New 'disaster power' used for first time in Manchester this week - Manchester Evening News

New 'disaster power' used for first time in Manchester this weekEight households are subject to the new powerNewsEthan Davies Local Democracy Reporter05:56, 05 Jun 2025Updated 06:37, 05 Jun

2025Didsbury' Fletcher Moss Park was drowned on New Year's Day(Image: MEN Staff) A new ‘disaster’ power to stop flooded Mancunians double-paying council tax was used for the first time on

Wednesday (June 4) — and councillors ‘hope we never have to use it again’.

Town hall chiefs approved adopting a new ‘discretionary’ power to the victims of flooding in the city who have been forced out of their homes.

Previously, people who had to temporarily move home because their original property was uninhabitable due to ‘flooding or other disasters’ had to pay council tax on their damaged dwelling

and where they’re living now.

But the new power now means they only have to pay council tax on their temporary home — and it was used straight away for eight West Didsbury households which were devastated by New Year’s

Day floods.

More than 1,000 people were affected when the River Mersey burst its banks a few hours into 2025, and hundreds were evacuated.

“I thought it was unfair for residents to pay council tax for two properties,” said Labour West Didsbury councillor Debbie Hilal at a meeting where the power was adopted.

Article continues below “I am delighted this report has come forward to recommend council tax relief scheme for eight properties from January 1, 2025 until they are reoccupied and any

payments made will be credited.”

Debbie Hilal, right, is a Labour councillor in the area(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News) Fellow West Didsbury councillor Richard Kilpatrick, Lib Dem, added: “I hope we do not

have to use this ever again, but this is for the future and for any residents affected again.

“I hope we do not have to use it but we know the impact of climate change and [flooding in Didsbury] has happened three times in four years.”

Coun Kilpatrick also said he hoped ‘by changing the approach in Manchester, I think there's a real opportunity to change things on a national level’ as there is no law which says a council

cannot double-charge those displaced by a natural disaster.

One method to avoid the practice ‘is to get an exemption and that needs to be a prohibition’ Rabnawaz Akbar, Labour’s executive councillor for finance explained, but he added ‘it's a very

long winded process’ with ‘no guarantee you will get the prohibition order at the end’.

Richard Kilpatrick (centre) hopes the UK would follow Manchester's lead(Image: Manchester Evening News) Instead, Manchester council is using a power in the 1992 Local Government Finance Act

that allow it to ‘exempt properties affected by flooding or other disasters from council tax for an appropriate period, usually from when residents have had to vacate their homes to the date

they are able to return’, a report said.

“Where a resident, who has been required to move out of their home, occupies another property where they are liable to pay council tax, they need to make the appropriate council tax payments

for that property,” the report went on.

Article continues below “The relief will only apply to the property they have had to vacate.

“Support needs to be given quickly, but only to properties assessed and determined to be affected by damage caused by flooding or other disasters will qualify for this relief.

“The scheme guidance along with details of how residents can apply for this discretionary council tax relief will be published on the council’s website.”