Prime Minister Pledges Council Tax Exemption for Flood Victims

Flood victims will be exempt from council tax, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.

Anyone forced to leave their home because of the floods will not have to pay, Downing Street has confirmed.  The government has set aside £4m to fund local authorities to cover the cost of unpaid council taxes.

About 6,500 homes have been flooded since December and the Prime Minister has said “money is no object” to support the clean-up operation.

Mr Cameron said those that helped people in this way would be compensated.  He wrote on Twitter, “I can confirm we will fund councils that give council tax rebates to people whose homes have been flooded.”

The Prime Minister, who is visiting flood-hit communities, has said every resource will be made available to protect people and homes still at risk and support the relief effort.

Speaking on a visit to Pembrokeshire, he promised a “vast national effort helped and co-ordinated by the British government” to help those affected.

Mr Cameron said, “That’s why we bring together all the local authorities, the emergency services, the volunteers.  That’s why funding has been made available in terms of supporting local authorities.”

Ministers have already pledged extra funding for councils for flood repairs under the terms of the Bellwin scheme, which provides emergency financial assistance to local authorities.