RESIDENTS who have been forced to move out of their homes due to a fire or flood will no longer have to pay council tax on that property.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats group on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Cllr Gavin James, urged the change after speaking to a resident whose home was damaged by in fire.

Currently, people who have to move out of their homes while work is being carried out following an incident have to pay 50 per cent council tax on the unhabitable property, along with the place where they are temporarily living.

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Cllr James said that the policy should be changed to allow those affected to not have the burden of paying the charge on the affected property for the time they are living elsewhere - if this is in the borough.

He said: “It is a tiny cost to the council, families who go through that shouldn't be burdened with 50 per cent surcharge for council tax, we should allow them to have a full discount on the property they are not living in if they are living elsewhere in the borough and paying full council there, so they only pay one council tax bill.”

The amendment to council tax discretionary discounts and council tax support scheme was supported by Cllr Andrea Bowes.

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She said: “This is an onerous charge to inflict on someone after already enduring the loss and trauma involved in fire or flood and I believe there is another consideration we can take into account. Last year two separate incidents took place over the same weekend, two women residents were the victims of their respective partners setting fire to the homes while they were inside. Both women were thankfully rescued but had to find alternative accommodation. I find the idea of charging people such as them even 50 per cent of their council tax on the burned property abhorrent. 

“To me, it does not sit well with the council's White Ribbon pledge either. It is not enough to use, excuse or remain silent, if we then inflict a 50 per cent council charge on the damaged home, as well as charging for the alternative accommodation. We should support the victims of arson and not penalise them.”

The amendment was given the support of the council.