Council Tax and Electoral Roll

PilatesPete

 I have no permanent residence in England, either owned or rented. Thanks

lincroft1710

Providing she is the sole adult living at her address she will receive the 25% discount. There are exceptions, but none are relevant to the scenario you describe.

Alderbank

From what you have told us (and assuming no-one else lives at her address!) she is entitled to the 25% discount.

TheSpectator

PilatesPete said:

I am not living at my ex-wife's home, nor have I ever done so. I have with her permission registered on the electoral roll using her address. The local council is now chasing her for back payment of council tax since I registered on the electoral roll. The council's position is that as I have registered using her address on the electoral roll I must be living there.

Well, you can understand why they think that. Actually a siily thing to do if you aren't living there.

Bookworm105

you should have registered as an "overseas voter", not try to fudge it by using an address that you do not actually live in 
Voting if you move or live abroad - GOV.UK

by registering as you have done you are declaring that you live in the address provided so you now have a battle on your hands if the ex wife has been claiming single person as, by your own "admission", the council consider that you do "live" there as well and have spotted the discrepancy

You now need to argue with the council that you don't by offering "proof" to them that a) you are no longer married to her, b) you permanent residence is in fact overseas, c) your stays in the UK can be demonstrated by your travel dates and accommodation bookings and d) you did not know what you were doing when you incorrectly registered.

Good luck with your battle. 

Alderbank

It would certainly make life easier for her if you contact the Electoral Registration office and change your status to that of overseas voter.

The Council's starting point is that all adults registered at an address live there, so your ex-wife has the unenviable job of proving that you don't live there.

That's why I said she is entitled to the discount rather than she will receive it. She has to convince them first.

TheSpectator

PilatesPete said:

I can show that I don't live there, from my Airbnb receipts both in the UK and abroad, plus my boarding passes, ferry crossings etc.

I haven't moved and nor do I live abroad, I have no fixed address. It would be incorrect of me to register as an overseas voter this is not true.

It's not a silly thing to do if you want to vote in local or general elections, also for credit checks. 

It's silly because, as you have found, government bodies etc use the electoral roll to see who lives there.....pretty sure the way you have done it you (or the ex)are declaring ypu reside there.

Do the banks know you no longer live in the UK? You are probably commiting fraud if you are using that address for credit.

Maybe leave the ex out of your attempts to circumvent the system.

TheSpectator

PilatesPete said:

I'm not circumventing the system. If I don't live at my ex-wife's home why should she not receive the 25% discount on council tax?

Making credit applicatiins from an address you no longer live it is not trying to circumvent the system?

Having bank accounts in your name at that address will not help convince the council you don't live there

TheSpectator

PilatesPete said:

I am not using the address to obtain credit. I need an address not only with banks, but with insurance companies, DVLA etc.

If you have all these at the ex's address why would the council not think you live there? You can't just borrow an address because it's convenient for you.

greatkingrat

Here is the Electoral Registration Form
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/663e1700ae748c43d3793911/PF_ITR-E-C_acc.pdf

The declaration that you would have signed says 
"I currently live at this address. To the best of my knowledge, the information in this form is true. I understand that the information I have given will be used on the electoral register. I understand that if I do not make an application for registration when required to do so I could face a fine of £80. I understand that it is an offence knowingly to provide false information in this form and if convicted I may be imprisoned for up to six months and/or face an unlimited fine."

So if you have never lived at the address that you are registered at, you may have bigger problems than single person discounts to worry about!

molerat

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-to-vote-if-you-havent-got-a-fixed-or-permanent-address

Why not do it the proper way ?  Saves a load of hassle all round.