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Council Tax

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  • boliston
    boliston Posts: 3,012 Forumite
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    sammyjammy wrote: »
    ....
    Its about time single persons discount was 50%.

    I used to think 50% discount on council tax is fair for single people, but generally single people choose smaller properties such a studio, 1 bed or 2 bed properties which would mainly be band A or B.

    A very wealthy single person might choose a huge 4 or 5 bedroom property but it would be unfair to get such a massive discount like 50% when they can afford such a huge property.

    An ideal solution would be for a fair tax based one "one adult per bedroom" but a surcharge when 2 adults without children occupy a 3 bedroom property.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
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    It doesn't but the alternative is to charge per person- and that didn't end well last time.

    Craig
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • Hedgehog99
    Hedgehog99 Posts: 1,425 Forumite
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    boliston wrote: »
    An ideal solution would be for a fair tax based one "one adult per bedroom" but a surcharge when 2 adults without children occupy a 3 bedroom property.

    Children cost the council a lot - education is a big chunk of the budget.

    People without children are already subsidising it and you want to penalise them even more?
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 12,825 Forumite
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    boliston wrote: »
    I used to think 50% discount on council tax is fair for single people, but generally single people choose smaller properties such a studio, 1 bed or 2 bed properties which would mainly be band A or B.

    Single people only get a 25% discount, not 50% (at least in England)
  • marliepanda
    marliepanda Posts: 7,186 Forumite
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    p00hsticks wrote: »
    Single people only get a 25% discount, not 50% (at least in England)

    No ones saying it is, people are just discussing what it is and what it could be etc?
  • Chanes
    Chanes Posts: 882 Forumite
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    Bury,Lancs. Band E now £2,009.00 Social Care Premium included.
  • boliston
    boliston Posts: 3,012 Forumite
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    Hedgehog99 wrote: »
    Children cost the council a lot - education is a big chunk of the budget.

    People without children are already subsidising it and you want to penalise them even more?

    My main concern is the huge level of under occupation of a very finite resource.

    The worst example is the speculative investor who will buy expensive property and keep it empty with the capital gain as their only interest, but there is also a lot of property that is hugely under occupied, such as pensioners who own huge properties when many families are crammed into tiny properties and many cannot even afford a home at all.

    People should still have the option to under-occupy to their hearts content but the tax they pay should reflect the cost to society of their choice.
  • Chanes
    Chanes Posts: 882 Forumite
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    edited 16 March 2017 at 9:06PM
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    boliston wrote: »
    ...but the tax they pay should reflect the cost to society of their choice.

    Make people pay for their cost to society. Absolutely.

    No kids? Get a reduction. Private health? Get a reduction. Lot's of kids...get an increase! Need care? Get an increase...

    Kidding!

    I see your point but it is so complicated I gave up trying to think about it. The social care premium was to be expected too but I suspect that is going to be a controversial issue in the future.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
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    boliston wrote: »
    I used to think 50% discount on council tax is fair for single people, but generally single people choose smaller properties such a studio, 1 bed or 2 bed properties which would mainly be band A or B.

    A very wealthy single person might choose a huge 4 or 5 bedroom property but it would be unfair to get such a massive discount like 50% when they can afford such a huge property.

    An ideal solution would be for a fair tax based one "one adult per bedroom" but a surcharge when 2 adults without children occupy a 3 bedroom property.

    Ours is a small 2 bed bungalow and we are in Band D.
  • zebulon
    zebulon Posts: 677 Forumite
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    Band F, 2 bedroom flat. £2578.53 (inc. water & sew)
    +12% :(
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