How to save money on rent, mortgages and council tax

For most people, rent or mortgage and council tax are the biggest monthly expenses. Here are some ways you may be able to save, or get support to pay them.

If you aren't sure whether you're entitled to any of the support listed below, you can get advice from the Money Talk Team. They’ll talk through your monthly outgoings and bills, and let you know if there are any benefits or grants you are entitled to.

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Saving on rent

Who doesn't want to save some money off their monthly rent bill? Here we have some top rent saving ideas that might work for you.

Top tips for saving money on rent

Tip #1: Check to see if you’re entitled to help paying your rent

Woman looking at her phone with bills spread out in front of her

If you’re on benefits or on a low income, you may be able to apply for universal credit or housing benefit. If this doesn’t cover your full rent, you may be able to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment from the council to make up the difference. You can find lots of information on the Shelter Scotland website about help to pay your rent.

If you’re not sure what you’re entitled too, you can get advice from the Money Talk Team. There’s lots of helpful information on the Money Talk Team website, and if you need more tailored support, an adviser can talk you through your current situation and let you know if you’re entitled to any benefits or grants or if you can reduce your household bills. Accessing the Money Talk Team is totally free and won’t affect your current benefits.

Tip #2: Know your rights as a tenant

As a tenant you have certain rights – you don’t have to do everything your landlord tells you. For example, your landlord can’t raise your rent or ask you to move out without giving you notice and going through certain steps. Knowing your rights will help you talk to your landlord about the rent.

If you’re looking for advice about your rights, it’s important to remember that tenants’ rights are different in Scotland from England and Wales. Your rights will also depend on the kind of tenancy you have, for example, whether you rent from the council or from a private landlord and what kind of agreement you have with them. Here are two good websites that will help you find out what kind of tenancy you have and what your rights are:

You can find out what kind of tenancy you have and what your renting rights are on the Shelter Scotland website.
The Renters’ Rights website can help you if you rent from a private landlord.

Tip #3: Ask for a rent reduction

If you’re having problems paying your rent, you can try asking your landlord for a temporary or even permanent rent reduction. You can find out how to approach your landlord on the Shelter Scotland website.

What can I do if I can’t pay my rent?

If you’re falling behind with your rent payments, remember that help is available. So whatever you do, don’t ignore the problem, because if you do, your landlord could ask you to move out (this is known as eviction). However, it’s important to remember that your landlord can’t just kick you out – they have to go through certain steps first.

So keep paying what you can and talk to an adviser from the Money Talk Team or Shelter Scotland as soon as you can. You’ll find lots of help and advice on the Shelter Scotland website.

Saving on council tax

Council tax is one of the biggest costs families face. Whether you pay monthly or yearly it can really make a difference to your budget, and being in the know about discounts and exemptions can help stretch your money that much further.

Tips for saving on council tax

Tip #1: Know your council tax band

Image of a woman sitting at a table holding a pen and looking at her phone, with a laptop in front of her.

Council tax is charged based on which band you're in and where you live. They range from A (very reasonable) to H (very dear). To find out the band for your property all you need to know is your postcode. Check on your council tax bill that you are being charged for the right band and visit the Check My Council Tax website to see if you can save.

Tip #2: Find out if you’re entitled to save on your council tax

It’s a good idea to check whether you can save on your council tax, even if you think you can’t. Full-time students and care leavers aged between 18 and 26 don't pay any council tax at all, and there are lots of other reasons that the council might give you a full or partial council tax exemption. Visit the Check My Council Tax website to see if you can save.

Some of the reasons you might be eligible for a council tax reduction are if:

You’re a full-time student
You live alone
You’re receiving housing support and are living in shared accommodation (with a shared kitchen or bathroom)
You or someone you live with is severely mentally impaired
You’re a full-time live-in carer
You were looked after by a local authority on or after your 16th birthday.

If you’re not sure, you can get advice from the Money Talk Team – they can help you work out what you’re entitled to.

What if I'm in arrears with my council tax?

If your council has contacted you about owing them payments, you can access advice at the Money Talk Team or Stepchange websites.

Saving on your mortgage

You may be able to save on your mortgage by switching to another bank or building society or changing the term of your mortgage (the length of time you’ll take to pay it off). You can find out more about changing your mortgage and reducing your mortgage payments on the Shelter Scotland website.

What if I'm having problems paying my mortgage?

If you’re having problems paying your mortgage, it’s really important to talk to your bank or building society and keep paying as much as you can towards it, and to get help and advice as soon as you can. If you fall too far behind with your mortgage payments, you could risk losing your home. You can find lots more help and advice on the Shelter Scotland website.