Disabled veteran pays extra fee for unlivable home

Cpl James Lloyd and his partner pay almost £400 per month in council tax, despite not living in their bungalow

A Bridgnorth veteran is paying extra council tax for a home he cannot live in, due to it not yet being adapted for his needs.

Cpl James Lloyd was medically discharged from the Royal Military Police in 2023, after previously suffering an aortic dissection and two strokes.

The 30-year-old and his partner pay extra council tax because they do not live in the house, their request for a discount due to Cpl Lloyd's disabilities was denied by Shropshire Council.

The authority said each request for a discount was assessed on its own merits, and added that Cpl Lloyd could appeal.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it took its commitment to providing accommodation to service personnel and their families extremely seriously.

The MoD added that it was in the process of arranging adaptations suitable for Cpl Lloyd.

"I would've gone out of my way to do things in the army, the government won't go out of their way to do things for me," said Cpl Lloyd.

"We don’t feel entitled that we should have everything given to us. We just want to be met in the middle."

Cpl James Lloyd served in the Royal Military Police, before being medically discharged in 2020

After rehabilitation following his discharge, Cpl Lloyd and his partner Charlotte Ball were told they could not live in a housing association bungalow, because those available in Bridgnorth were for people aged 55 and over.

Using their life savings, they bought a bungalow of their own in the town in July 2023.

The adaptations, needed due to Cpl Lloyd's eyesight and mobility, would be done by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), part of the MoD.

The couple sent an application to the DIO in July 2023, which was not accepted until September 2023.

Whilst waiting for the adaptations, Cpl Lloyd and Ms Ball moved in to their respective families' homes, where they remain.

A 100% council tax premium is applied to any property that has been unoccupied and unfurnished for more than one year.

This means the couple have to pay almost £400 per month in council tax.

Cpl Lloyd and his partner, Charlotte, said they just wanted to move on with their lives

"We've only just gotten to the part where they're doing surveys on the house. We haven't even had initial proper plans or dates, to say when the adaptations are starting," said Ms Ball.

"From an army perspective, you [Cpl Lloyd] were willing to go out and take a bullet for your country, but when it comes to people doing things for you, you’re getting sort of penalised over it," she said.

"We'd be willing to pay the normal council tax while we're not living there, without that discount that he’s entitled to. But to have to pay the premium as well just seems like we’re getting knocked at every barrier," she added.

"We want to go and enjoy life," Cpl Lloyd told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I've been in hospital since 2020 really. It would be nice to actually do things together."

"We just want to be able to move in, get on with our lives and enjoy it while we can," said Ms Ball.