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Original poster

In-laws asking to be on our council tax but not living with us?

89 replies

AllIhearisMuuuuuuuuum · 10/08/2019 08:10

Sorry if this is in the wrong place or is a stupid question but I'm just wanting to gain come clarity on something.

My husband's parents have decided to sell their house and buy a static caravan so they can move up North. As the site they're looking to buy on isn't residential, they can only stay there for 9 months of the year and have to be able to prove to the site that they live elsewhere for the other 3 months. During this 3 months they plan to go abroad but have to provide a council tax bill to the site to show they have somewhere to go. As a result, they have asked DH and I if they can be on our council tax bill so they can provide that to the site.

My question is, is this classed as fraud or anything of the sort?

We have 2 children of school age and both work full time - we aren't entitled to any benefits so it wouldn't affect anything like that and they wouldn't actually stay with us, it's purely so they are able to buy the caravan they want.

Can anyone please help as they're asking us and pushing and we don't want to agree to anything that is going to cause issues for any of us.

OP posts:
TheHodgeoftheHedge · 10/08/2019 09:50

I'm not sure what you mean by is this the truth. I need honest answers so I wouldn't lie on an anonymous forum, otherwise the advice would be incorrect?

I don’t mean what you’re saying is not truthful. I’m saying what they’re asking you to do is not truthful.
You asked “is it fraud?” I’m spelling out the really simple answer which is “yes”. They are asking you to take part in a deceit.

Rainbowshine · 10/08/2019 09:50

In simple terms to answer your question, what you’ve described could be fraud, don’t do this.

Applesandpears23 · 10/08/2019 09:54

It isn’t your problem but also they need to think through what happens when they become to ill/frail/elderly to travel when they can’t be in the park.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 10/08/2019 09:55

This is a very bad idea. What happens when they get too old or infirm to spend three months abroad each year and they don’t have a permanent home? You obviously cannot stop them taking this huge risk, but you don’t have to facilitate them doing it.

TroysMammy · 10/08/2019 09:56

A friend's father lived on a 10 month static caravan park. For the 2 months he had to vacate in the winter lived in her holiday let which was just a few miles away. He wouldn't have had a council tax bill for that address or been on the electoral roll.

Would your parents have proof of a ferry crossing out of the UK and return date if they are touring with a caravan?

Passthecherrycoke · 10/08/2019 09:56

Ok I see what you mean now- it’s a holiday park that you can only holiday in, not live in? So they need proof that your in laws are only ever holidaying there and have a primary residence elsewhere. But your parents don’t have a primary residence and will be living in the holiday park.

@OneRingToRuleThemAll if I read your 1st and 2nd post right you can add people to the CT bill but you have to physically phone up and ask for them to appear on the bill rather than just register them and assume this will happen?

Original poster
AllIhearisMuuuuuuuuum · 10/08/2019 09:56

Apologies hodgeofthehedge common sense would tell me you meant that, the bottle of vino I polished off last night trying to get my head around it all meant I didn't use common sense Blush

They are more than welcome to stay here for the 3 months if they wish but they'd prefer to be abroad. My DS's would probably tip them over the edge if they didn't go away! But my offering my home still doesn't mean they live here so I think it will be a no from us.

I'm not sure my mental health could cope with the possibility of doing something illegal!

OP posts:
Passthecherrycoke · 10/08/2019 09:57

Could you just put them on long enough to generate a bill then take them off

BertrandRussell · 10/08/2019 09:57

“It isn’t your problem but also they need to think through what happens when they become to ill/frail/elderly to travel when they can’t be in the park.”

At what age do you think people should stop doing things because “what if?” These people might be in their 50s!

anotheryearover · 10/08/2019 09:57

Not sure about the council tax thing...but are you convinced they'll actually go abroad and not want to stay with you? My DPs had the same plan (only one month not three) and in 15 years have never once gone abroad! Instead they ended up separately dossing down in various spare rooms/relative's sofas, which is a nightmare. I've only put one of them up for short periods of time due to no spare room but everyone feels guilty if they say no, even though it was their choice to sell a house and move to a caravan. Suggest they buy a small house/flat instead!

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 10/08/2019 09:58

My friends do this for one of their parents so she could move nearby. I don’t know what proof she had to provide but she basically uses their address as her proof of residency elsewhere after selling her house. She travels during the time she’s out of caravan and also stays with them (it’s only 9 weeks or so). I wouldn’t put my parents on any bills but I’d be happy for them to use my address in order to live in a static because I’d be happy for them to use it as a base if necessary.

Chunkers · 10/08/2019 09:58

If they haven’t sold their house yet, why can’t they just give their own council tax bill?

Original poster
AllIhearisMuuuuuuuuum · 10/08/2019 09:59

They have said that once they're 'too far gone' to be on the move for 3 months of the year, they plan to settle down and buy a small flat somewhere. They don't plan to do this for another 15 years or so though.

OP posts:
YobaOljazUwaque · 10/08/2019 10:02

If you lose a job or become too ill to work your benefits will be affected.

If they have proof they live there, they can take out credit using your address and then default on it leaving the bailiffs to go after you.

Tbh I wouldn't agree.

Could they manage to take out a buy-to-let mortgage on a studio flat somewhere, renting it out so that the whole thing breaks even, and keep themselves officially registered there? That is still a tad dishonest but less so as they at least own the asset ultimately.

Original poster
AllIhearisMuuuuuuuuum · 10/08/2019 10:03

They're more than welcome to stay here for the 3 months so if they didn't go abroad it wouldn't be an issue at all.

I have suggested they buy a little apartment and rent it out until they're ready to stop touring but they don't want to put their money into something now they won't benefit from. FIL refuses to let it out as they've done the landlord thing before and ended up extremely out of pocket.

OP posts:
Rainbowshine · 10/08/2019 10:05

It’s not complicated, they are asking you to commit deception on your council tax.

YobaOljazUwaque · 10/08/2019 10:05

Cross-posted with your last - in which case its ideal : they purchase their "small flat somewhere" now, let it out right away and then when they are ready to settle down they can end the tenancy and they are sorted. And in the meantime they have a legitimate postal address with their tenant.

YobaOljazUwaque · 10/08/2019 10:06

Oops now cross-posted again.

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 10/08/2019 10:11

If they let out a flat then how can they use that as proof of residency? We let out a house and the tenants are responsible for all the bills and we couldn’t apply for bank account etc using their address!

gingercat02 · 10/08/2019 10:12

They would need a permanent address to be registered with a GP too, which will be important if they have any ongoing medication or develop health issues as they age

user1493494961 · 10/08/2019 10:13

I have a relative living in a park home (in the North), which is their main home. They live there 10 months of the year and pay council tax for those months. Are your in-laws trying to avoid paying council tax there.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 10/08/2019 10:17

That’s ok AllIhearisMuuuuuuuuum :) we all have those moments :)

TheBrockmans · 10/08/2019 10:24

Their holiday home will depreciate in value over 15 years whereas a small property will probably either stay the same or increase in value.

SkelterHelter · 10/08/2019 10:27

There seems to be a mix up between council tax and the electoral roll. You can't 'put them on the council tax', the bill comes once a year in the spring and will be to the person paying the bill and maybe names one other person. So not only would if be fraudulent, it wouldn't serve their purpose either. If you add them to the electoral register fraudulently, that's an offence. I'd say a very definite no to either of those options if I were you!

Teacakeandalatte · 10/08/2019 10:42

My friend who lives in a park home regretted it and wished they had just rented a flat which would have not been much more when you consider the cost of buying the van and the expensive park fees. It's a nice community but the negative side is it's noisy with the actual holidaymakers, not too nice in bad weather and the facilities are very basic and it can be inconvenient moving out for 3 months, what if you get ill during that time etc.