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Council tax cuts benefit ‘granny flats’

Adam Williams
Written By:
Adam Williams
Posted:
Updated:
09/03/2017

Changes to council tax mean more than 2,400 additional homes have been given council tax exemptions.

The government made changes to council tax which saw a 50% discount given to properties where families were housing non-dependent relatives.

This is typically where families house their older relatives in an annex to their main property – commonly called a ‘granny flat’. Under previous rules these arrangement would have meant two council tax bills were issued.

More than 2,400 homes have already taken advantage of this council tax discount, worth £1.3 million.

This means more than 17,000 homes are now receiving a discount or exemption from council tax, but the government is urging councils to make sure all residents who could benefit know they are eligible.

The figures suggest Cornwall is the granny flat capital of England with 595 households currently benefitting from this rule change.

Local government minister Kris Hopkins said: “It is only right we help hard-working families by giving people the choice to live with extended family without having to pay the price twice through double taxation in their council tax bills.

“Councils must pass this discount on to those who are rightly entitled to it. By cutting these taxes on family annexes we are sending a strong message that we want to help extended families stay together.”


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