Polanski apologises over houseboat council tax

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has apologized after it emerged that he may have failed to pay council tax on a houseboat he lived on in London. The boat, moored at a marina in Hackney, was reportedly Polanski’s primary residence for some time, which would make it liable for council tax. A party spokesperson confirmed Polanski has taken steps to settle any outstanding payments and described the oversight as an unintentional mistake. The issue came to light following investigations by tax lawyer Dan Neidle and media reports questioning Polanski’s council tax payments over the past three years. Neidle noted that if the houseboat was indeed Polanski’s main residence, council tax should have been paid. The Times reported that Polanski and his partner appeared to have lived on the narrowboat regularly, citing local sources such as a laundrette that serviced them from 2023 to 2025. Despite this, the Green Party previously stated Polanski rented a room elsewhere in London where council tax was included, and that he only stayed on the boat occasionally. Further scrutiny revealed Polanski used a nearby building as a postal address and was registered to vote there, adding complexity to the question of his official residence. The Green Party declined to publicly disclose Polanski’s exact address for security reasons but acknowledged the unique circumstances of living on a houseboat. The situation has raised questions about compliance with council tax regulations for non-traditional residences and highlights the challenges politicians face in managing personal affairs transparently. This development comes amid broader public interest in the tax affairs of public figures and the responsibilities of elected officials to adhere to tax laws. Polanski’s prompt acknowledgment and commitment to resolving the issue may mitigate political fallout, but the episode underscores the importance of clarity and accountability regarding residency and tax obligations.