Your bin collection day
Using your new postcode find out the day your bins will be collected
Tell Council Tax you've moved
If you've moved in or out of a property you can let Council Tax services know here
Caring for your community
Report issues such as: dog fouling, graffiti, noise or smell pollution
Find your local library
Use your new address to find your local library services such as printing, computer access, books and other physical media
Moving as a resettled person
Find information, guidance and support on your next steps as a resettled person in West Northamptonshire
Advice for moving into West Northants as:
Congratulations on moving into your first home. While moving anytime is daunting, we understand that those first set of keys can be the most exciting and the most frightening. Here are some tips and advice that should help to ease that transition into a new home and make you feel welcomed in West Northamptonshire.
Moving checklist
Some things to consider after moving in to your new home include:
- local schools, clubs and libraries
- utilities including water, gas and electric
- insurance companies including home and car
- health providers - GP surgery, optician, local vet and dentist
- connection services - internet provider and any TV subscriptions
Getting advice
If you are a Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH) tenant you can find help and support on the NPH website.
NPH's services are free of charge to its tenants and include advice on managing your money, safeguarding, living independently and more.
If you have recently moved into a new build, it may be worth checking what services the building company can provide for you. Often, they host events for first time movers to help you get settled.
If you’re confused about any forms or processes, you could come to one of our customer service drop-in sessions where our friendly customer service team can offer you support and advice.
If you are struggling with finances, childcare or the general cost of living, find cost of living support.
As a new student in West Northamptonshire, you are surrounded by ways to make the most of your education. For quiet study areas and resources ranging from study material to employment support, you can visit one of our many local libraries. If you are interested in developing new life skills after moving away from home, why not check out the adult courses on offer at Northampton College.
In West Northamptonshire you can thrive socially, academically and financially. With a respected University, a busy nightlife and businesses, we hope you can feel at home here.
Shelter has a page to support you finding housing as a student.
Council Tax student discount (Student Disregards)
If you are a student in the UK you might qualify for a discount on your council tax. This is if you are enrolled in a full-time or part-time course and can provide a certificate from your place of study, or if you are a Foreign Language Assistant registered with the British Council.
The certificate required is the Certificate of Student Status. You should ask your University Admin to receive a copy and for the University of Northampton you can contact [email protected].
Full time students, student nurses, non-British spouses of full-time students and apprentices can be disregarded when the amount of council tax a household will pay is decided.
For information specific to University of Northampton, visit the UON website.
Food larders
We know that your maintenance loan can often run out quicker than expected. If you find yourself struggling come the end of the term, for a small membership fee, you can collect food from a Community Larder far below market price while helping to avoid unnecessary waste from supermarkets. Hope Community Larders are the main providers in West Northamptonshire.
To find more advice on food and essentials, take a look at our cost of living support pages.
Safer Nights Out Northampton
The tips on our Safer Nights Out page will help you stay safe and enjoy your time in the town.
If there is an emergency, call 999 immediately.
For non-emergencies or if you would like to report a crime which has already happened, please dial 101 to talk to Northamptonshire Police.
Bus routes
Find bus timetables and a journey planner for bus services in West Northamptonshire together with details of service changes.
Northampton has multiple and regular bus services around town. The best way to find the most accurate bus schedule is to check the various bus service websites listed below, as timetables can change during holidays and especially busy periods.
You can plan your bus journey and find timetables on the Traveline website or app for all bus providers.
Whether you are a hired carer or caring for someone close to you, West Northamptonshire offers a range of practical and emotional support.
With specialised healthcare facilities based in and around the area, such as Northamptonshire Healthcare an NHS Foundation Trust that provides outstanding mental health treatments, and a council that strives to assist, this is an ideal community to care for a vulnerable person and yourself.
Council Tax carer discount
To qualify for a discount on your Council Tax the carer must:
- be a resident in the same dwelling (home) as the person receiving care
- provide care for an average of 35 hours per week
The carer must also be providing care for a person who is entitled to one of the following benefits:
- any rate of attendance allowance
- the highest or middle rate components of the Disability Living Allowance (if they were born on or before 8 April 1948 and have an existing claim)
- disablement pension increment due to constant attendance need
- constant attendance allowance increment
- personal independence payment (PIP)
As a carer, you do not qualify for a discount if the person that you are caring for is your spouse, partner or your child under 18.
Blue Badge
If the person you are caring for has just moved into West Northamptonshire from another council area and they have a Blue Badge, they will need to arrange for their previous council to contact us to change the badge over.
They do not need to apply for anything new or get rid of their current badge.
Referrals in Northamptonshire for people in your care
Community transport is specifically designed to help those who are unable to use public transport. This may be because of age, disability, or lack of public transport service.
You can find information on the community mini-bus scheme, Dial-a-Ride and voluntary car schemes on our community transport page.
Adult social care
General healthcare is readily available in West Northants, yet we also believe that everyone deserves to live their own best lives staying fit, well and independent. See our Keeping Healthy pages to discover information on getting out and about, preventing falls, and our supporting independence programme.
Adult social services in West Northamptonshire offer services that can assist a person in your care in finding independence at home:
- assistive technology
- equipment and adaptations
- supporting independence programme
- housing and care options for someone in your care, including:
- assisted living
- sheltered housing
- Shared Lives
- care villages
- residential and nursing care homes
- housing support for younger adults
Caring for a child or young person
West Northamptonshire's Local Offer has directories, advice and support for parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
You can find assistance with education, activities, social care and finances.
Support for carers in West Northamptonshire
Find:
Find a school
As a new family in West Northamptonshire, one of the first steps you might take is finding the right school for you and your children. We are able to show you the schools most local to you and even help with the application process or an in-year move.
Find a school in West Northamptonshire to discover contact details, Ofsted reports and more, or search via postcode to find your nearest schools.
Home schooling (elective home education)
Elective home education refers to the choice to educate your child at home rather than in school. If you make this choice, you should inform the head teacher of your child’s current school in writing. It will then be the school’s responsibility to inform the council.
In the case that your child has never attended school and is not on a school roll – or you have just moved into Northamptonshire – you can contact us via email at [email protected].
There is no requirement for parents to follow the national curriculum, but you must inform us how you are planning on educating your child. You can do this by completing an elective home education plan and filling out the required form.
School travel
If you have moved home, you will need to reapply for travel assistance as we are required to assess the new route to your child’s school.
We will provide or arrange free travel arrangements for:
- a child under 8, where the walking distance is more than 2 miles from home to school
- a child aged 8 to 16, where the walking distance is more than 3 miles from home to the school
- a child where the route has been assessed as unacceptable to walk
If you were given a choice of school placement for your child and chose one that is not their nearest suitable school, you will be responsible for the cost of your child's transport to and from said school.
Where a student qualifies on grounds of low income, and also has a learning difficulty or disability which necessitates transport assistance, transport will be provided free of charge.
If you are not eligible for free school travel assistance, you can apply to pay for a space.
You may be able to get a place on non-entitled school travel assistance if:
- you pay for it
- there is a spare space on the service
You may qualify for school travel assistance over the age of 16 if you are:
- in full time-education (12 hours or more a week)
- living more than 3 miles away from your nearest school or further education establishment
All students over the age of 16 who are entitled to school travel assistance will need to contribute £600 a year towards the costs of their transport.
Family Hubs
Family Hubs offer a safe, welcoming space for all families with children aged 0 to 19 years (or 25 years for a young person with a special educational need or disability).
Family Hubs bring services together, making it easier for families to get the help they need - giving babies the best start for life and continuing that support through adolescence.
Find out more about Family Hubs.
SEND support
There are many options in receiving Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support within West Northamptonshire.
The Local Offer in Northamptonshire provides a platform where you can discover local services and information available for young people (aged 0-25) with special educational needs and disabilities all in one place.
Search through their directory to see how they might be able to support you and your family.
The Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust Speech and Language Therapy service offers guidance and information on universal and targeted support for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).
It also offers advice about when to refer a child to the Speech and Language Therapy Services for specialist support.
Northamptonshire’s Information, Advice and Support Service provides free, confidential, impartial advice, guidance and support to parents of children with special educational needs and children and young people with SEND.
Clubs, support groups and after school activities
You can use the Family information directory to find various after school activities, clubs and groups for you and your family.
Property opportunities
Choosing to move your business to West Northamptonshire is an opportunity to take part in a thriving area.
All of our available properties are currently centred around Northampton, and we are looking to expand into the wider West Northamptonshire area. Discover commercial property available to rent or buy from us.
Northampton Market
Located at the heart of Northampton, the Market is a thriving spot to point attention to your business. Join the other stalls of food, clothes, flowers and more.
You can submit an enquiry about joining the market, but new traders are required to contact the Market Office before standing.
Contact the Market Office
Telephone: 07979 747081
Email: [email protected]
Address: The Guildhall, St Giles Street, NN1 1DE
Business support in libraries
The Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire is based in the Northamptonshire Central Library. The service supports small businesses with offers of workshops, seminars and webinars, as well as one to one business advice.
For more information on available assistance see Business support in libraries.
Important: It is free to trade for the duration of the relocation to Commercial Street.
After a minimum of 4 weeks regular continuous trading, casual traders can apply to become a permanent trader and, if successful, will be granted a licence to trade at Northampton Market.
Business support from us
We offer assistance for new and established businesses through our Free business support page.
Business rates
Business rates are charged on most non-domestic properties, such as:
- shops
- offices
- pubs
- warehouses
- factories
- holiday rental homes or guest houses
Business rates allow those who own or rent non-domestic property to contribute towards the cost of council services in West Northamptonshire.
Business rates for new properties
While they remain unoccupied, newly built properties and conversions are exempt from paying business rates. The exemption will last normally for 3 months, but lasts 6 months in the case of qualifying industrial properties.
Unless the property attracts a further exemption, business rates will then be charged regardless of whether the building is empty or not.
An example of such an exemption is if the rateable value - the value we use to work out your business rates - is below the empty rates threshold, currently set at £2,900.