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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Being responsible for adult DD's council tax

67 replies

samarkand · 11/04/2018 09:00

DD moved back home in September. I duly informed the council and paid full council tax (previously I had single person's discount). She has now gone travelling for 6 months and then has a job starting in September - she does not intend to move back here as the job will not be commutable from here; however, she does not have a new home as she is travelling.

The council tell me I am not able to claim a single person discount without proof of my DD's new address. AIBU to think that I should not be held responsible for my adult DD's living arrangements.

OP posts:
PalePinkSwan · 11/04/2018 09:05

That’s a bit odd.

Could you just say that the other resident has moved abroad leaving no forwarding address? I don’t think they can require you to prove where somebody else lives. Just fill in the forms saying that you are a single resident?

QuiteLikely5 · 11/04/2018 09:07

Show them a copy of her flight ticket

user1487671808 · 11/04/2018 09:11

Is any of her stuff stored at yours? I think that unfair as it seems, until she has a new address it will be hard to prove. Mind you I’ve seen threads where the DH leaves and everyone tells the poster to reduce bills like council tax to single occupancy so it must be possible.

Apologies OP, no help whatsoever.

AjasLipstick · 11/04/2018 09:22

Get the address of the FIRST hostel she stays in abroad. Give the buggers that. And a copy of her ticket out if you can get her to email you one.

lecossaise · 11/04/2018 09:24

Get her to scan the visa stamps on her passport and flight tickets.

diddl · 11/04/2018 09:25

It's her registered address until she has another though in 6months time though isn't it?

diddl · 11/04/2018 09:25

Ask her to pay the difference for the 6 onths that she is travelling?

TeasndToast · 11/04/2018 09:29

No they are wrong. The council have no legal right for personal information on your daughters whereabouts. They are trying it because they decided they don’t believe you. However, in the legal sense you are perfectly entitled to pay the single discount once you have informed them in writing she is no longer living with you.

Original poster
samarkand · 11/04/2018 14:45

I have just had a response from the council and they have said that if her driving license and doctor's are still registered at this address then it is considered her main residence. I am not sure where she is supposed to register if she is travelling and doesn't have an address. Also if her possessions are still here it is considered her main residence; however, she doesn't really have any possessions as "things" don't interest her - even when she stayed here, you would be hard pressed to know an adult
lived in the room.

They will consider backdating a rebate on her return in September which means I have 5 months of financial hardship before they will even consider a rebate.

OP posts:
PalePinkSwan · 11/04/2018 17:17

Do you have any family or friends who don’t qualify for the discount and would be willing to have her officially registered at their homes?

FranticallyPeaceful · 11/04/2018 17:19

Nah I’m not having any of that, they can’t do it. They obviously don’t believe you and i would ask to speak above them if they refuse you again

PineappleScrunchie · 11/04/2018 17:22

I’d challenge that. If she’d moved abroad permanently those things would still be technically registered at your address as neither system accepts a foreign address in my experience.

tootsweet30 · 12/04/2018 07:38

In a similar situation they didn't ask me for any proof that I now lived alone! What wankers!

SavoyCabbage · 12/04/2018 07:46

Don’t let them push you areound. She’s not living with you any more. Don’t get into doctors or when her job starts or possessions with them. She’s not living there. She was, now she’s not.

Palegreenstars · 12/04/2018 07:47

This does seem unfair.. Can you ask your daughter to pay her share til the rebate comes through?

LakieLady · 12/04/2018 07:49

I've had this crop up with clients. I was told that unless proof of another address was provided, the home address was still regarded as the child's main residence.

Also, to be pedantic, OP, you're not responsible for "her" council tax. Something called "joint and several liability" applies to council tax, so one or all of the residents can be chased for the money. If 6 people's names are on the council tax register and 5 of them bugger off without paying a penny, the one person that remains is liable for the whole lot. It seems very unfair to me.

pigshavecurlytails · 12/04/2018 07:50

Well she isn't entitled to NHS care whilst abroad so needs to de register at the GP for a start.

Panicmode1 · 12/04/2018 07:51

I still have stuff at my parents house, but I'm married with four children and pay Council Tax at my own house. This scenario must happen millions of times all over the country. It's nonsense.

DoctorWhatTheFuck · 12/04/2018 08:00

Contact Citizens advice.

writergirl747474 · 12/04/2018 08:04

I had the same request when my lodger moved out. I had her new address and told the council so all fine. But what if she'd left on bad terms and not told me where she'd gone? It's crap, I agree.

ZenNudist · 12/04/2018 08:11

Send them flight details and offer letter. State its financial hardship. Seek Citizen's advice. Stop paying the full whack. Dont let them do this to you. As long as you are being honest you have nothing to fear.

lifechangesforever · 12/04/2018 08:12

As @pigshavecurlytails says, she's not eligible for NHS care whilst she's travelling so she could de-register at the GP.

However, I would ask how they know about her registered GP and drivers license.

LostPlatypus · 12/04/2018 08:15

As well as everything else that has already been said, the driving licence thing is irrelevant. You could be living in some (could be a lot - I only know about a few) other countries for up to a year before having to get a driving licence in that country (the UK being one of them, as is the USA), and if you move abroad you can't change your address anyway - gov.uk website says they won't let you.

Notwavingimdrowning · 12/04/2018 08:16

My son is in the Navy and I live alone. I am not entitled to a single person reduction as he is classed as living here, even though he has an address at a naval base, where I post things to him ! He comes and visits for approximately 10 weeks / 52 weeks, over the course of the year and I would be happy to pay an increase when he is visiting, but I have to pay in full for 42 weeks, where I actually live alone. It’s so bloody annoying.

PaulDacreRimsGeese · 12/04/2018 08:19

You're not BU and that's worth complaining about, in writing. Get a local councillor involved too. The reality is that plenty of people wouldn't have this information when a person they've been sharing with moves.