Green Party Leader Zack Polanski Admits Council Tax Lapse on London Houseboat Residence

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has admitted that he was living on a houseboat in London until recently and may have failed to pay council tax. A party spokesperson confirmed that Mr Polanski has "taken steps to pay any council tax he may be found to owe," adding, "Zack apologises sincerely for the unintentional mistake."

The controversy emerged following investigations into whether the houseboat, moored at a Hackney marina, constituted Mr Polanski's main residence. Tax lawyer Dan Neidle highlighted that a boat is liable for council tax when used as a person's "sole or main residence." Mr Neidle's analysis on his Tax Policy Associates website concluded, "If, as seems likely, that was his main residence, then Mr Polanski and his partner should have paid council tax there."

Reports indicate that questions regarding Mr Polanski's council tax payments for the boat date back three years. An advertisement for the boat's sale, reportedly seen by The Times, quoted Mr Polanski's partner stating, "We are moving house and so will sadly be leaving the gorgeous community behind." While the Green Party initially claimed Mr Polanski rented a room elsewhere and only stayed on the boat "occasionally," evidence from a local laundrette contradicted this, suggesting regular use of the boat as a residence from 2023 to 2025. Mr Polanski, like other marina residents, used a nearby building for postal correspondence and voter registration.