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Original poster

Council tax reduction if DH working away for 6 months?

9 replies

devonsmummy · 13/04/2013 14:03

Just wondering if I would qualify for the single person council tax if DH is working away for 6months?

OP posts:

zeeboo · 13/04/2013 14:09

No as there are still 2 of you paying the bill. It's his main residence and he's earning so clearly he has to contribute to the council tax.

difficultpickle · 13/04/2013 14:11

Is he not contributing to the household income when he is away then? Seems odd to want to work away from your family and not be doing it in order to provide for them.

I assume you would qualify if you contacted the council and had his name removed from the electoral roll and confirmed he had a permanent address elsewhere.

TantrumsAndBalloons · 13/04/2013 14:14

Working away surely equals bringing money into the family.

So why on earth would you get a reduction on council tax? Is he paying council tax elsewhere whilst away?

flowery · 13/04/2013 14:22

But you are not single.

Original poster

devonsmummy · 13/04/2013 17:21

Looks unlikely then! Was just thinking as he wasn't using any of the services whilst working away that I may be able to save a few pounds.
When our house was flooded & we were in alternative accommodation we were able to claim empty property reduction.

OP posts:

CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/04/2013 08:48

If he was working away long enough to have to register on the electoral roll somewhere else and pay council tax in another location, maybe you'd get a reduction. Not for just six months.

Potterer · 19/04/2013 17:20

The short answer is no, the long answer is I used to work in council tax and one of the first things we are told is that everyone has a sole and main residence.

Even if your DH was a naval officer and spent 9 months of the year on a ship you would still be charged full council tax. The argument being that the house is where he has "security of tenure" ie, his intention is to return.

fedupwithdeployment · 19/04/2013 17:38

Potterer is right...I spent some time investigating this as DH was then in the RN. At the time DH had spent years away, and then was at the other end of the country paying an element towards council tax there. I felt very seen off and wasn't earning anything at the time!

Babedestiny · 24/04/2013 11:22

My husband is in the army..and was away for 6 months and we got a council tax reduction.no harm talking to the council about it..

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