Single persons council tax discount rejected

CIS

I would also add that the council's reference to 'legal ownership' makes no difference in the situation you have described, not sure why they have bothered to mention it. It would appear that the person you are dealing with doesn't particularly understand the legal background to what they are saying.

Also, using their logic, they've only half way described the actual situation regarding the property you're resident in - it would appear that they've also got themselves confused over the legislation on that. Overall, it's a bit of a mess from their side in my opinion - even without any confusion.

CIS

I read it as the OP has moved out of the marital home and has assisted the wife in trying to claim her 25% discount.

The council have refused, stating that the OP is still resident for council tax purposes with his wife. The OP lives in the second property he owns, alongside a lodger (which may or may entitle to the OP to a discount, depending on the exact situation).

The OP needs to make it clear he has vacated the marital home and has no intention to return. The email from the council makes a bit of pigs ear of a response but it reads as though they regard him as still resident at the marital home for council tax purposes.

G_M

Ah! I understood the opposite!

I thought the OP was trying to help the friend claim single person allowance in the property he alos lives in now that he has vacated the property is wife lives in.

No wonder the council are confused!

Mutton_Geoff

Local councils can be funny (and greedy). My house has an attached one bedroom self contained annexe with own separate access. The annexe is not occupied and is used for storage. It is rated separately for council tax. The council give me single person discount for the main house but won't give me the same on the annexe, even though, if anyone lived in it, it would be me and it's vacant anyhow and they don't offer any vacant property discount.


It's almost worth me making up a fictitious occupier and pay the council tax as single occupancy.

00ec25

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

Local councils can be funny (and greedy). My house has an attached one bedroom self contained annexe with own separate access. The annexe is not occupied and is used for storage. It is rated separately for council tax. The council give me single person discount for the main house but won't give me the same on the annexe, even though, if anyone lived in it, it would be me and it's vacant anyhow and they don't offer any vacant property discount.

? that is rather like blaming Father Christmas for your kids wanting presents at Christmas.

A situation entirely within your control by simply removing the facilities that make it a self contained annex. Presumably you want it retained as such, but don't see why you should therefore be classed as owning 2 properties, which is exactly what you do, just like it is you who conned your kids into believing in Santa.

Thrugelmir

CIS wrote: »

I would also add that the council's reference to 'legal ownership' makes no difference in the situation you have described, not sure why they have bothered to mention it.

Perhaps it's the measure that the Council have decided to use. Not the resource to spend time checking and substantiating every claim made.

martindow

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

Local councils can be funny (and greedy). My house has an attached one bedroom self contained annexe with own separate access. The annexe is not occupied and is used for storage. It is rated separately for council tax. The council give me single person discount for the main house but won't give me the same on the annexe, even though, if anyone lived in it, it would be me and it's vacant anyhow and they don't offer any vacant property discount.


It's almost worth me making up a fictitious occupier and pay the council tax as single occupancy.

Empty houses are charged the full rate of CT and a supplement can be charged if they are left empty over two years.

You are lucky that annexes are excluded from this, but having to pay full CT might encourage you to let it out. If your tenant is a single person they can then claim the discount.

marcofoo

Hi everyone,

OP here. Apologies for the confusion but thank you for all the replies! Hopefully this clarifies...

Home 1 (our primary residence):
We own together.
Wife lives in this home as single occupant.
I moved out Sept 2017 and have no intention to return.
The council tax account is in my name. I have requested a single occupants discount.

Home 2
We own together.
I now live in this home.
Lodger rents a room.
I moved in Sept 2017 and will be staying here for the foreseeable future.
The council tax account is in my name. No discount applied.

Other points to note
We do still have a joint bank account for paying of mortgages and bills.

davidmcn

marcofoo wrote: »

Home 1 (our primary residence):

Wife lives in this home as single occupant.

The council tax account is in my name. I have requested a single occupants discount.

Isn't this what is causing the confusion? (or at least making it less convincing) If your wife is the single occupant then why isn't the account in her name?

thelem

marcofoo wrote: »

The council tax account is in my name. I have requested a single occupants discount.

Why is the council tax in your name? That's going to make it look to the council that you are still living there. If your wife is the sole occupier then it should be in her name. Changing the name on the council tax should be easy.

We do still have a joint bank account for paying of mortgages and bills.

Obviously the ultimate solution is to separate your finances so you each own one home, but I'm sure that not as simple as it sounds.