single occupancy discount - mum 'visiting'

lix75

Hi all. I'm currently on the 25% single occupancy discount.

Starting September this year, I'm thinking about briging my mum over to help with my child (before/after school care...). She would be here from September to July, excluding Easter & Christmas holidays when we all travel overseas. Her main residence is also overseas, where she pays property tax and utility bills.

Will I still be eligible for the single occupancy discount here, giving the circumstances?

Thanks!

lix75

anyone? thanks...

cockaleekee

Ultimately the only person that can make that decision is your local authority, but I expect they would deem her to be living there - ten months is more than a visit/ holiday.

blt

Hi,

I used to work for my local council tax department. From what I remember, you would not be entitled to the discount whilst your Mum is living with you. If you let them know, they'll take it off, but then you can get it reapplied when she leaves.

torbrex

cockaleekee wrote: »

Ultimately the only person that can make that decision is your local authority, but I expect they would deem her to be living there - ten months is more than a visit/ holiday.

Agree with this.

Also, depending on where she is normally a resident, it might be in breach of her visa when visiting this country to be employed as a carer for your child, even if it is unpaid, she will be receiving lodgings for her effort and that could be classed as payment.

lix75

She's EU so there is no need for a visa. She won't be breaching terms as she's self-sufficient and can stay for longer than 3 months in that situation. She won't be applying for any benefits here, she gets her pension over there, she has her own property which is her main residence. She won't have any mail, bank account, etc over here. She has an EHIC card issued overseas but while here she will also have private travel health insurance, as we really mean this as temporary, only in the next school year.

So it's not really black & white, it will be the council deciding then....

thanks all!

cockaleekee

lix75 wrote: »

She's EU so there is no need for a visa. She won't be breaching terms as she's self-sufficient and can stay for longer than 3 months in that situation. She won't be applying for any benefits here, she gets her pension over there, she has her own property which is her main residence. She won't have any mail, bank account, etc over here. She has an EHIC card issued overseas but while here she will also have private travel health insurance, as we really mean this as temporary, only in the next school year.

So it's not really black & white, it will be the council deciding then....

thanks all!

It is black and white - staying anywhere for that length of time is not a holiday. You will be liable for full council tax.

torbrex

lix75 wrote: »

She's EU so there is no need for a visa. She won't be breaching terms as she's self-sufficient and can stay for longer than 3 months in that situation. She won't be applying for any benefits here, she gets her pension over there, she has her own property which is her main residence. She won't have any mail, bank account, etc over here. She has an EHIC card issued overseas but while here she will also have private travel health insurance, as we really mean this as temporary, only in the next school year.

So it's not really black & white, it will be the council deciding then....

thanks all!

That rules out any visa problems then but she should be liable for council tax judging by the amount of time she will be resident.

lix75

Thanks so then I guess I have to budget for that too... will call the council to confirm.

poppasmurf_bewdley

I would have thought that if she is paying a property tax on her home, then she would not be counted for council tax in this country.

My son is in the British Army based in Belfast and pays a weekly sum towards council tax. When I asked my local authority about him coming home every weekend, they said as he was paying elsewhere, he didn't have to pay again.

You will have to ask locally.

CIS

It comes down to whether the property is her 'sole or main residence' - as this property would effectively either be her temporary home as a visitor or as her second home (with her main residence elsewhere) then she wouldn't remove your single person discount as it wouldn't be either her sole or main residence.

You are however best checking with the local authority as some will argue every case and fight you for the discount.