Although councils aren’t a thing in the United States, they are a form of community governance that is popular in Britain, New Zealand and other areas of the world. To draw a comparison, a council functions somewhat like a homeowner’s association (HOA) in the United States. The council collects payments that are used for community services, and people who live in council properties have a say in what services are made available.

In the United States, living in a community governed by an HOA is similar in that members of such communities pay dues to the HOA in return for services like property maintenance. HOAs also tend to have regulations and guidelines that everyone agrees to abide by.

The difference between the two is that council estates, or collections of public housing, are not owned by residents. In an HOA, each home is owned by the homeowner, but the HOA can issue a lien against properties for things like unpaid dues.

Paying for Services in a Council

Council rates go to pay for a range of services depending on the community. In many cases, council rates pay for roads, trash collection, educational opportunities and healthcare facilities.

Those who reside in council properties usually receive a bill once per year. A council rates payment plan may be available to spread payments over time, but community members can also make a full payment upon receipt. Taking advantage of a council rates payment plan can be a way for community members to ease the pressure of council dues, but each council payment plan is different.

Who Owns Council Properties?

Council properties are not usually owned outright by community members; however, some councils offer residents of council estates the opportunity to purchase their homes over time. This once again differs from place to place.

The local authority is usually the actual owner of council property. In Britain, for example, several local authorities may claim ownership over council property that has not been sold to residents.

Some examples of local authorities can include metropolitan districts and county councils. These entities are represented by councilors who serve as liaisons between local authorities and community members.

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Emily Clarke writes about cash advances, overdraft protection & finance apps. You can find her thoughts at personal cash advance blog.