No fixed abode and council tax

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swimbikerun100
swimbikerun100 Posts: 12 Forumite
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in Cutting tax
Hi,
Council tax question please. What happens if a person is of no fixed abode yet has all their post sent to the residential address of a relative? Said relative is unable to provide evidence of an alternative residential address as they do not have one. I am being told that I will not receive a single person tax reduction as my relative 'lives with me' yet all I do is receive their post and they use my address for bank accounts, pension etc. I pay all the bills for the property, everything is in my name.

Any advice appreciated. Many thanks.

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  • xylophone
    xylophone Posts: 44,427 Forumite
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    The relative pays you the equivalent of the reduction as recompense for acting as his poste restante?
  • swimbikerun100
    swimbikerun100 Posts: 12 Forumite
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    xylophone wrote: »
    The relative pays you the equivalent of the reduction as recompense for acting as his poste restante?

    Thank you for your reply. I appreciate what you're saying, but they really do not live there and don't use the services that council tax covers such as refuse, emergency services etc, so I do feel it is a bit rum really. Also, would feel morally uncomfortable to take money off of them, they don't have a lot.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,557 Forumite
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    swimbikerun100 wrote: »
    Thank you for your reply. I appreciate what you're saying, but they really do not live there and don't use the services that council tax covers such as refuse, emergency services etc, so I do feel it is a bit rum really.

    Also, would feel morally uncomfortable to take money off of them, they don't have a lot.

    Someone on a pension should have at least £163 a week - if he/she has no housing costs, is it really too much to ask them to make up the difference in the council tax?

    The other alternatives are that you pay the full amount or tell the person that they will have to stop using your address as their address.
  • swimbikerun100
    swimbikerun100 Posts: 12 Forumite
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    Thank you for your reply.

    I suppose I'm saying that the question isn't whether or not I should take money from this relative, or whether it is right that they are classed as living in a property and therefore being liable to pay council tax, when they do not, or wrong. What I'm wondering is whether there is any local government guidelines on what to do in this circumstance - as I guess it is rather unusual.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,557 Forumite
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    swimbikerun100 wrote: »
    I suppose I'm saying that the question isn't whether or not I should take money from this relative, or whether it is right that they are classed as living in a property and therefore being liable to pay council tax, when they do not, or wrong.

    What I'm wondering is whether there is any local government guidelines on what to do in this circumstance - as I guess it is rather unusual.

    Unless the non-resident can prove that they don't live at your house, it's only fair on other taxpayers for the council to assume that they do.

    If the council just took your word for it, loads of people would try to get the single person discount by claiming the other person doesn't actually live there.
  • xylophone
    xylophone Posts: 44,427 Forumite
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    https://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/dec/16/council-tax-shock-single-person-discount
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
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    Council Tax works on 'sole or main residence' - if a council has sufficient to suggest this is at your property they will regard that person as 'resident'. Unless the council voluntarily change their decision the only route is to take it via a valuation tribunal.

    They are not liable for council tax unless they are a joint owner/tenant otherwise they are just a resident - if the party is being held jointly liable the council must have further evidence to back up their decision. Use of services does not come in to the decision.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • swimbikerun100
    swimbikerun100 Posts: 12 Forumite
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    That is really helpful thank you! Good to know it's not just me and makes much more sense now it says how Experian are involved.
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