Locked down abroad, council tax refund?

hateshousework

I travelled to Africa Feb 1st 2020 and was due to return March 31st but the country wend on lockdown and I couldn't return til Dec 24th.
I live alone and a work colleague mentioned I could be eligible for a refund.
I will call the council Monday but wondered if anyone knew.
Thanks

onashoestring

It’s up to each council to decide - some offer a discount , some will offer a reduction if the house is empty , ( unoccupied & unfurnished )and some charge more for empty properties (but given the circumstances, I don’t imagine they would charge you more )- - have you looked at your local council’s web page to see what they say about it ?

hateshousework

Thanks. Annoyingly their website is coming up as unsafe to my phone and I can't access it 😣

CIS

hateshousework said:

I travelled to Africa Feb 1st 2020 and was due to return March 31st but the country wend on lockdown and I couldn't return til Dec 24th.
I live alone and a work colleague mentioned I could be eligible for a refund.
I will call the council Monday but wondered if anyone knew.
Thanks

There's no applicable council tax discount in respect of you simply being unable to return to the property - as it was only a temporary absence you are regarded as still being resident anyway.

diggingdude

If your house caught fire whilst you were away would you expect the fire brigade, maybe the police to attend? Your council tax pays for that. I highly doubt there will be a refund 

emmajones1976

Out of interest why are you only persuing this 10 months after your return?

I agree with previous posts.

hateshousework

I just told a friend I had my tv license refunded for the time I was away and she suggested asking about council tax.

superbigal

Many councils charge double.  Watch out what you wish for.

macman

It's a property tax, not a residency tax...

Uxb1

In which case if it was a property tax all properties whether empty, holiday homes, or fully lived in should be charged at exactly the same rate according only to the size of the property.

In practice that int' what happens.
single people get a discount so the number resident in the property does make a difference.
and in Wales holiday/second homes (which use next to no council services at all) are charged a supplementary fee on top of the council tax - which is basically a wealth tax add-on.
and as mentioned above those properties long term totally empty also get charged extra

Niv

To be honest I don't think this is worth pursuing with the council, your house wasn't empty (i.e. unfurnished) so is  not likely to be eligible for a discount on the basis of you (for all intents and purposes) being on an extended holiday. If you really want to find out what your particular councils stance is on this then you should access their website as it should all be clearly documented, as others have said calling and speaking to someone may not have the desired outcome.