Registering people at the property and eligibility for rebate

eddiejones

Hi folks,

Appreciate my question is not only about reclaiming council tax.
Basically parents-in-law are here from Ukraine. Mother has got the Family Visa already, Father has not heard back. She has right to live here for 3 years, can access benefits etc. He can only stay for 6 months total.

We found them a flat and registered them both as living there with the council. I am wondering if that was a mistake. Can someone who does not have the right to stay "permanently" be registered for that stuff? I initially did it as they shouldn't get a single person discount but apparently you have to apply for that anyway.

I was then trying to sort the council tax rebate for people who don't have any income. And all that was quite hard to fill in because the Father doesn't have any right to be here long-term (so options on the form weren't valid), and at the end one of the pieces of evidence we need to submit is documentation from the Home Office about his right to live here. Which doesn't exist of course.

So I'm thinking we unregister him as living there. In effect he's just "visiting" for now. And that will make things simpler for getting the reduction in the mother's council tax. Which she is eligible for.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Ed

lincroft1710

Thoughts? Yes.


I think if he is deregistered he will be guilty of CT fraud. He is more than just a overseas visitor, he is actually a co-tenant (or at the very least married to the tenant) and his intention is to remain in this country if allowed. 




However these are my opinions and you should check for definite with a senior revenues officer (or similar) at the council. Do not do anything before contacting the council, as if he is deregistered and this actually is CT fraud, this would not look good for his FV application.  

MalMonroe

I think - contact the council and ask them. They are the ones with the right answers and if they are like my own council, should have a separate council tax department. It's better than trying to sort it out yourself when you don't know whether you are doing it correctly or not. Council tax fraud, intentional or otherwise, is taken very seriously so better to be safe than sorry. Just one phone call is all it takes.