Van dwellers will not have to pay full council tax
BBCPeople living in vans on "meanwhile sites" in Bristol will have their council tax payments refunded, after the Valuation Office ruled that individual pitches were not eligible for the full fee.
Meanwhile sites are land earmarked for development, where people pay for a pitch instead of living on the roadside. Last April several van dwellers objected after the council tax charge was introduced.
A letter from the council explained that each site would now be treated like a house of multiple occupation, with council tax divided up between residents.
"If you have paid any council tax, any credit on your account will be refunded," the letter said.
The Valuation Office (VO) has not yet confirmed the banding applicable to each site, so it is unclear how much individuals will have to pay.
The fee will not be introduced until April 2027.
One van dweller said: "It's a welcome move but I'm cautious to call this a win until the valuation is complete and we know what the final bill will be.
"None of us are objecting to paying council tax, most of us are keen to because we want to support the community, but financial stability is really important when levying people for council tax and we are a group of people who don't have that."
The council says it made the decision to introduce charges "based on the information and advice available at the time, and on the approach that the VO was expected to take".
"We are now working through the implications of the VO's decision and will keep residents informed about future pitch fees, which will include a contribution towards council tax costs."
