The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislative basis for the Household Charge. Under the legislation, an owner of a residential property on the liability date is liable to pay the household charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver.
Section 3(4) of the Act provides that where a residential property is owned by two or more persons, those persons shall be jointly and severally liable to pay the Household Charge in respect of that property. Payment of the Household Charge by one co-owner will discharge the liability of each co-owner to pay the Household Charge. Interpretation of legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and ultimately a matter for the Courts.