Council tax - claiming single person discount when someone moves out

lowebd

I'm living in a rented flat on my own at the moment. My girlfriend and I lived there together for around 6 months but then she tooka new job in Birmingham and has moved there. I rang the local council to enquire about the 25% discount seeing as I now live on my own and was told I would not qualify as the flat is still considered my girlfriends main residency and it's assumed that she returns at weekends. Her name is still on the lease and council tax papers, but other than that it's a bit of an assumption on their part. I asked about this and was told if she lost her job she would return to live with me.

I'm trying to get my head around this. In a purely theoretical case we could have split up. I thought about telling them this but then realised it would look suspicious after I already told them she'd moved away. She still has some stuff in the flat but on the whole she has definitely moved out and we take it in turns to visit each other. This is no different to the situation we had before we moved in as far as I can see. The long term plan is for me to move to her.

I wonder if someone who is familiar with council tax law can either point me to a website where this is fully documented, or just give some advice on what to say to the council next time I contact them. I am already trying to arrange to get copies of my girlfriends new lease and council tax papers in her new house share but don't think this will be enough.

Thanks in advance.

elmer

If she pays Council Tax at her new address to the council there, a copy of the bill in her name should suffice. It will need to be in her name and should show that she gets single person discount at that address. Your Council should then start a new liability for you at your current address from the date on her bill that she moved.
Unfortunately this will result in a bill at the moment, as the refund of CT until 01/04/08 will be in her name and given back to her at her new address.

Elmer

CIS

Elmer is spot on - this issue with 25% discounts causes quite a few quereis across the year. It primarily comes down to council law on sole or main residences - if the property is her sole or main residence then not granting the 25% discount is correct otherwise you can claim it .

A good guide can be found here- http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/counciltax/content.php?page=sole_main