Double Council Tax!!

Bookworm105

currantbun2 said:

I could easily become homeless I have no security of tenure in London. I am past caring about 'getting into trouble'. What do I have to lose?  Anyway, the question of 'main residence' is woolly and not properly defined.

As for your homeless, this is because cheap money and loose lending has pushed up prices and governments have welcomed this. They could have controlled it if they had wanted to. Now they want me to pay for their mess.

so what is your actual intention?

the opening thrust of this post is you are happily unmarried in London and are being caught for CT on a property that is not your main home 

when the reality of the law has been mentioned you are now digging your heels in claiming your partner that you live with is disposable and just an impediment to your financial situation. Fine, leave him and move on with your life.
Marry a country yokel in Suffolk and enjoy residing in your bolt hole (which may be considered a top notch place for a non Londoner)

If you want to avoid emotion then look up some facts. How to "define" a main home for CT purposes is explained on many council websites, here is a brief example along with reference to the various cases that are deemed to be (English law) legal precedents brought against people who "tried it on"
Sole or Main Residence - Gosport Borough Council


and by the way, CT legislation refers to main home in terms of residence, not what you own. perfectly possible to own a property whilst you rent your main residence. So don't get hung up on the fact you do not own your London main residence. That is where you live and that is where neither you nor partner are claiming single person discount given two live there, not one.  

Bigphil1474

OP, I think you have confused yourself. You live in this second home for about a quarter of the year but it's not a suitable home for anyone and you aren't depriving a local of a potential home? It does sound pretty much like a second home, so either pay the tax that is designed to try and help locals find somewhere to live in areas where it is currently difficult, or sell it, or rent it out, or move in yourself. 

marcia_

currantbun2 said:

Just to be clear I don't own a second home. I own half of a cottage. That is all.

 You own half a cottage which is quite clearly a second home which is clearly defined in Law. 

FlorayG

You can do what you suggest but you need to be aware it is illegal. In order to pay single council tax ( with the 25% discount as well) you have to actually live there. I think  living in the cottage Mon-Fri and staying at your boyfriends house in London every weekend would be acceptable, but other than that you're on a dodgy wicket.
As for 'not depriving the locals YES YOU ARE it's not for you to say that it's unsuitable for anyone to buy. I know a couple of people in that rural part of the world who live long-term in a one up one down tiny house.
Suck it up and pay the charge or sell it

Neil49

I note from your original post that you are 62 and currently living in London. Just a reminder that you would no longer be eligible for a 60+ London Oyster Card which gives free travel on the buses and tubes etc. 

theartfullodger

I don't like all the laws and rules on taxes (income tax, IHT, CGT, council etc etc) but recognise that my choice is either to accept them or go elsewhere.  My choice.

Best regards to all.

sheramber

why is it not suitable for someone to buy to live in if you are considering living in it?

Murphybear

youth_leader said:

I hadn't realised this had come into effect so soon.  I think the only solution is for you to move into the cottage permanently, or to sell.

I live in a coastal village in Northumberland and more than half of the village accommodation is now second homes/holiday lets.  My son couldn't afford to buy here and had to move an hour and a half away, as have other people's children.  

I know it’s getting worse, mainly around the coast.  Cornwall is particularly bad, very desirable and the wages are low so local people are struggling to buy.  At least one housing development only sold the housing to local people.  Sadly the council can’t enforce that on private sales.  We lived in Devon for years, it’s nearly as bad there.  

Murphybear

Neil49 said:

I note from your original post that you are 62 and currently living in London. Just a reminder that you would no longer be eligible for a 60+ London Oyster Card which gives free travel on the buses and tubes etc. 

most councils have free bus passes for the 60s.  Unfortunately if your 2nd home is very rural you may find that buses are like hens teeth.  For many, the days of not needing a car when they retire are long gone.  

elsien

Murphybear said:

Neil49 said:

I note from your original post that you are 62 and currently living in London. Just a reminder that you would no longer be eligible for a 60+ London Oyster Card which gives free travel on the buses and tubes etc. 

most councils have free bus passes for the 60s.  Unfortunately if your 2nd home is very rural you may find that buses are like hens teeth.  For many, the days of not needing a car when they retire are long gone.  

No, the free bus passes tend to be for people who have reached state retirement age. I can't get one till I am 67.