Latest news with #counciltax
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Houghton widow wants terminally ill council tax exemption
A widow who says she had to choose between buying food or paying hundreds of pounds in council tax is urging all authorities to remove the charge for terminally ill Buckham, from Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, became bankrupt after leaving her job to care for husband Eddie until he died aged 64 from pancreatic cancer in plea comes after Manchester became the first authority to scrap council tax for households affected by terminal illness, saying it wants to "help ease the burden".Sunderland City Council says it is considering a version of the scheme, but does have a "series of discounts, exemptions and support" available. End of life charity Marie Curie said it hoped more councils would follow Manchester's lead and make a "big difference to the people who benefit from it". Up until Mr Buckham's diagnosis in 2020 the pair "lived comfortably", but their income fell significantly after he was no longer able to work. Mrs Buckham continued to work for the NHS but eventually had to quit as her husband's condition worsenedAs a result their income "just dropped", she told the BBC."You shouldn't have to worry that you're going to die with no money, or what will happen to the family after you die, because they'll be struggling." 'Tried to hide it' Mrs Buckham claimed she had previously asked the local authority for a council tax reduction but was told she was not eligible as they were not on a "low income".However, she said after leaving her job all money in pension pots and life savings "dried up". She ran up thousands of pounds of debt - including meeting £125 monthly council tax payments - trying to support her and her husband."I tried to hide it, it wasn't until I had to declare myself bankrupt and I went to Eddie 'we're struggling'."We cried together and then he was worrying about me, the family, the house."If you're palliative, everybody should be able to get it regardless, it shouldn't just be if you're on a lower benefit." In Manchester, council tax is reduced to zero for the entire household if one of the tenants has a terminal diagnosis and less than a year to live. The discount is also applied for up to twelve months, or the start of the next financial year, after the person's death. It is not based on income. Jamie Thunder, from Marie Curie, said councils needed to do more to provide specific support for those with terminal illness."For anyone, losing a large amount of income overnight would cause problems," he said."You've still got the same bills, you've still got the same rent."There's also lots of other types of bills that could really increase at the same time... like energy costs [and] medical devices that they need to use."He welcomed the approach in Manchester, adding: "Although local authorities are under financial pressure, this isn't going to break the bank."We're not talking about a large number of people, we are talking about a big difference to the people who benefit from it." In response, Sunderland City Council said it was "very sorry to hear about Audrey and Eddie".A spokesperson said it "would always urge residents to contact the council if they are having any financial difficulties".In addition to council tax discounts, discretionary reductions were considered on individual circumstances, the council Department for Work and Pensions previously said carers may be able to receive bereavement support and there was a range of support available. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Labour rejects own MP's calls for council tax exemption on retirement homes
Labour has rejected calls from its own MP to grant council tax exemptions for families struggling to sell inherited retirement homes. Anna Dixon, MP for Shipley, urged the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – the government department headed by Angela Rayner – to give grieving relatives more time to sell up retirement properties before being hit with the second home council tax premium. It comes after The Telegraph drew attention to the double taxes being charged on 'impossible to sell' inherited retirement homes. These properties are designed for people aged 55 and over, and can only be sold to people in that age bracket, meaning they can take years to sell. They also come with hefty service charges, and typically depreciate in value, making them unattractive to buyers. From April 1, all local authorities in England were given the powers to charge 100pc council tax premiums on second homes in their region. However, if an owner puts their home on the market, they can escape the charge for 12 months. If they are not sold in this time period, the charge is reapplied. In a parliamentary question, Ms Dixon asked Ms Rayner if she will 'extend the time limit on exceptions to council tax premiums to cover the full period for which a property is being actively marketed for sale for (a) long-term empty homes, (b) second homes and (c) leasehold retirement properties'. Jim McMahon, housing minister, said the Government had 'no plans to change the exceptions to the council tax premiums'. 'Inflexibility and obstinacy' Retirement properties boomed in popularity during the 1980s, and remained attractive well into the early 2000s. As of 2019, there were 730,000 retirement housing units in the UK, according to the Elderly Accommodation Counsel. However, in recent years, their appeal has dramatically waned as complaints mounted among those early buyers. This is due to their hefty service charges, which are payable whether or not the property is lived in. According to Hamptons, one in 10 retirement flats takes more than a year to sell. The Telegraph has heard from dozens of families who have inherited the 'impossible to sell' properties, and are now being hit with double council tax, costing some people thousands of pounds. Kevin Hollinrake, shadow housing minister, said: 'Labour should be actively reviewing how the new regime is working in practice. 'Their refusal to even consider extending the exemption for retirement properties shows a shocking disregard for bereaved families. 'These homes are notoriously hard to sell, and this tax burdens grieving families with unexpected and often unaffordable bills at one of the most difficult times in their lives.' Dennis Reed, of senior citizens charity Silver Voices, said: 'This inflexibility and obstinacy by the Government flies in the face of fairness and equity. A hard to sell flat in a retirement complex is clearly not a second home unless a member of the family is living there. 'All the reasons for second home premiums do not apply in such circumstances, and Labour should be showing some empathy to those who have lost a loved one.' A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: 'It is for councils to determine whether to apply a premium on the council tax bills of second homes. 'Councils can opt to add up to 100pc extra on the council tax bills of second homes to help local leaders protect their communities.'
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Fraud totalling £2.7m found by Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Fraud totalling about £2.7m has been uncovered by a council, with transgressions in tax, housing tenancy and right-to-buy among the offending. Officers at Stoke-on-Trent City Council found there were 108 cases of fraud committed against the authority in 2024/25, which was down on the 142 reported the previous include 40 cases of residents fraudulently claiming the single person discount on council tax, 18 of housing tenancy fraud, 22 of right-to-buy fraud and another six relating to council authority's audit and standards committee was told legal action would be taken if it was in the public interest but in some cases the costs would outweigh any potential benefit. Head of audit and fraud Clare Potts said during a committee meeting on Thursday: "We're looking at making sure we're efficient going forward, so we're focusing on areas of high risk and high value fraud."Where we do need to look at other areas of fraud, we're doing that as efficiently as we can." 'Totally unacceptable' Among the cases highlighted was Alykhaan Nourani, from Manchester, who was prosecuted for making fraudulent pothole damage claims against the was found guilty of four counts of fraud before he received an eight-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid Potts said: "It sends out a really positive message that, as an authority, we don't tolerate fraud and will use the full force of the law if you try to commit fraud against us."Committee member Ross Irving, Conservative, suggested the council should take more fraudsters to court."There's a lot of this out there. There are times when we need to send a message that this is totally unacceptable," he said. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Telegraph
The wealthy county with the highest council tax in Britain
Rutland is often described as the one of the healthiest, happiest and best places to live in Britain. But it comes at a high cost. 'We live in a very special place, and I suppose we have to pay for that,' says one stoic Rutland resident. Her council tax bills are among the highest in the country, and are due to increase further. Bills could rise by nearly £600 under Labour. It has left residents asking: 'Why are we being singled out?' Rutland County Council charges the highest tax in the country, with the average Band D household paying £2,671 a year. The national average is nearly £400 lower. Analysis by The Telegraph found that if Rutland continues to raise council tax by the maximum amount each year, households' average bills would increase by £576 by 2030 to £3,247. And this looks likely. Councils that have social care responsibilities, such as county and unitary authorities, can increase tax by a maximum of 4.99pc – and Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spending review gave them the green light to keep doing so. Nine in 10 town halls, including Rutland, opted to raise the tax in April. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that the UK should brace for council tax to rise at its fastest rate in 20 years. It means half of authorities will see increases of at least £500 by 2030. Oakham is filled with stone-coloured houses reminiscent of the Cotswolds, and is popular with tourists who arrive en masse on buses. The small county, with just 41,000 residents and its own flag and castle, also has one of the best-run councils in the country. Pride in the county runs deep, and residents are happy to call themselves 'Rutlanders'. But underneath, there is a growing resentment towards the exorbitant council tax bills. Patrick Brammer has lived in the county for 29 years with his wife Valerie, and doesn't see how the 'high tax can be justified'. The 68-year-old says: 'You get your bins collected, street lights, and that's about it. We get the same services as everyone else. It's not clear how the tax is spent.' 'I've got no problem with the council themselves,' he adds. 'I don't see why we're singled out particularly for such high council tax. Just over the border in Leicestershire, you'll probably pay a few hundred pounds less.' If you have a second home in the council, your tax bill will be much higher. Rutland County Council was one of the 204 authorities which introduced the second home premium in April. There are currently 223 second homes in the area, paying an average of £5,230. Tax rises 'driving away potential buyers' If tax rises continue at this rate, a Band H second home in the county will be paying £12,986 by 2030. Meanwhile, an average second home, a Band D property, could be left on the hook for £6,494. Henry Burgess, of James Sellicks estate agency in Oakham, says such high council tax will drive away potential buyers, which would be a 'crying shame'. He adds: 'If council tax does continue to rise, second home owners will decide they've got better things to spend their money on. It will remove any pull to get a second home in this area, which will have a knock-on effect on high streets. Instead, families could spend a little less on council tax and have a home on the coast. 'If it does keep increasing, even ordinary buyers, who are generally bound by schools or work, may opt to buy somewhere else.' Bobbi Cook, a 19-year-old single mother, has lived in Rutland her whole life. Pushing her pram with eight-month-old, Rowan, she points out how uneven the roads and pavements are. She is paying £111 a month to the council, which includes the 25pc single person allowance. But she doesn't think the council spends it well. 'As a single parent, it's a lot. If, after the bills go up, you could see the roads getting better and more police on the streets, then it would make sense because it would be going to something good,' she says. 'But at the minute, that's not what's happening. And once you have a baby, everything gets more expensive. All the bills are going up. But my wage hasn't.' Another Oakham resident, Moss, who declined to give his full name, is resigned to the imminent bill increases. 'I don't like it, but I don't have a choice,' he says. The 41-year-old says he is completely 'squeezed' by his bills, which leave him with next to no spending money each month. Last year, the Liberal Democrat-run council revealed it was in a £46.6m deficit. A spokesman said that Rutland 'gets a particularly raw deal when it comes to government funding'. It relies on council tax for 79pc of funding, compared with the national average of 56pc. He added: 'After making hundreds of thousands of pounds of savings in the last financial year, we were incredibly disappointed that we had to propose a further increase in council tax. 'This is not something that any councillor wants to do. It is because of the hand we're dealt, in terms of our national funding allocation.' 'Council tax has gone up a lot, and every year' This shortfall may be widened thanks to Labour's plans to restructure local government. The council fought, and won, for its independence as a unitary authority in 1997. But Angela Rayner's reorganisation plans mean that Rutland may be forced to merge with Leicestershire County Council. This proposal has not proved popular among residents, however, as Leicestershire's spending is set to outstrip income by more than £100m by 2027. Alicia Kearns, Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, has opposed reorganisation. She previously told The Telegraph there was a misconception that the county was full of 'wealthy retirees'. 'We've got one of the lowest social mobility scores in the country,' she said, adding that she does not believe merging will improve this. Diana and Chris Corp concede that Rutland is a fairly wealthy area – but council tax has gone up 'a lot, and every year'. Originally from Leicester, the former teachers have lived locally for the past 12 years, and now pay the council £310 a month. 'We don't have massive crime waves and schools closing down, however, it's not really obvious where the tax is spent,' says Diana, 76. 'There is no police presence where we live, and even though it's a small market town, there is an undercurrent of petty crime which gets neglected. 'We have to pay extra to get the garden waste taken away and that goes up every year. And the roads are appalling.' Other residents have a more generous outlook on their high bills. Terry Kilmartin, a 72-year-old local, says her council tax is 'too much', but that 'we're better off than other places'. Nitesh Bhundia, 44, owns a wine shop called L'Art de Vivre with his friend, Thomas Troisvallets. In an age where high streets across the country are struggling, the pair are confident in their business model, as there is the 'demand for high end shopping' in Oakham. Bhundia has lived in the town for six years with his wife and two daughters. 'I grew up in Leicester where there was a high crime rate and it was so unsafe. Here, the parks are well-kept and the bins aren't overspilling. We live in a bit of a bubble in Rutland,' he explains. 'There is no other place like this in England.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Council tax help may face more pressure councillor warns
A Dudley Council's watchdog committee has been told a council tax help fund could face more pressure in coming years. A meeting of the authority's Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Core Business) on June 25 was told by Dudley's Labour leader, Cllr Adam Aston, more people are likely to need help because they were unable to pay their bill. Council tax in Dudley is set for the current financial year at £2,038.57 for a band D property valued between £68,001 and £88,000. Cllr Aston said: 'There is a significant reduction for people who need help with their council tax, as more people struggle to pay their council tax, is that likely to present a problem for us going forward over the next year or two? 'I am aware there is a discretionary council tax relief fund available of £1m, it's very much a last resort for people who cannot pay their council tax 'Is that relief fund enough? Do we have the capacity to administer it if loads of people apply?' The £1m set aside for the council tax relief fund is part of the authority's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). Finance officers told Cllr Aston the £1m was already part of earmarked reserves for the current financial year and the impact of the reduction scheme on council coffers is something they will monitor very closely in future years. Conservative councillor Adam Davies also had a question on council tax. He said: 'With the way the government has confirmed they will be issuing finance from central to local government, and the wide speculation they are expecting local authorities to increase council tax year on year by the maximum – is that what you allocated for the forecast in what we are looking at?' The maximum increase councils are allowed to make each year to council tax is five percent. Cllr Davies was told the maximum increase is the amount the authority's accountants applied in their forecasts for the next five years.
