Challenging rates dept.

[anonymous-user]

Afternoon everyone,

I wondered if anyone had challenged the rates on an empty property for this year. Normally I would accept I have to pay on properties completed and for sale but this year we obviously had 3 months where we couldn't sell houses but have still been charged.

As a small business without premises we qualified for no support and I refused to furlough myself as I was still taking phone calls etc. So wasn't morally happy to declare myself as not working. Now recieveing rate demands that the local authority insist must be paid seems a kick in the teeth.

If anyone has challenged the lockdown period this year please let me know how you got on.

[Chrisgr31]

Is this commercial property or residential property

[anonymous-user]

It is a residential property, new build, compleledted that was for sale but then.of course the country shut so no possible way of selling or even letting for that matter.

[matjk]

I’d say you have no chance , a lot of help has been available, as you say not all of it available to everyone . But one huge benefit that house sellers got is the Stamp duty holiday that you will indirectly benefit from . House prices are rising at their fastest rate for years combined with record low interest rates and interest free government loans available to businesses.

[sospan]

Contact the council. We moved 3 years ago without selling the old house. We had a set time for reduced (50% rings a bell) rates bill due to unoccupancy, unfurnished condition. We were doing some basic pre sale tidying up and not in a hurry. We eventually sold the house within the rates relief period. This was not in a new build though so the rules may be different.

[Chrisgr31]

Allowances for vacant houses are now at the discretion of the council so the only option is to contact them. If it is a new property I believe a completion notice should have been received, but fairly sure you are out of time to appeal it.