Can you pay the council tax if your living somewhere rent free

meitchi

Hello,

My brother and his family have just moved back from New Zealand are living rent free in our second home. He wants to help contribute towards bills and council tax. As this property is classed as our second home we have recently been paying the second home premium on it (200% of the council tax).

 I am wondering if my brother would be allowed to pay the council tax directly- and thus lifting the second home premium while they are living there. 

Many thanks,

Grace 

elsien

Council tax is payable by whoever is resident there if they are over 18. 

BarelySentientAI

meitchi said:

I am wondering if my brother would be allowed to pay the council tax directly- and thus lifting the second home premium while they are living there. 

Not only allowed to, but expected to really.

FlorayG

Even if he doesn't give you any money he's a temporarily a tenant in the house. The reason for the 200% tax is because they don't want houses to be empty so you are doing 'the right thing' by the council's standards by having it occupied by someone otherwise homeless. So yes, he can and should pay, at 100% of cost not 200%

meitchi

Thanks for your responses, these are really helpful