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Original poster

Who should pay the council tax?

238 replies

Cavapoo123 · 16/03/2026 11:09

A couple are moving in together. Person A is moving into Person B’s house.

Person A works full-time, currently pays £1500 in house bills in their own place (rented), will only be paying around £700 once moving into Person B’s house (also rented). Person B has no children. Earns around £2000 per month after tax.

Person B doesn’t work due to ill health, is on disability benefits, also has a disabled child who receives disability benefits. Also receives £120 per month child maintenance. Person B’s benefits will go down by around £800 once Person A moves in, but will be making up some of the money by saving on some of the joint house bills that Person A will be contributing towards.

Person B currently doesn’t have to pay council tax due to disability exemptions, however once Person A moves in, the house will have to pay council tax again which even with the single person discount will be around £190 per month.

Who is responsible for this council tax bill?

OP posts:
lalalalalala2024 · 16/03/2026 11:24

How much is person A getting in benefits though ? This could total close to £2000 if her child is also receiving disability benefits.

Original poster
Cavapoo123 · 16/03/2026 11:24

Legolaslady · 16/03/2026 11:23

If B's disability was an SMI then A should still only have to pay 75%

It’s not a SMI

OP posts:
Newmeagain · 16/03/2026 11:23

The state, quite correctly, assumes that when people cohabit they are a family and therefore pool their resources. Therefore people in those circumstances should not move in together unless all the money is put into a single pot and expenses are shared.

SoSoLong · 16/03/2026 11:23

Add it to the bills pot and split it the same way as all other bills. There's no point in saying oh, but B didn't have to pay it before or A is using too much hot water, or A doesn't need a Disney subscription. The bills are what they are now, you've made the decision to move in together and that's the cost. If it's not financially advantageous, you've got the option to live separately.

Legolaslady · 16/03/2026 11:23

If B's disability was an SMI then A should still only have to pay 75%

FeelingSadToday1 · 16/03/2026 11:22

Don't move your partner in OP if you are going to be financially hit.

Original poster
Cavapoo123 · 16/03/2026 11:22

Lastofthesummerwines · 16/03/2026 11:20

You've actually said person B has no children and earns £2000 after tax but then goes on to say person b doesn't work and person b has 1 disabled child. ..
That confused me too. You need to edit the first paragraph as you've confused the people.

Show quote history

I know, it won’t let me edit it anymore… Person A works, earns £2000 after tax, has no children.

person B is on disability benefits and doesn’t work, has 1 disabled child

OP posts:
Arregaithel · 16/03/2026 11:22

whomever is being financially impacted should be compensated by the other, surely?

Howeasy · 16/03/2026 11:22

Malasana · 16/03/2026 11:21

If they can’t agree to support each other at this stage, no one should be moving in anywhere!
CT should be split in the same way other bills are going to be.

This!! It’s a recipe for disaster, not good decision making at all by either parts. Forget about it!

GoldMerchant · 16/03/2026 11:21

You total up all household bills and split them in proportion to the income of both members of the household. If you want to adjust slightly for Person B taking on more of the expenses of the child (e.g. maybe Person A doesn't contribute towards the child's clothing) and taking the maintenance payment out of Person B's income, then you can.

Person B knew they would be losing some benefits when Person A moved in and knew they would lose the council tax exemption, but that loss is incurred because of the increase in household income. Equally, Person A knew that they were moving in with Person B and Person B's child, and so while some of their household bills might be higher because three people are in the household, their own costs will probably go down a bit because of Person B's contributions.

Original poster
Cavapoo123 · 16/03/2026 11:21

Lamelie · 16/03/2026 11:19

The initial list is really unclear. Person B does and doesn’t have DC?
As far as I can understand person B is going to much much poorer. If it’s you and person A is quibbling about bills, be very very careful.

Sorry I messed up that paragraph - person A doesn’t have children, person B has one disabled child

OP posts:
Malasana · 16/03/2026 11:21

If they can’t agree to support each other at this stage, no one should be moving in anywhere!
CT should be split in the same way other bills are going to be.

Lastofthesummerwines · 16/03/2026 11:20

Cavapoo123 · 16/03/2026 11:14

It does say this in my post

Show quote history

You've actually said person B has no children and earns £2000 after tax but then goes on to say person b doesn't work and person b has 1 disabled child. ..
That confused me too. You need to edit the first paragraph as you've confused the people.

Original poster
Cavapoo123 · 16/03/2026 11:20

Legolaslady · 16/03/2026 11:19

Oh sorry I know that ..I just couldn't understand why B would not consider this their bill??

Show quote history

Because person B will already have a shortfall of £800 because of Person A moving in and Person B is exempt from council tax, so will have to pay out an extra £100 on it now that person A is moving in

OP posts:
MidnightPatrol · 16/03/2026 11:20

There’s something a bit uncomfortable here which is - “the state will no longer subsidise me to the tune of £x, so I now expect you to cover any losses”

Herein is the problem I suppose of moving a partner in when in receipt of a generous stipend from the state.

Lamelie · 16/03/2026 11:19

The initial list is really unclear. Person B does and doesn’t have DC?
As far as I can understand person B is going to much much poorer. If it’s you and person A is quibbling about bills, be very very careful.

PearlSpam · 16/03/2026 11:19

If I were person B, I wouldn’t agree to living together if it was going to cost me more money. With a child to support, it wouldn’t be the responsible thing to do.

WheretheFishesareFrightening · 16/03/2026 11:19

I’d only agree to move in with someone if we were merging finances. In which case it wouldn’t matter who was paying what, all income would go in the top, bills would be paid and then both parties would get equal free spends out of what’s left at the bottom.

Legolaslady · 16/03/2026 11:19

MidnightPatrol · 16/03/2026 11:18

They are no longer exempt when the household changes though - personal A doesn’t get a discount for being the only one paying it.

Show quote history

Oh sorry I know that ..I just couldn't understand why B would not consider this their bill??

Original poster
Cavapoo123 · 16/03/2026 11:19

RustyBear · 16/03/2026 11:18

No, it says in your first paragraph Person B has no children.

Show quote history

Oh, I didn’t notice that! I meant person A has no children, Person B one Dd

OP posts:
MidnightPatrol · 16/03/2026 11:18

Legolaslady · 16/03/2026 11:14

I'm assuming that A had to pay council tax where they previously lived ( with a 25% discount) so why wouldn't they pay it when they move?
b is exempt so why should they have to pay just because someone else has moved in who isn't exempt?

They are no longer exempt when the household changes though - personal A doesn’t get a discount for being the only one paying it.

RustyBear · 16/03/2026 11:18

Cavapoo123 · 16/03/2026 11:14

It does say this in my post

Show quote history

No, it says in your first paragraph Person B has no children.

Itsafactitsactual · 16/03/2026 11:18

Cavapoo123 · 16/03/2026 11:14

Especially because person B hasn’t had to pay council tax up until this point, only having to pay council tax because of person A moving in

Show quote history

Yes because if person B pays it, it means they are almost £1000 worse off.

I bet person B is the woman and person A is the man. The fuck would I move a man in and lose £1000 or even £800.

fourquenelles · 16/03/2026 11:17

It's a joint house bill so should be shared in the same way other household expenses are being shared.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 16/03/2026 11:16

Don't let them move in. Financially person B will lose too much. Only person A gains.