council making me pay full rate of council tax when I am single!

SunshineDebs

Hi everyone. I am an MA student at UCLAN living with my parents nearby. My mortgaged house is in Devon currently sitting empty because largely of the pandemic and govt restrictions. I have received a council tax bill as the house is empty. But they won't apply single persons discount because they are stating it is a second home!!!! This is not true as I am not the owner of multiple houses nor is this my business, I am unemployed, skint, no income, no tenant, and don't own any other property (nor rent another property) so it's not a second home. I have put in a formal complaint but wondered if anyone knows where I stand. Their manner in emails is pretty abhorrent and there has been no flexibility because of the pandemic apart from spreading the payments over 12 months instead of 10. but 25% discount is substantial and had this the whole time i lived there so I can't understand why this is different!

AnotherJoe

if you are living at one place, uclan then your owned house is indeed a second home is it not?

Maybe there is a special deal for students ? Whats the situation normally? Where are you on the electoral register?

Could you not "move back" in to your owned house?  How do they know you arent living there?

elmer

You need to be occupying the property to claim single person discount 

elmer

SunshineDebs

@AnotherJoe I told the council I was leaving the property IN sept 19 so they know I don't live there. I am currently living with my parents. the Property in Devon should be rented out but has been empty due to lockdown so I am liable for the bills at the moment.

SunshineDebs

@elmer why? and how do you know this please?

Robin9

From my council  

"Single person discount

If you are the only adult that lives in your property (as their main home) and you are over the age of 18 years old, your Council Tax bill will be reduced by a 25%."

You are not living there are you

AnotherJoe

SunshineDebs said:

@AnotherJoe I told the council I was leaving the property IN sept 19 so they know I don't live there. I am currently living with my parents. the Property in Devon should be rented out but has been empty due to lockdown so I am liable for the bills at the moment.

In which case it seems to me that you are a landlord without tenants, want special treatment, and being a student is irrelevant ?

Were people unable to let vacant properties during the pandemic? You can let it now anyway.

 

SunshineDebs

@AnotherJoe Thank you for responding. I don't want special treatment. just what is fair for an unemployed, single, mature student. Being a student is not irrelevant but they aren't giving me discount for that either. You are quite right, I can let it now as people were unable to view (obviously) whilst we were in lockdown and you are also quite right I am a landlady without tenants but I could also live in the property but was unable to because of the pandemic! 

elmer

I know as I work in council tax for a LA 

elmer

GrumpyDil

Agree with the comments.  If a property is not your main residence you cannot claim single persons allowance.