Arabic version: زعيم حزب الخضر يعترف بتجاوز ضريبة المجلس على قارب سكني

Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party, has acknowledged that he has been living on a houseboat in London and may have failed to pay council tax. According to BBC News, a spokesperson for the party stated that Polanski has taken steps to pay any council tax he may be found to owe.

The situation came to light after inquiries regarding whether the houseboat, moored at a marina in Hackney, served as Polanski’s primary residence. Tax lawyer Dan Neidle noted that council tax applies to boats used as a person’s sole or main residence. He suggested that if the houseboat was indeed Polanski’s main residence, he and his partner should have been paying council tax there.

Reports indicate that Polanski’s council tax status had been questioned for the past three years. The Times revealed that an advertisement for selling the boat included a statement from Polanski’s partner about moving to a new home, implying they had been living on the boat continuously. The Green Party claimed that Polanski also rented a room at a different address in London, where council tax was included in his rent.

However, the Times found evidence suggesting that Polanski and his partner had frequently stayed on the narrowboat, with local businesses confirming they provided laundry services for the couple from 2023 to 2025. The Green Party clarified that Polanski’s living situation involved unique circumstances, and they opted not to disclose his specific address for security reasons.

In light of the scrutiny, Polanski has expressed his sincere apologies for the unintentional mistake regarding council tax payments and has acted to rectify the situation promptly.