What defines a household?

[Clearasmuddypuddles]

If it is going to be Law that households can’t mix can anyone shed any light onto the legal definition of a household.

If parents move in with their children and grandchildren today, how long do they need to live there to become classed by law as one household? Do they need to officially register for council tax there? Is just sleeping in the house enough?

We are keen to stay within the law, and my parents have asked us to consider them moving in here to be classed as one household. However I would like to know how to do this legally. We are due to go on holiday together in a few weeks which we can’t do if we are separate household as my area is level 2.

Anyone with a legal background able to shed any light?

It's a bit like the people who pop their mask to go into the shop, then screw it in their pocket on the way out, then put it back on at the next shop. It's for appearances so you think you look better

Why is this not good? I know the risk to them is perhaps higher because they are touching the mask etc but they are still preventing their own droplet (and some aerosol) spread with the mask. Or am I missing something?

@Msmcc1212

It's a bit like the people who pop their mask to go into the shop, then screw it in their pocket on the way out, then put it back on at the next shop. It's for appearances so you think you look better

Why is this not good? I know the risk to them is perhaps higher because they are touching the mask etc but they are still preventing their own droplet (and some aerosol) spread with the mask. Or am I missing something?

Except they're also getting those aerosol droplets all over their hands as well before touching everything, possibly putting their mask on inside out (some of mine could easily be put on either way) etc. and the fact that they're doing it just to look like they're doing the right thing means they're probably not being as robust with other stuff too

We made the decision for them not to move in and they are going to sacrifice their holiday so we will go without them
That is a shame.

But at least there is nothing to stop them from forming a household with you over the winter if things change!!

In March we moved mil in with us near the start as Rio was seriously ill and in hospital and then a hospice - we were isolating the week before, so waited til that was finished. We formed one household for approximately 10-12 weeks iirr before she returned home.

@Spied

So, if I took my family and went to my sisters tonight and slept there and someone reported us then I could just turn around and say "Oh, I've moved in- we're one household now!" NO Your home is where you pay your council tax and where you are on the electoral reg. You can't just move people in.

My boyfriend moved in in March, he only started paying council tax here in August.

He isn’t on the electoral register as covid delayed his citizenship.

So when according to you did this become his home?

Also, students don’t pay council tax and often remain on the electoral reg at their parents house, is their uni halls/house not their home and therefore not their household?

In the first lockdown this was allowed and it didn't have to be properly,long term involving changing permanent residence, electoral rolls, etc. It was allowed to be a temporary move but couldn't just be a couple of nights.

Spied - that is incorrect based in what the government themselves advised in march's,lockdown.

They haven’t said how long. But when students moved to uni they were told that was their new household. They didn’t have to isolate. And they are allowed to come back home at Christmas for a few weeks, even if their new household is officially their student one.

I don’t see a difference between students coming home for a Christmas holiday with their family, and relatives staying with their family on holiday. I’d say you need to assess the risk yourself.