Council Tax Discount

[gadgetgeek]

If you currently receive Council Tax Discount as a single occupier, would that discount be affected if your child (an adult) moved back in from overseas for a short period of time (approx 8 weeks whilst they sort out a place to live) would that have to be declared to the council? Thanks.

[boxtops]

Chances are they might, unless you could demonstrate that they are a guest for those 8 weeks. If they went to claim any benefits during that 8 weeks then computers talk to each other - we know, it happened to me, the single person benefit was taken off me immediately.

[gadgetgeek]

Cheers boxtops. They are not claiming for anything but wanted to check before contacting the council this Monday.

[Peter Pedant]

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I am sure alot of people do this.

It depends how stinky your neighbours are as well: One near me had three investigations in as many months and it only stopped after he wrote that the woman opposite's sister in law worked for the council and she was the one what was doing it. My neighbours cut my lawn for me.

If they dont plan to claim benefits you may let it run

[atalanta]

A guest in your house will not mean you pay the extra council tax if they are paying it themselves on a UK residence elsewhere. Otherwise, strictly speaking, you should pay the extra. Exactly this happened to me when a friend came to stay. 2 weeks might not count, but I bet 8 weeks will count.

[EDDIE51]

Had a word with my brother who is housing finance officer for a large London council , he says there is no fixed rule it is down to each council but up to 3 weeks is ok with all of them. Some allow up to 6 months. As atlanta says if the guest is registered for council tax on their own property somewhere else in the UK they can't be charged again for a temporary stay in another house.