Council Tax/Empty property question
Discussion
I have been trying to sell house for over 6 months - it's empty and I'm set to lose over £250k on it. Which is nice.
The local council have just written to me saying that the full council tax is now payable on it - over a grand.
Obviously there are no services I'm using at this house - it's sitting empty - so no rubbish, no school place required or library....
Is there any way to avoid this punitive and spurious charge?!
The council website says this.....
Edit: just seen the 42 day comment
council said:
Some dwellings may be exempt from council tax, they include properties which:
* are unfurnished (exempt for up to six months)
* are owned by a charity (exempt for up to six months)
* require or are undergoing structural alteration or major repair (exempt for up to twelve months)
* are left empty by someone who has gone into prison, or who has moved to receive personal care in a hospital or a home or elsewhere
* are left empty by someone who has moved in order to provide personal care to another person
* are left empty by students
* are waiting for probate or letters of administration to be granted (and for up to six months after)
* have been repossessed
* are the responsibility of a bankrupt's trustee
* are empty because their occupation is forbidden by law
* are waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion
* are a pitch for a caravan or a mooring for a boat
* form part of a single dwelling which includes another dwelling, e.g. annexes, which are unoccupied, and may not be let separately without a breach of planning control.
I wonder if you rented it for 3 weeks and then it became empty again if that refreshes your 6 months?* are unfurnished (exempt for up to six months)
* are owned by a charity (exempt for up to six months)
* require or are undergoing structural alteration or major repair (exempt for up to twelve months)
* are left empty by someone who has gone into prison, or who has moved to receive personal care in a hospital or a home or elsewhere
* are left empty by someone who has moved in order to provide personal care to another person
* are left empty by students
* are waiting for probate or letters of administration to be granted (and for up to six months after)
* have been repossessed
* are the responsibility of a bankrupt's trustee
* are empty because their occupation is forbidden by law
* are waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion
* are a pitch for a caravan or a mooring for a boat
* form part of a single dwelling which includes another dwelling, e.g. annexes, which are unoccupied, and may not be let separately without a breach of planning control.
Edit: just seen the 42 day comment
Edited by NDA on Saturday 10th January 12:01
lost in espace said:
Just do as a reply here stated and pay the single rate for 42 days then claim the exemption again, better than nothing.
I wonder if you do this 'openly' i.e. telling them you'll pay the single rate for 42 days and then go to an exemption, if they'll allow you to do it?
NDA said:
lost in espace said:
Just do as a reply here stated and pay the single rate for 42 days then claim the exemption again, better than nothing.
I wonder if you do this 'openly' i.e. telling them you'll pay the single rate for 42 days and then go to an exemption, if they'll allow you to do it?trooperiziz said:
If it is unoccupied but furnished, you can get a 50% discount, if in unoccupied and unfurnished you can get a 100% discount. Just all up the number on your bill and explain, they may want to inspect the property to confirm.
I had to prove there was no toilet in my place while I was refurbing it (not living in it)... and even then they only gave me 50% discount 
skwdenyer said:
NDA said:
lost in espace said:
Just do as a reply here stated and pay the single rate for 42 days then claim the exemption again, better than nothing.
I wonder if you do this 'openly' i.e. telling them you'll pay the single rate for 42 days and then go to an exemption, if they'll allow you to do it?NDA said:
The council website says this.....
Rob a bank.council said:
Some dwellings may be exempt from council tax, they include properties which:
* are left empty by someone who has gone into prison, or who has moved to receive personal care in a hospital or a home or elsewhere
* are left empty by someone who has gone into prison, or who has moved to receive personal care in a hospital or a home or elsewhere
Stash the dough.
Get caught.
Go to jail.
No more council tax (till you get out).
HTH
Edited by AstonZagato on Saturday 10th January 17:59
smac said:
skwdenyer said:
NDA said:
lost in espace said:
Just do as a reply here stated and pay the single rate for 42 days then claim the exemption again, better than nothing.
I wonder if you do this 'openly' i.e. telling them you'll pay the single rate for 42 days and then go to an exemption, if they'll allow you to do it?Our previous house took us over a year to sell after we had already moved.
I imagined at the time we wouldn't have to pay council tax for the first 6 months( Unoccupied and unfurnished.)and would have hopefully sold it in that time, but no, they apply the 50% discount on a monthly basis.
I imagined at the time we wouldn't have to pay council tax for the first 6 months( Unoccupied and unfurnished.)and would have hopefully sold it in that time, but no, they apply the 50% discount on a monthly basis.
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