By Richard Johnstone | 20 February 2014
Local authorities have welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister David Cameron that people whose homes have been flooded following recent storms in England will receive a council tax rebate.
Cameron announced yesterday that the government would provide councils with £4m so they can offer a three-month discount to every flooded home. It is estimated that around 6,000 homes have been affected.
‘We are taking action across the board and in addition to a range of measures that I have already announced to help hardworking people, I have today confirmed that we will make £4m available to fund council tax rebates for people whose homes have been flooded,’ Cameron said.
‘The process of getting communities back on their feet will take time and people should not have to worry about paying council tax while they focus on the clear-up process.’
Responding to the announcement, Sharon Taylor, chair of the LGA’s finance panel, said many households dealing with flood damage had already been offered tax rebates by their local authority.
‘Council budgets are stretched and demand for support is high, so it is good news that government will be supporting local authorities’ efforts to provide financial support to flood-hit homes,’ she added.
‘Local authorities are keen to work with government to ensure the application process is straightforward and that the benefit quickly gets to where it is most needed.’
Further guidance on the funding allocation will be provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government later today, the government said. As the majority of people will have finished paying their council tax bill for 2013/14, the rebate will be applied to bills from April.
