Having to pay Council Tax twice

BadTemperedBear

Applogies if this (my first post) is put in the wrong area.

My fiance and I (both work in the medical profession) rent a flat together and I pay both our council tax for that property.

In January, she got a new job 200 miles away and moved into Hospital accommodation there. Obviously I am looking for a new job in that area too and hopefully we shall have a place together before the end of the year, but in the meantime she pays rent from her NHS salary directly for her accommodation. In that payment is her council tax obligation for that area.

Her new tax payments are clearly stated on the tenancy agreement, a copy of which I sent to my council tax office, advising she has moved out and asking for a single person discount.

They have rejected that, saying that they consider her still to be living with me - and that she is only 'away for work'. So we are having to pay for her twice.

Any suggestions how I can challenge this? Or is there no way out of this? She won't be moving back to my flat; we plan to move in together elsewhere eventually.

Thank you.

Happytogetdebtfree

Hi try ringing the council again and explain that she is paying her council tax in her current rent policy, I think you have every right to challenge them after all why should you pay it twice. Good luck

immoral_angeluk

The only reduction you'd be eligible for would be single person's 25% discount, so you're not really paying twice, just 25% more. But I digress...
Have you sent them the tenancy agreement? Also might be worth sending them copies of her council tax bill, tenancy agreement and any other utility bills that she's responsible for.
Worse case scenario make a formal complaint and go to the local government ombudsman if they don't budge.

CIS

Worse case scenario make a formal complaint and go to the local government ombudsman if they don't budge.

Its not in the remit of the LGO - it would be for a Valuation Tribunal . The VO Tribunal is binding, the ombudsman could given
an opinion but its not binding and outside their area of expertise.

In January, she got a new job 200 miles away and moved into Hospital accommodation there. Obviously I am looking for a new job in that area too and hopefully we shall have a place together before the end of the year, but in the meantime she pays rent from her NHS salary directly for her accommodation. In that payment is her council tax obligation for that area.

Her new tax payments are clearly stated on the tenancy agreement, a copy of which I sent to my council tax office, advising she has moved out and asking for a single person discount.

They have rejected that, saying that they consider her still to be living with me - and that she is only 'away for work'. So we are having to pay for her twice.

A person can be liable for a council tax charge at the same time on more than 1 property.


Her accommodation at the moment probably does fall foul of the 'Sole or main residence' rules as she has left your property to live away for work purposes only and as such her 'main residence' remains with you for now.


You need to clarify what is happening at the hospital property - has she been been registered for council tax and what is the type of tenancy she holds ?

cottonhead

Is her name still on the tenancy agreement where you used to share and is she still on the electoral roll there ? If so then removing both and registering where she has moved to might help. If she is not coming back to your shared property and only visits you at weekends for example, then clearly she doenst live there anymore so its worth challenging this again.