We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
How do i prove single occupancy for council Tax?
Options
Comments
-
Ouch! That seems a hell of a long time to backdate. I would be dubious about the legality of that.
The council have to charge council tax from the date set by the Valuation Office Agency.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
Surely the proof is that you've been living there for the past 12 years, have paid council tax for the whole of that time, and they have awarded you the single occupancy discount without argument.0
-
-
What? Did you read the OP?
Yes I did. The council has awarded the discount for the past 12 years, to me that is the evidence needed. If the council had any suspicion that the OP was not living alone then they should have raised it at some point during that time, not try to remove it retrospectively now.0 -
Yes I did. The council has awarded the discount for the past 12 years, to me that is the evidence needed. If the council had any suspicion that the OP was not living alone then they should have raised it at some point during that time, not try to remove it retrospectively now.
The OP has only just been billed for the period - the council weren't previously aware the property existed.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
The OP has only just been billed for the period - the council weren't previously aware the property existed.
Right, I understand now, I hadn't read it in quite that way originally but now I can see that is indeed what it says. In which case I think the OP is correct that he should sign the declaration and insist that if the council want to deny the discount that they provide proof that he wasn't living there alone. After all, I've never been asked to provide proof beyond the declaration of my single occupancy status anywhere that I've lived in the past 22 years.0 -
In which case I think the OP is correct that he should sign the declaration and insist that if the council want to deny the discount that they provide proof that he wasn't living there alone
The onus is on the OP to show that he does qualify for a discount - if the council don't agree he is then they won't grant as they have a duty to protect public funds. If the OP still disputes the decision then they need to appeal to a Valuation Tribunal for a determination.
The fact the OP didn't register for council tax for 12 years won't go in their favour.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
The fact the OP didn't register for council tax for 12 years won't go in their favour.
It is not clear if the OP failed to register or not, they may have been registered under the combined larger property.
The OP is a tenant so it is certainly not their fault that the property was not listed separately.0 -
The onus is on the OP to show that he does qualify for a discount - if the council don't agree he is then they won't grant as they have a duty to protect public funds. If the OP still disputes the decision then they need to appeal to a Valuation Tribunal for a determination.
The fact the OP didn't register for council tax for 12 years won't go in their favour.
But surely the way one qualifies for the discount is to request it - as I've said, I've had single occupancy discount for the last 22 years and have never been asked by any council for anything more than the declaration. Just what proof can anyone offer that they are the only person living there, other than to have an officer from the council drop in at random times throughout the occupancy to check?0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards