Council Tax bills have been cut for over 2,400 homes across the UK since a reduction in charges came into effect last year, the government has announced.

Over £1.3m has now been knocked off bills nationwide since the government opted to scrap surcharges on family annexes where two Council Tax bills were being levied on the same home if it had an extension.

Discounts of 50% were authorised for properties where families were housing non-dependent relatives.

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Local Government Minister Kris Hopkins said: "It is only right we help hard-working families by giving people the choice to live with extended family without having to pay the price twice through double taxation in their Council Tax bills.

"Councils must pass this discount on to those who are rightly entitled to it. By cutting these taxes on family annexes we are sending a strong message that we want to help extended families stay together.

"We have been working to give people greater financial security by keeping household costs down through our 5-year Council Tax freeze which has saved the average band D household £1,075 since 2010, compared to a period between 1997 and 2010 when bills doubled."

(IT)