Empty Property

flat_owner

Hi,

I have owned my own flat for about 10 months now but am looking to move in with my boyfriend. I dont want to rent the flat out as i would have to change my mortgage and it would cost me money and in the long term i would eventually sell my flat so me and my boyfriend could buy a house together. If i left my flat empty for 6 mths to a year would i have to pay bills like council tax, electricity, water rates, tv licence etc even though the property is empty? Part of my furniture would still be in there.

Thanks

Natty082

Can I just ask who your mortgage is with?

ginvzt

Why not just sell the flat now and put the money in the bank? With the prices falling, you might actually be able to afford something bigger in 1 year time for the same sum (but, I am not predicting what is going to happen to prices)

Also, check your insurance - they usually have a clause that property is empty for no longer than a month at a time or similar.

flat_owner

My mortgage is with halifax, fixed rate for 2 years! i don't want to sell my flat in case things dont work out with my boyfriend we have only been together 6 months so this way i'll have it to go back to incase we break up (i know you shouldnt think like that but you've got to).

darkcloudi

flat_owner wrote: »

Hi,

I have owned my own flat for about 10 months now but am looking to move in with my boyfriend. I dont want to rent the flat out as i would have to change my mortgage and it would cost me money and in the long term i would eventually sell my flat so me and my boyfriend could buy a house together. If i left my flat empty for 6 mths to a year would i have to pay bills like council tax, electricity, water rates, tv licence etc even though the property is empty? Part of my furniture would still be in there.

Thanks

As you will be leaving furniture you will still need to pay council tax. When I left my premises empty for 6 months due to having work done the council came down to check up, I never had to pay anything during that duration, after the 6 months I did have small amounts of furniture and I got a 10% discount since I was not living there - i.e. working away from home.

As for the tv license as long as your not watching tele you do not need to pay it. You will need to inform them of this every 3 months or so since they do constantly send letters.

You still have to pay water rent during the time the premises was not occupied.

In regards to Electricity and Gas as long as you aren't on one of those standing charge tariffs with your energy provider then all you would pay is for the usage. So if your not using any electric or gas then it won't cost you anything.

Natty082

flat_owner wrote: »

My mortgage is with halifax, fixed rate for 2 years! i don't want to sell my flat in case things dont work out with my boyfriend we have only been together 6 months so this way i'll have it to go back to incase we break up (i know you shouldnt think like that but you've got to).

I'm in exactly the same situation. I have a flat that has been on the market for 8 months now and no joy. The market in my area is dead. Due to my boyfriends circumstances he couldn't wait until it was sold and has bought on his own. I am moving in with him this month and renting mine out.

I am with Nationwide (fixed 2yr deal) - I phoned and explained about being on the market and now the place due to be empty - they are allowing me to rent for a fixed period of time on the same rate - Might be worth speaking to Halifax see if they can do the same as an option.

As for council tax - my local council give a discount for empty furnished properties but unfurnished is totally exempt.

I will have no TV so no need to pay for that, and as I won't be using gas and electricity until it is rented that shouldn't be much. If your not using it then you should be fine.!

Check with house insurance about leaving it empty as stated in the other post.

Its good to have a back up incase the relationship fails so maybe wait 6 months see how you get on! - Then look at renting out or selling (Risk price decrease tho!)