FLOOD-HIT residents will not have to pay two sets of council tax after water bosses pledged to foot extra costs.

Thames Water has agreed to meet the bill for residents in Normandy Crescent, Cowley, which flooded after a pipe burst.

It comes after one resident said she faced having to pay two council tax bills, one for her Normandy Crescent home and another for her temporary home.

Mandy Blessing, 46, said last week that Oxford City Council had said Thames Water would pay her back, but only when she eventually returned to the property.

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Now the council and Thames Water have said none of the 18 households who moved out on September 23 will be out of pocket.

Costs will be covered to January 1 when a review will take place “and further payments will be made, if required” the council said.

And Thames Water will pay the difference on council tax bills at temporary housing that are more costly than their Normandy Crescent home.

Spokesman Stuart White said: “There is no way customers should be paying their council tax bill twice in these circumstances, so having worked closely with the council we are pleased to have now covered off this significant expense until they are each able to move back home.

“If any customer faces an increased council tax liability in their alternative accommodation, we will make up the difference so they are paying what they are used to.”

Council leader Bob Price said: “The past couple of weeks will have been a traumatic experience for everyone affected by flooding.

“We welcome the confirmation by Thames Water through their insurer that they will settle council tax liability for the period of non-occupation of the Normandy Crescent dwellings.”

The authority said council tax accounts of affected residents will be put on hold “to avoid any recovery action during the period that they are displaced”.

Mum-of-two Mrs Blessing said she wanted written confirmation but said: “I am very pleased.

“I wouldn’t say I’m happy, it is the way it should be. Thames Water is very slow on actioning anything.”

The NHS administrator faced £149-a-month council tax on her Normandy Crescent home for up to four months before she moves back.

That would be on top of the £198-a-month for her temporary Headington home.

And after moving to Farmoor, resident Gary Noall, 46, last week said: “We are out of pocket by £2,500. We have maxed out our credit cards.”

Some residents moved into hotels and Thames Water said it expects the first to return to Normandy Crescent in the next month.

The council is repairing its 11 properties and insurers are paying for the seven in private ownership. All will be reimbursed by Thames Water.

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