Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party, has apologised after admitting he may have failed to pay the correct council tax while living on a houseboat in Hackney, London. The party described the situation as an “unintentional mistake” and said Polanski had “immediately taken steps” to pay any tax owed.
Government guidance states that a person may be liable for council tax on a boat if it is their “sole or main” residence. The Green Party refused to comment publicly on Polanski’s address for security reasons, citing two recent incidents reported to the police.
The Times reported that the boat was on sale for £100,000, with Polanski’s partner writing in an advertisement: “We are moving to a house and so will sadly be leaving the gorgeous community behind.” A local laundrette confirmed it had often done laundry for the couple from 2023 to 2025.
Tax lawyer Dan Neidle analysed the situation and said: “If the boat was in fact Mr Polanski’s ‘sole or main residence’ then he and/or his partner should have registered for, and paid, council tax for those three years.” Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake called for “serious questions” to be answered, urging Polanski to “come clean” about his living arrangements.
