Backdated Council Tax from Travelling

AdrianC

arihedon wrote: »

It’s my mothers house. I was a student up until I went travelling.

And that's why she would have been due the single-occupant discount while you were a student so not countable towards CT. That student exemption ceased once you were no longer a student - whether you were on holiday or not.

Only my mother was resident in the property.

Didn't either you or your mother inform the local authority at the time that you were no longer resident...?


Right now, they believe you were resident (because you didn't tell them you weren't), and that you were no longer a student (which is accurate) - ergo you are now countable towards CT, as of the end of your course - so your mother is no longer due the discount. And that's what she's being asked to pay.


You need to prove to them that you were not just on an extended holiday, but actively non-resident.

CIS

arihedon wrote: »

It’s my mothers house. I was a student up until I went travelling. Only my mother was resident in the property. I am just wondering how to go about this and if I can prove I was working abroad, would this avoid the charge backdating to last June? As they think I’ve been present since then.

You need to show that your 'sole or main residence' was not at the address, which is easier said then done. There's a whole raft of case law that needs to be considered - councils are usually quite hot on it so it can be a difficult argument to get in to.