do people on residential canal moorings have to pay council tax?

[bednobs]

and what about people who don't have a permanent mooring but move their boats around?

[maclarencat]

Dont quote me on this but I believe they have to pay a license to the local authority so I suppose they do in a way.

[buildersmate]

Permanent moorings (assigned to one person) are subject to council tax. Works the same way as permanent caravan pitches.

[bednobs]

thanks BM, i thought that was the case. We live by the canal and there is one privately owned permanent mooring that applied for pp to be a residential mooring. However, it was denied, and permission was given for a storage mooring. There has been someone living permanently there for around six months now. Normally i wouldn't mind because really it's none of my business, and i have no idea of the woman's circumstances. However, we have friends on other boats who use the area, and who must move every 14 days lest they fall foul of British waterways inspectors. Also the public bins nearest the boat are always full to overflowing (i am just assuming it's partly her). As it's a private mooring, british waterways won't really care i suppose, but i would guess she is not paying council tax, so wonder if i should call the council or not. My natural instinct is live and let live but i feel sorry for my friends who all behave within the rules. Plus i have to pay CT so i don't see why she shouldn't. Anyone have any advice on how to proceed?

[bednobs]

ps do you know if non-residential moorings attract ct? (i suppose that should have been my original question!)

[sherrardk]

You could contact British Waterways - it has their number on here - http://www.boatsales-uk.com/living_afloat.htm

[bednobs]

thanks sherr. It seems like either a call to BW or the council is in order

[buildersmate]

Bednobs
There is no automatic link between payment of CT and an inferred right to live there. Indeed there is a question on here last night that asking the same thing ('I pay CT but live in a barn that doesn't have residential pp - how long do I have to live there before I can claim residential rights' was the gist of the question).
I don't claim particular expertise in relationship to canal boats, though I suspect it works the same as holiday homes. If so, a permanent mooring MAY entitle a right to stay there for a period of time, but not permanently. There are holiday homes all over the countray where the planning consent only entitles living there for 10 months of the year - and these have to pay CT as a 'second home'.
I guess that in summary I am saying that payment of CT is not linked to an entitlement to live there permanently.
The 'right' thing to do would be a anonymously report the owner to the local planning authority and they will investigate (keeping their source anonymous).

[ladybird49]

Shel be paying to the moorings where she is and also to BW ,id guess shel probably be paying well in excess of £3000 depending which county shes in . Its people who dont buy licences for a mooring or canal/s theyre on and duck and dive that should be chased for money .we have a boat on a mooring in cheshire and pay about £1300 per year in fees in total ( 2 lots of fees )