Council Tax Problem - Owe nearly £4000

alpalino

I am really sorry for the long post, however in order to understand my situation I had to share everything. Thanking you in advance for advising.

I moved into my house in March 2008 with my brother who was sent to prison in July 2008, after this I fell pregnant and was living alone, I was not working so I was claiming council tax and housing benefit. In Dec 2008 I gave birth. In Sept 2009 I started college and in Dec 2009, my husband moved in with me and got a job. It was just the three of us (me, my husband and my baby) as my brother was still serving his sentence. I finished college in in July 2010. From July 2010 till October 2011, my husband worked and I gave birth to our second child. (At this point there are 2 adults and 2 children in house as my brother was still serving his sentence) In Oct 2011, I started university, I am still at university now and on January 4th 2013, my brother was released and moved in with me. Now I have been told by the council tax that I owe them all the 'discount' money they gave me, etc 25% for being a single mum, 25% for being a student. When I asked them the reason why, they said that although my brother was in prison for 5 years, he was still liable for council tax bills. In addition to this they said that my husband was living with me from March 2008. I have proof that my husband did not move in on that date and I have proof that my brother was not released till January 4th 2013. The back dated payments they want me to pay is approx £3,000.00. Am I suppose to pay for my brother when he was in prison and am I suppose to pay for my husband who was not living here.


Thank you

Foxn86

No if your brother was in prison for that amount of time then you would not be paying council tax for him. You need to go down and speak to the council face to face, take documents with you to show exact dates your brother was in prison.
With regards to your husband again take docs to prove when he moved in, also i take it if he was living elsewhere he would have been paying council tax at that address, so take a clear note of that address and all dates and speak with them. If you would prefer go to CAB first with all of this information.

CIS

When I asked them the reason why, they said that although my brother was in prison for 5 years, he was still liable for council tax bills.

He would be disregarded for council tax purposes but the discount must be claimed - most likely they have now found out he had been resident in the property and they have not yet been given proof he was in prison for this period.