Never paid council tax!

CIS

I have a friend who has a daughter who works away mon-fri, but comes home most weekends. The girl has never paid any council tax...this has been going on for 7 years. All her post is sent to her father's address. In a way I suppose she doesn't "exist", I doubt she'd be eligible to vote.

The parent hasn't declared her as a resident. Are there any problems with this...like backdated demands?

If she works away and returns to the property when not working its likely this property would be classed as her main residence however in cases like this , if she has a propety elsewhere, then the other property may be her main residence and she is just visiting on weekends etc and not classed as resident.

If this property is her main residence then she should be declared as resident for council tax purposes and the parent would be liable for any council tax which was due. This can be backdated if the council make the decision that she has been resident retrospectively.

The_stingemeister

CIS wrote: »

If she works away and returns to the property when not working its likely this property would be classed as her main residence however in cases like this , if she has a propety elsewhere, then the other property may be her main residence and she is just visiting on weekends etc and not classed as resident.

If this property is her main residence then she should be declared as resident for council tax purposes and the parent would be liable for any council tax which was due. This can be backdated if the council make the decision that she has been resident retrospectively.

The last year she returned around weekly, before that it was fortnightly, if that. Surely you wouldn't pay council tax for a VISIT at the weekend every 2 weeks. Its not as 'though she was using that area's services 24/7.

CIS

The last year she returned around weekly, before that it was fortnightly, if that. Surely you wouldn't pay council tax for a VISIT at the weekend every 2 weeks. Its not as 'though she was using that area's services 24/7.

If she's just visiting then no (which is why I said it would depend if she had a main property elsewhere) she wouldn't be regarded as resident for council tax purposes.

With regards to 'sole or main residence' issues you dont have to be physically living in a property to be liable for council tax - people working abroad for years at a time can still be liable for council tax.