Council tax exemptions - "but them's the rules Sir".
Discussion
So long story short:
We start building work on our current home (drive/garage). Then a property comes up for sale that we tried to buy ('final sealed bids') last summer. So we go for it and buy this other property (completed 18th march).
We're waiting to finish the (garage/drive) work on our current home before we market it, to try and sell it. And will live in it until it's sold. I.e. don't want to try and sell it empty. Then move into the new place.
I call the council who issue council tax bills for the new place and ask for some exemption as the property will be vacant until we have sold current home.
She said that 6months exemption can be given, but as the property was empty for 6>months prior to us buying it - the previous owner has already had the 6months exemption allowed on it. So we have to pay full council tax on this place - eventhough we're not living there and hence not a burden on council services. I.e. she explained council tax was on a property and not a person.
She did wibble something about if the property was lived in for 6+ weeks,and then became vacant one might be able to apply for another 6 month exemption period again...
Having read the council's website, I think it'd also be possible to claim 25% discount for single occupancy OR 10% if it were classed as a 2nd home for a while (i.e. until we sell and move out of current place).
Them's the rules and it surprised me.
Anyone else come up against this or know anything about Council Tax and can suggest ways around it? I mean I except that they're the rules - but it seems a tad unfair that one has to potentially pay full council tax on a place that is not lived in - because (I'll repeat again) whilst we're NOT living there, we'll not be a drain on any council resources - so why should we pay towards them?
We start building work on our current home (drive/garage). Then a property comes up for sale that we tried to buy ('final sealed bids') last summer. So we go for it and buy this other property (completed 18th march).
We're waiting to finish the (garage/drive) work on our current home before we market it, to try and sell it. And will live in it until it's sold. I.e. don't want to try and sell it empty. Then move into the new place.
I call the council who issue council tax bills for the new place and ask for some exemption as the property will be vacant until we have sold current home.
She said that 6months exemption can be given, but as the property was empty for 6>months prior to us buying it - the previous owner has already had the 6months exemption allowed on it. So we have to pay full council tax on this place - eventhough we're not living there and hence not a burden on council services. I.e. she explained council tax was on a property and not a person.
She did wibble something about if the property was lived in for 6+ weeks,and then became vacant one might be able to apply for another 6 month exemption period again...
Having read the council's website, I think it'd also be possible to claim 25% discount for single occupancy OR 10% if it were classed as a 2nd home for a while (i.e. until we sell and move out of current place).
Them's the rules and it surprised me.
Anyone else come up against this or know anything about Council Tax and can suggest ways around it? I mean I except that they're the rules - but it seems a tad unfair that one has to potentially pay full council tax on a place that is not lived in - because (I'll repeat again) whilst we're NOT living there, we'll not be a drain on any council resources - so why should we pay towards them?
At the very least, have one person living in the new place so you can get the 25% discount, which isn't time limited. But it sounds as if doing that for 6 weeks will entitle you to 6 months' exemption so try that.
FWIW, I owned a place which was empty and the local authority only gave a 50% discount on the full council tax, no 100% relief for any period.
FWIW, I owned a place which was empty and the local authority only gave a 50% discount on the full council tax, no 100% relief for any period.
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