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Ukraine scheme

The Government has set out guidelines to help protect council tax payers whose bills might have increased as a result of helping out under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Haven't had your council tax bill?

If you've got a MyLewisham account and have registered to view your council tax account online, you won't get a paper copy of your annual bill – it'll be available to view online instead.

If you don't have MyLewisham account, you'll get a paper copy in the post as normal.

This applies to all Ukrainian refugees who have permission to enter or to stay in the United Kingdom granted under the Governments Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

If you share of have let a property to a Ukrainian refugee, please provide the address of the property, names of the refugees and date that they moved in. Please also provide any documentation you have to support that they have permission to enter or to stay in the United Kingdom granted under the Governments Homes for Ukraine Scheme if any of the following discounts or exemptions apply to you. 

25% single person discount

If you are the only adult aged 18 or over living in your property and are receiving the 25% single person discount and you share your home with a Ukrainian refugee(s) you will continue to receive a 25% discount. The refugee(s) will be disregarded for Council Tax purposes.  

Occupied properties that are exempt

Class N – occupied only by students
Class S – Occupied only by persons under 18
Class U – Occupied only by people who are severely mentally impaired

If you are receiving an exemption for one of these reasons and you share your home with a Ukrainian refugee(s) you will continue to receive the exemption.  

Empty properties that are exempt

Class B – Owned by a charity that is unoccupied for less than 6 month
Class D – Left empty by someone who is in prison or detained
Class E – Left empty by someone who has moved into a hospital of care home
Class F – Left empty where the former owner has died and awaiting grant of probate
Class H – Left empty awaiting occupation by a minister of religion
Class I – Left empty by someone who lives elsewhere to receive personal care
Class J – Left empty by someone who has moved out to provide personal care
Class K – Left empty owned by a student
Class L – Repossessed property
Class Q – Left empty by bankrupt individual
Class T – Unoccupied property forming part of a property (annex) which cannot be let separately

If you are receiving an exemption for one of these reasons and you let your property to a Ukrainian refugee(s) you will continue to receive the exemption. 

Unoccupied furnished or unfurnished properties

If you let your property to a Ukrainian refugee(s) the council tax charge will be reduced by 50%. Please provide the names of the refugees, the date they moved in and evidence that they have permission to stay in the UK under the scheme.

Council tax regulations require us to issue bills in the name of the residents and therefore the refugee will be liable to pay the 50% Council Tax bill.  In some cases the sponsor may wish to make payment on their behalf but the bill will remain in the name of the occupier, who should also consider making a claim for council tax support.

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