Council tax discount single person

Il3610

I received this from 2002 and have just discovered when moving house last month  that it was stopped in 2008.  of course, I should have realised this but having made the original application, I wasn’t aware that I needed to repeat this.   

 The Council have advised that they sent a council tax review to me in 2008 and because there was no response from me, they stopped it.  This seems very random and I’ve no way of knowing whether I received this or not.  They will only reimburse me from April 2023.  The reason given for not backdating it is because they have given me a bill each year and I haven’t challenged it until now.  Can anyone advise if I have a legal basis to be able to counter challenge?  I’d appreciate your thoughts as it feels high handed and unfair.  I’d appreciate any advice.  Thank you

Brie

yes this can be disputed. 

what you will need to do is provide proof that you have been single occupancy all that time and that you have a good reason for not advising them sooner.  So something like a copy of your tenancy and letter from your landlord/lady assuming you rent.  Maybe a copy of the electoral register that shows no one else registered there to vote.  

as to why you didn't update the information when asked in 2008 may be more difficult.  someone I knew who was successful, going back about 7 years, did so on the basis of mental health issues.  (anxiety about opening his post as he couldn't face looking at bills, substantiated by the fact he stopped paying his CT about the same time) 

It's possible that without such a serious defence they may say no or only back date it a couple of years at most.  If that happens I would suggest a subject access request to give you all of your CT notices to see if it was obvious on them when your discount ended.  If it's a line in small print on the 5th page of your annual notice then I would suggest that's insufficient for you to be aware that things had changed that much.  All you might have know is that suddenly in 2008 (when finances everywhere were acting absolutely crazy) your bills went up substantially.   

Il3610

Thank you very much.  This is much appreciated 

lincroft1710

I think if a SPD is applied it is shown on the bill