Council tax being demanded despite property being vacant

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ArthurBabbage
ArthurBabbage Posts: 5 Forumite
in Cutting tax
My mother and stepfather live abroad but still own a vacant, furnished property in Dorset. The district council is demanding council tax in full. Am I right to think they are entitled to at least some kind of discount - if not a full exemption? They are not using any council services, obviously, but remain on the electoral roll.

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  • TheCyclingProgrammer
    TheCyclingProgrammer Posts: 3,702 Forumite
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    I think it varies from LA to LA but they can and do charge council tax on unoccupied properties.

    https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/council-tax/empty-properties
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 46,089 Forumite
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    I thought in some cases they charge double for properties vacant for longer than a certain period!

    OP, what's the plan?
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 12,921 Forumite
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    edited 18 January 2017 at 2:54AM
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    ArthurBabbage wrote: »
    They are not using any council services, obviously

    So if the house was burning down they wouldn't expect the fire brigade to turn up ?

    Or if it was burgled, they wouldn't want the police to investigate ?

    It varies from council to council but any discounts are usually for a limited period and/or require the property to be unfurnished. As Savvy_Sue says, many councils in areas experiencing housing shortages will now charge extra for properties left vacant to discourage people from doing so.
  • booksurr
    booksurr Posts: 3,700 Forumite
    edited 18 January 2017 at 6:51AM
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    the govt changed the rules in 2013 so that every council can now decide its own level of discount subject only to the maximums set out in legislation. Given the current state of council funding I would imagine there is not a single council left who gives total exemption on an unoccupied but furnished property (aka second home) since that implies its owner is rich enough to reside elsewhere and not need to sell up, so is undeserving of tax free status

    read your council website, their discount policy will be clearly explained on it.

    be careful about the use of terminology - the EMPTY property premium referred to by posters above is not the same as having an unoccupied "second home"...

    for the empty property premium (of up to 150% of the normal council tax rate) to be charged the property must have been substantially unfurnished (and by clear implication unoccupied) for at least 2 years before that rate can be applied

    a FURNISHED but unoccupied property is not the same thing and will not incur the empty property premium since it is capable of being occupied and so is still "in use". The empty property premium is an attempt for force owners to bring property back into use.

    here is the guidance:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/council-tax-information-letter-definitions-of-empty-homes-and-second-homes
  • Apodemus
    Apodemus Posts: 3,384 Forumite
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    p00hsticks wrote: »
    So if the house was burning down they wouldn't expect the fire brigade to turn up ?

    Or if it was burgled, they wouldn't want the police to investigate ?

    ...and they are still on the voters roll, so clearly still, in part, declaring this property as their primary UK residence.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
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    I was just going to point out as above regarding the distinction between furnished & unfurnished - these days it can be a big difference financially once the threshold for the 50% premium is hit so keeping it furnished is a major cost saving in the long run.

    Craig
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • Mr.Generous
    Mr.Generous Posts: 3,416 Forumite
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    They charge +50% after 6 months now in a lot of areas, remember the government stuff is guidelines.

    If 1 person lives there you get single occupancy discount typically 25% so allowing someone to live there purely covering costs will save you half of an inflated council tax bill (ie 75% rather than 150%) as well as providing security.

    If they HAVE to live there as part of their employment contract - say to provide housekeeping and security services they don't have to pay anything, although the property owner will usually get charged the single occupant rate.

    It does vary from authority to authority, but once a council finds a way of getting more money out of people others quickly follow.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
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    A 50% empty property premium can only apply in England where a property has been unoccupied & unfurnished for 2 years or more. The 50% is the maximum they can apply but I'm not aware of any who apply less than the maximum.

    Scotland and Wales have different versions of the empty property rules.

    Craig
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
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