Council Tax and second home

A question about : Council Tax and second home

I'm looking for some advice, we purchased a home in Nov 13, and it was immediately let out, which was fine as the tenant paid the council tax.

However, in Feb it became empty. We hired a van and moved half of our furniture into it and made it habitable for weekends and leave. We then paid council tax at the full rate and are still paying the full rate. However, after doing a little bit of research I found that if serving personnel have a second home that they use for leave and weekends then they only have to pay 50% council tax on this. As we already pay CILOCT at our married quarter. We have to both live within the married quarter as my Husband works on base and so do I. I have contacted my local council and explained this to them, but they are saying that this does not apply.
Has anyone had any experience of this?

Also in August my Husband will move into the SNCO's mess and I will move into our own house permanently with my Son. This is why I was researching council tax in the first instance as I believe we are entitled to a 25% reduction when he moves into the mess.
Again any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Best answers:

• I believe council tax should be paid, as you both live there at weekends and leave.
  However, when you occupy it on your own, you will be entitled to 75%.
  Any discounts, ie for being OOA etc are paid by the service, and not the local council. When OOA you still need to pay full council tax, then claim it back.
• Thanks all I've had a reply back from the Council, who say we are entitled to a 50% reduction. I just have to provide the evidence to show we need to live in married quarters. Simple and I'm due a refund of over Ј500. Nice one
• Hello all, I have a question for jacand:
  I'm in the same boat, I've had a reply back from the council local to my property informing me that I am eligible for a 50% deduction for council tax rates, providing I can supply them with evidence that I need to live in married quarters. What form of proof did you give them as they are asking for a document that outlines this.
  I bought my house whilst I was local to it but then I was moved nearly 200 miles away from my house, too far to commute.
• Unless you are a Senior Officer who has a residence on appointment, is there ever a 'need/requirement' to live in a SFA?
  Is it not a lifestyle choice, so that your family remains together or to remain mobile for to be eligible for CEA?
• I'm not sure my OC would allow me to commute the 228 miles from my house to my duty post, do a 12 hour shift and then drive 228 miles back? The forces have moved me to this location for their requirements which means I cannot live in my own home. Surely it is written down somewhere that I'm required to reside close to my place of duty, in this case SFA?
• So just as I said, it's a lifestyle choice. The forces provide SLA for those that live too far from the chosen residence. You can live in SLA during the week and travel home at weekends, for which the Forces will give you GYT allowance.
  There is no need/requirement on the forces part for you to live in a SFA, it is entirely your choice.
• Which takes me back to the original post of how jacand showed proof of needing to live in a married quarter. It certainly wasn't a lifestyle choice to be moved away from my own home.
• But you don't need to live in a SFA. I take it you're Army?
  Surely when you joined you must have realised you would/could be posted anywhere and you certainly should have been aware when you bought the house (assuming it was after you joined).
  Whatever way you want to dress it up, your move is a lifestyle choice so your family can be together. If you don't like the fact that you can be posted anywhere then maybe the forces are not for you and you should put your chit in.
• Your presumption is incorrect.
  Your comment on the fact that I can be posted anywhere and that you assume I don't like that is also incorrect. On the contrary, I'm more than happy to move around and will go wherever the force needs me.
  I am purely asking a question on how somebody else has managed to arrange a discount in their council tax so that I can arrange a reimbursement on my council tax. I bought the house within the local area to a previous unit, knowing that I could be move at any time, but also knowing that I can utilise SFA to my advantage. I'm currently renting my property out, therefore not paying council tax on that property at present. I'm enquiring about my entitlement to a 50% reduction in the council tax I did pay between moving out and the current tenants moving in, should be to the figure of approximately Ј500. Can anyone on this thread tell me that if there is a chance of receiving Ј500 reimbursement that they wouldn't pursue it? All I need is a bit of direction to find the correct documents to show my previous local council, as jacand has previously done. Is have already spoken to the council and they agree that I am eligible to 50% discount providing I can supply them with these documents.
  Can I request that, unless you have information that is useful to me, you not respond to my request on this thread. My original comment was not aimed at you to respond to and it seems that you don't have the information I'm looking for, therefore I find you unhelpful, fergie76.
• Oh, but I am being helpful. The fact you don't like that answer does not mean it's not helpful.
  If there is a service reason that you need to stay in a SFA, then you will already have it in writing and wouldn't be asking here. Just because you have been drafted somewhere else and elect to move your family, means it's your choice, not the services.
  There is absolutely no reason why your family can't stay in the family home and you stay in SFA claiming GYH(T). I admitted it's not something I would want to do, but then that would be my choice.
  If you want the letter you need, ask either your DO or CO to write one for you.
• My initial question still remains unanswered, which means that your 'help' is not relevant to my request.
• My original question;
  What form of proof did you give them as they are asking for a document that outlines this.
  I will request my CO write such a letter in the hope that it will be enough. If not then I will have to explore other avenues.
  You don't ask, you don't get indeed. Thank you for your advice.
• Quote:
  Originally Posted by jacand
  Thanks all I've had a reply back from the Council, who say we are entitled to a 50% reduction. I just have to provide the evidence to show we need to live in married quarters. Simple and I'm due a refund of over Ј500. Nice one
  The one word in that paragraph that stumps me is the word 'need'.
  Like you, I can see arguments against a 'need' to live in MQ, which is why I want to know the supporting evidence that jacand used as proof to give to the council.
  This is a paragraph of the email that my council sent to me;
  Please can you advise if you are contractually obliged to live in the property. If so, please supply a copy of your contract that states this.
  What can I use as evidence for this?
  It seems that there is a discrepancy between different councils, some don't need to see proof at all, some will be happy with proof of paying CILOCT from your pay slips, then there's my council!
• This is the crux of what I have been saying all along. You are not contractually obliged to live in SFA, it is entirely you're choice. This is where I think you are stumped. I wasn't trying to be obtuse earlier, I was just disagreeing with the word 'need'.
  You can try and get a letter from your CO and see if they will accept that or you can try your assignment order, but again that does not state that you have to live in a SFA.
  Good luck though.