Zack Polanski Admits Possible Houseboat Council Tax Failure

Zack Polanski has admitted that he may have failed to pay the correct council tax while living on a houseboat in London.

The Green Party leader has apologised and “immediately taken steps to pay any council tax he may be found to owe”.

A spokesman for the party had previously claimed that Polanski rented a room at another address where council tax was included in the rent and only stayed on the boat “occasionally”.

Government guidance states that a person may be liable for council tax on a boat if it is their “sole or main” residence.

On Monday night, a Green Party spokesperson said: “Until relatively recently, Zack was living on a houseboat, which came with its own unique practical circumstances and considerations.

“He has immediately taken steps to pay any council tax he may be found to owe. Zack apologises sincerely for the unintentional mistake.”

The spokesperson added: “For security reasons, we do not comment publicly on Zack’s address.

“There have recently been two serious incidents which have been reported to the police and are under investigation.”

The Times last week reported seeing an advertisement for the sale of the boat in which Polanski’s partner wrote: “We are moving to a house and so will sadly be leaving the gorgeous community behind.”

The Daily Mail separately reported that Polanski was registered to vote at a building near the marina where the boat was docked, which he is also said to have used as a mailing address.

Tax lawyer Dan Neidle, founder of Tax Policy Associates, analysed Polanski’s situation this week.

He wrote: “If the boat was in fact Mr Polanski’s ‘sole or main residence’ then he and/or his partner should have registered for, and paid, council tax for those three years.”

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