, and hardship fund details under the current West Northamptonshire LCTRS, see our complete guide.

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