Council tax victory for pair
Thursday, 13th June 2002.
A COUPLE billed for two lots of Council Tax because of flood damage to their home have been told they will not now have to pay both.
Paul and Christine O'Gorman have had to live in a caravan for more than a year after their house in Little Wratting, near Haverhill, was badly flooded in October 2000, then again in October last year.
They have been battling to get repair work completed, but have faced delays in getting approval from loss adjusters and finding builders to carry out the work.
Because work had taken more than a year, they faced Council Tax bills totalling almost £1,000 for the caravan and the house, which they cannot live in.
Now the East Anglian Valuation officer has ruled that their case is exceptional and the property is totally incapable of occupation.
It has been removed from the Council Tax Valuation List until work to make it habitable is completed.
Haverhill MP Richard Spring took up the case on behalf of the O'Gormans and said he was glad to have helped them with the injustice and inconvenience they had suffered.
Mr Spring wrote to the couple: "This looks like very good news. I hope that you are now able to concentrate on the challenging task of restoring your home in the best way possible."
Paul and Christine O'Gorman have had to live in a caravan for more than a year after their house in Little Wratting, near Haverhill, was badly flooded in October 2000, then again in October last year.
They have been battling to get repair work completed, but have faced delays in getting approval from loss adjusters and finding builders to carry out the work.
Because work had taken more than a year, they faced Council Tax bills totalling almost £1,000 for the caravan and the house, which they cannot live in.
Now the East Anglian Valuation officer has ruled that their case is exceptional and the property is totally incapable of occupation.
It has been removed from the Council Tax Valuation List until work to make it habitable is completed.
Haverhill MP Richard Spring took up the case on behalf of the O'Gormans and said he was glad to have helped them with the injustice and inconvenience they had suffered.
Mr Spring wrote to the couple: "This looks like very good news. I hope that you are now able to concentrate on the challenging task of restoring your home in the best way possible."
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