2 x single occupancy discount?

Obi167

Hello all,

My girlfriend is moving in with me in January - YAY!

We both own our properties and both get single occupancy discount on the council tax.

Her property is going to be left unoccupied for some time (some decorating - and then probably a lot of time on the market).

I would like to know how is the best way to handle this with regards to council tax.

I will obviously be loosing the single occupancy, but will she? will we have to pay the full amount on her property. if she stays at her house one day a week for example - would the single occupancy still apply? or is there a discount for an unoccupied property?

Before anyone starts - I AM NOT TRYING TO ILLEGALLY AVOID TAX! I work in law enforcement and she works in tax and it is very important for both of us to stay above the law.

I am just wanting to know the best money saving way to handle this situation - her place is closer to both of our work places and staying occasionally at her house would possibly be convenient.

Skye-pie

You have to pay full council tax on your main home, you will probably pay a reduced council tax on your second home (if you are not living there) but if you are planning to stay there then full council tax will apply
But If the property is unfurnished it is exempt from council tax for maximum of 6 months

Cavemanu

hi there OP just to clarify before I suggest a potential solution, are both properties in the same local authority area or are they in different towns/cities/villages/LA areas?

Had a similar situation to you where me and my OH each had a property in 2 different cities, and similar to you, one of those properties was nearer to work than the other.

hodgester

What skye-pie said with one caveat, with effect 01.04.2013 most local authorities are scrapping the reduction for empty properties and exemption class c will no longer exist. From April you might want to have a plan b for that second property.

katejo

Obi167 wrote: »

Hello all,

My girlfriend is moving in with me in January - YAY!

We both own our properties and both get single occupancy discount on the council tax.

Her property is going to be left unoccupied for some time (some decorating - and then probably a lot of time on the market).

I would like to know how is the best way to handle this with regards to council tax.

I will obviously be loosing the single occupancy, but will she? will we have to pay the full amount on her property. if she stays at her house one day a week for example - would the single occupancy still apply? or is there a discount for an unoccupied property?

Before anyone starts - I AM NOT TRYING TO ILLEGALLY AVOID TAX! I work in law enforcement and she works in tax and it is very important for both of us to stay above the law.

I am just wanting to know the best money saving way to handle this situation - her place is closer to both of our work places and staying occasionally at her house would possibly be convenient.

I think she can still treat her property as her main residence and pay with the single person discount. You can then do the same yourself. If the council queries it, you just show them proof that she is paying elsewhere.
If someone lets a room out on a Mon - fri basis and the lodger is already paying council tax on their main property, the first person doesn't have to lose their single person discount.

Savvy_Sue

Of course, the OP and g/f could phone the council and ask them ... I suspect that the answer is that you lose the discount on the home you're actually living in, but there may be discounts on the empty property - certainly a single person discount if you don't both live there.

CIS

A single person discount can only be awarded on a persons 'sole or main residence'. It seems clear hear that the girlfriend is leaving her home and as such it is no longer her 'sole or main residence'.

Her property would be a second home and would be eligible for the appropriate furnished or unfurnished discount/exemption.

00ec25

katejo wrote: »

If someone lets a room out on a Mon - fri basis and the lodger is already paying council tax on their main property, the first person doesn't have to lose their single person discount.

the weekday lodger rule is not relevant to the OP because a weekday lodger is not part of the household.

As for OP then the GF certainly would be so her old place is no longer her main residence and has become her second home. It matters not one bit if she sleeps in it 1 day a week, will not alter the fact it is no longer her main home. She cannot claim SPD but can claim the second home discount.