Surrey flood victims' council tax waived

Surrey County Council said about 2,000 homes affected by internal flooding would be covered

Thousands of people whose homes were flooded in Surrey will not have to pay council tax for three months, councils and police have agreed.

Surrey County Council (SCC) said about 2,000 homes that had been affected by internal flooding would be covered by the scheme.

Council leader David Hodge said the move would cost SCC about £750,000.

He said it was hoped much of it would be recouped from a government fund to help flooded families.

About a thousand homes were flooded in Surrey after the River Thames last month reached its highest level in 60 years.

And Surrey was also hit by floods along the Rivers Mole and Wey over Christmas.

'Turned upside down'

Homes in Chertsey, Guildford, Horley, East and West Molesey, Staines, Sunbury, Thames Ditton and Weybridge were flooded in the new year.

Mr Hodge said the move would cut the average annual council tax bill by about £500.

"We want to do all we can to help those residents who have seen their home flooded in the last few months," he said.

"The flooding has turned the lives of many people upside down and we hope three months without having to pay council tax will go some way to helping them get back on their feet."

SCC, the local councils and the county's police and crime commissioner had drawn up the plan, he said.

The borough and district councils would identify which households were eligible, he added.