Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Collaborate · 12/04/2018 08:37

I think you might make progress if your daughter contacts all agencies (DVLA, bank etc) who have her details and say that she is currently abroad, of no fixed address, but your address can be used as a correspondence address. According to this www.theguardian.com/money/2011/dec/16/council-tax-shock-single-person-discount article (see the second to last paragraph) it might work.

kittensinmydinner1 · 12/04/2018 08:47

This is bollocks and not correct. Your legal obligation as the householder is to inform the council who lives at your address. You are not obliged to provide further information about other adults. You are not responsible for your daughter over the age of 18. You need to write to your council and formally state that you wish to claim your 25% single person discount. That you live alone. That if asked, your daughter no longer lives with you.

If they refuse, then go to the local government Ombudsman . Do not get into discussions about her travel plans, doctors, DVLA. None of this is your business or the council business and a breach of the DPA for council to discuss her personal circumstances with you. She has moved abroad . That is all they need to know from you. If they don't believe you it's their issue to track her down and prove otherwise.

(31 years in benefit fraud - including housing and ctax benefit/discount)

LifeBeginsAtGin · 12/04/2018 08:47

It's not really causing hardship but Why should you pay? If your home address is her home address too she should contribute the difference.

Either that or make up a fake foreign address and use that - a hostel maybe?

Joanna57 · 12/04/2018 08:54

Gin

How do you KNOW that it isn't causing the OP 'hardship'?

Do you know her?

JeNeSuisPasVotreMiel · 12/04/2018 08:57

This is ridiculous. My council did it to me too when DD was sofa surfing in a city 50 miles away so she could afford to work there.
She had moved out for uni and never came back but they still tried to make me pay extra council tax.

In the end I just gave them the address where she worked. I very much doubt if anyone ever follows them up, they are just ticking boxes after all.

Well she isn't entitled to NHS care whilst abroad so needs to de register at the GP for a start.
^^ This is so narrow minded. Why on earth would you deregister just because you're on an extended holiday? You'll need an EHIC card anyway and that's linked to your GP.
I'd very much doubt if all the OAPs on back to back cruises are deregistering. Or anyone in the Forces.

Scrumptiousbears · 12/04/2018 09:06

Thing is OP if you went travelling for 6 months you'd also have to pay council tax etc if your place was empty.

Sofabitch · 12/04/2018 09:14

Travelling isnt the same as moving out though. She technically still lives at your address. I'd just make her pay the difference.

PaulDacreRimsGeese · 12/04/2018 09:15

How does she still technically live at OPs?

Original poster
samarkand · 12/04/2018 09:36

I'd just make her pay the difference.

When she was here she paid rent, but she is travelling on a limited budget and not earning.

My council did it to me too when DD was sofa surfing in a city 50 miles away so she could afford to work there.
She had moved out for uni and never came back but they still tried to make me pay extra council tax.

This is the situation exactly. DD has not lived at home for 3 years - in the uni holidays, she was either traveling or working at festivals so didn’t come back here except for very short visits. She came here for 6 months prior to her long trip and we declared that she was here. I feel I am being penalised for being honest. When she moved back, she could have said she was living with her father (local and not in receipt of council tax discount), but I actually had a conversation with her that if everyone took that attitude, we would have no local services and that we should pay.

She has a job starting in September and it would not be feasible for her to commute from here, so she won’t be returning - she is going to stay with her aunt for the training period and then sofa surf til she finds a flat.

OP posts:
HughGrantsHair · 12/04/2018 09:52

Can she register at her father's then?

BloodOranges · 12/04/2018 09:57

This is nonsense. I have never heard of the onus being on the householder to give proof that the other tennant has a different fixed abode.

Surely you just tell them circumstances have changed, there is one adult at the adress now and that's that? Do people who live in houseshares etc have to chase their ex flatmates all over the place to prove they've gone elsewhere?

Original poster
samarkand · 12/04/2018 10:01

bloodorange. Their attitude seems to be that as she is my daughter, I am responsible for her or at least for proving she is not there. I am amazed that I can be held responsible for an adults whereabouts. At present, they are adamant that I am responsible and will have to pay.

OP posts:
littleducks · 12/04/2018 10:14

I would reply saying you are unaware where she is registered for GP or her driving licence and the NHS and DVLA won't release that info to you due to Data Protection Wink. But that you are sure neither she nor her possessions are there.

PaulDacreRimsGeese · 12/04/2018 10:17

Who is 'they' btw OP? What level have you been discussing this at?

SleepingStandingUp · 12/04/2018 10:19

I would (with their knowledge and consent) give them Dads address. Anything else they want to know about your daughter ids for them to yeah to her about

cardibach · 12/04/2018 10:25

I had a similar situation with DD, and I wasn’t asked for any proof. I don’t see it matters to them whether it’s her ‘official’ address - she’s not there using the services the tax is for, so she doesn’t need to pay for them.

SavoyCabbage · 12/04/2018 10:37

I would reply saying you are unaware where she is registered for GP or her driving licence and the NHS and DVLA won't release that info to you due to Data Protection But that you are sure neither she nor her possessions are there.

Yes, exactly this.

YogaDrone · 12/04/2018 10:38

Some people seem confused between single person discount (which isn't means tested) and council tax benefit which is.

Personally I'd just tell them that she has emigrated, has moved all belonging from your home and has no plans to return. Remove her from the electoral roll.

Travelling is just an extended holiday so they aren't going to agree that your address is no longer her main residence on this basis OP.

They have no idea whether she's registered at a doctors or anywhere else Hmm

If they still refuse you should probably claim second adult rebate. Citizens Advice guide to 2AR because, well you are entitled to one or the other and both are 25% discount!

Loandbeholdagain · 12/04/2018 10:42

So just notionally give her dad’s address then. It’s silly but it works out fairly.

Original poster
samarkand · 12/04/2018 14:56

@Pennypinkhair - I've just re-read your post. Is him claiming council tax relief?

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/armed-forces-and-veterans/benefits-and-concessions-for-the-armed-forces-veterans-and-their-families/

I feel really annoyed about the council's attitude and it is another example of how single mother's are constantly penalised.

OP posts:
Original poster
samarkand · 12/04/2018 14:57

"him" = "he"

OP posts:
QuitMoaning · 12/04/2018 15:32

I sold a flat once and 2 years later the council contacted me for unpaid council tax for those two years.
I said I had sold the flat and they agreed they knew this and had the documents from the solicitor at the time but the current owner had defaulted and they couldn’t get hold of him and had thought that if they threatened me, I would instruct my solicitor to contact their solicitor.
Or I might just pay it to get rid. I was completely shocked.
I said I would take no action and it was their problem.
Never heard from them again.

scaryteacher · 12/04/2018 16:20

Penny If your son doesn't own the property, then he shouldn't be classed as living with you. He needs to call the council and tell then his address is HMS X, BFPOYY. Arguably, he has neither security of tenure at your house nor a right to return to the property.

If he is in SLA, and is paying CILOCT (Contribution in Lieu of Council Tax), then you should be able to argue the case that he already pays CTax direct from his salary, and thus you should get the 25% discount.

turnipfarmers · 12/04/2018 16:24

She's effectively on holiday though isn't she? I can see where the council are coming from because if she wasn't away on holiday then she'd be at the house.

PalePinkSwan · 12/04/2018 16:39

@turnipfarmers - right, and if I didn’t live in my house I would live with my parents. However since in fact I do not live with my parents, nobody can make them pay my taxes.

OP - honestly in your shoes I would just pay the amount you are legally required to pay, which takes into account the discount. Inform them in writing that you are doing this. If they ever bother to take you to court over it (which I highly doubt, as they’re just trying it on) then any judge will agree with you.