Married couple planning to live separately, what are the council tax implications please.

ninaluna754

Hello I wonder if anyone can answer my question. 
My husband and I jointly own a house and have decided that we would be happier if we remained married but lived in separate places.
Am I right in thinking that since we would each be single occupants we would both be eligible for the 25% council tax discount? 
Thank you in advance 😊🙏🏻

TroubledTarts

Yes as long as you are both the only adults in your separate abodes.

FlorayG

Yes you would as long as you are actually living separate - the person moving out of the present home would have all correspondence and bills in their name in the new property. Essentially you are separating/estranged so no longer have joint responsibility ( although council may question you and require you to prove your situation and that you are not still living together and using the second property as a second home)

ninaluna754

FlorayG said:

Yes you would as long as you are actually living separate - the person moving out of the present home would have all correspondence and bills in their name in the new property. Essentially you are separating/estranged so no longer have joint responsibility ( although council may question you and require you to prove your situation and that you are not still living together and using the second property as a second home)

Thank you for your reply.
Yes we would genuinely be living separately, each paying our own bills etc. Still on good terms but would spend very little time in each other's places, no overnight stays and we don't have joint children. If I understand you correctly that places us firmly in the category of separating /estranged.

lincroft1710

Do be aware that if you both retain ownership of the current marital home and one of you purchases another property, the council may well consider what you say you intend to do as attempting to circumvent the "second home premium" and continue to charge full CT on the former marital home and double CT on the new place 

FrugaiMacDugal

ninaluna754 said:

Hello I wonder if anyone can answer my question. 
My husband and I jointly own a house and have decided that we would be happier if we remained married but lived in separate places.
Am I right in thinking that since we would each be single occupants we would both be eligible for the 25% council tax discount? 
Thank you in advance 😊🙏🏻

So, will you or husband move out of jointly owned house and buy/rent elsewhere?

ninaluna754 said:

FlorayG said:

Yes you would as long as you are actually living separate - the person moving out of the present home would have all correspondence and bills in their name in the new property. Essentially you are separating/estranged so no longer have joint responsibility ( although council may question you and require you to prove your situation and that you are not still living together and using the second property as a second home)

Thank you for your reply.
Yes we would genuinely be living separately, each paying our own bills etc. Still on good terms but would spend very little time in each other's places, no overnight stays and we don't have joint children. If I understand you correctly that places us firmly in the category of separating /estranged.

If in separate houses, then yes the 25% discount will apply, but if you or husband should take a new live in partner then that should be declared and then back to full amount.

Bookworm105

Deciding what to do when you separate - Citizens Advice

Who to tell that you’ve separated

If you pay council tax, you should tell your local council - you’ll pay less if you live on your own.

Keep_pedalling

If you have not already done so make sure you have both have up to date wills in place. 

ninaluna754

lincroft1710 said:

Do be aware that if you both retain ownership of the current marital home and one of you purchases another property, the council may well consider what you say you intend to do as attempting to circumvent the "second home premium" and continue to charge full CT on the former marital home and double CT on the new place 

Thank you, our plan is to sell our current marital home, split the equity in half and each buy a new smaller place.

ninaluna754

FrugaiMacDugal said:

If in separate houses, then yes the 25% discount will apply, but if you or husband should take a new live in partner then that should be declared and then back to full amount.

Thank you, I will bear that in mind.

RipleyG

FlorayG said:

Yes you would as long as you are actually living separate - the person moving out of the present home would have all correspondence and bills in their name in the new property. Essentially you are separating/estranged so no longer have joint responsibility ( although council may question you and require you to prove your situation and that you are not still living together and using the second property as a second home)

This is what happened to me - I moved to a different location for work and bought a house, husband and I were spending max 2 nights a week in the other's main house. Neither council would allow the single person discount without proof of legal separation, that each house was in sole ownership of the individual claiming the discount, and additional proof it was that person's main residence (bank accounts registered there etc).