Council Tax sole occupant discount removed

simpywimpy

I have paid the council tax on my property for this year and last in full with a single occupancy discount.

I didn't actually live in the property at that time and let a friend stay in it. She has since filled in a form saying she lived there and they have now removed the discount for the last two years.

Technically, the bill should be hers as I wasn't there at that time but I'm not sure of dates or her new address.

I dont mind having paid for the two years but this extra bill of £600 I can't pay and frankly, don't see why I should.

How can I argue the point tomorrow?

simpywimpy

not sure what to say to them

poppysarah

You've paid council tax when you weren't there - did they know you weren't there? There's an exemption sometimes for a few months - but is she was there on her own why did you pay?
Do you have the dates she lived there?

beingjdc

They think that you were there. They think she was there. So they think there were too people there. So they've removed the discount.

Can you prove you were somewhere else? If so, you may be able to get it reinstated. Have you phoned them?

1st step is the revenue and benefits department, and if you get no joy try your local Councillor. - your District or Borough one if you live in an area with separate County and District Councils.

dansylvester

I work in a council and hear of this regularly. It might be the council have not recieved your survey reply form, and hence have removed your discount. Best thing to do is to speak to your local council today, a quick phone call may be all thats needed so they can update their records.

pinkshoes

As you were paying it, then the council probably assumed you were living there, so when your friend told them SHE was living there, then it looked like two of you were in the property, hence no discount.

Were you paying council tax elsewhere?

simpywimpy

no I have been abroad for quite some time so don't have proof od paying elsewhere

poppysarah

You have a ticket stubb out of the country, no bank spending inside the UK, and then a return flight stubb?

You can easily prove you've not been in the Uk. So do it!

Premier_2

You are entitled to a single occupancy discount if you occupy the property and there is no one else living at the propertry that is liable to council tax.

As you were not living at the property, then you are not entitled to a single person occupancy discount.

As you say, the friend should have been liable for the council tax on the property and if she had advised the council of the situation, she would have received the bill ... and would also be entitled to a single person occupancy if no one else was living at the property who was liable for council tax.

Either way, you are not entitled to the single person occupancy discount, hence why the discount was probably removed.

simpywimpy

They said I had to pay it - so I have.

Apparently, because I am registered at the address, the bill is therefore mine and regardless of whether or not I was at the address at the same time as my friend, I have to pay the whole thing with no single occupancy discount.

GDB2222

simpywimpy wrote: »

They said I had to pay it - so I have.

Apparently, because I am registered at the address, the bill is therefore mine and regardless of whether or not I was at the address at the same time as my friend, I have to pay the whole thing with no single occupancy discount.

What rubbish the council have told you. Council Tax is payable by the occupier. There is no need to register or de-register. I suggest that you make a formal complaint about the way you have been treated - you have in effect been cheated by council officials.