Council Tax - Being billed for 2 Homes

daniel_essex

Hello Guys

I wonder if anyone has the same problem as me, or could offer some advice against a problem with council tax. In 2002, we bought 2 properties, 19 and 19a. They are 2 houses, side by side, and we knocked them into 1 property and for 6 years have lived happily in them as 1 home. However, we have to pay 2 lots of council tax every month, which is 1) costly and 2) morally wrong. We asked the council for help in 2005 and they said as there were 2 kitchens, we had to pay 2 lots of council tax. This is crippiling us financially as you can imagine. We have now removed the 2nd kitchen and turned it in a childrens play room, but the council are not playing ball. Now they say, as each side of the property has a toilet, which uses a seperate waste pipe, that's the issue. And so we go on..... Has anyone similar experiences like this, and can anyone offer advice how they got around it. Seems wrong to me and I would appreciate your assistance, the council by the way is Chelmsford Borough Council. Remember, 2 houses, used as 1, knocked into 1 home 6 years ago, 1 family, a driveway, 3 kids, 1 dog, 2 lots of council tax!!!

markyb33

Its not simple, but I would read more and telephone the valuation Office agency for help.

http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/public_fact_sheets/self-contained-units-factsheet.pdf

lincroft1710

You should contact Valuation Office Agency. It used be that if, in former 2nd kit, any cooker point has been blanked off and water supply capped, the 2 houses can be assessed as one dwelling for Council Tax. Backdating could only be to date this was done and in some cases a later date.

The link supplied by markyb33 deals with a slightly different scenario where 2 dwellings are created by conversion/extension/new building rather than 2 existing dwellings which are converted to one.

It is not for any council to decide what or what does not constitute a separate dwelling, but the prerogative of the VOA.

BTW morals do not enter into it, it is what is right in CT law.

CIS

daniel_essex wrote: »

Has anyone similar experiences like this, and can anyone offer advice how they got around it. Seems wrong to me and I would appreciate your assistance, the council by the way is Chelmsford Borough Council. Remember, 2 houses, used as 1, knocked into 1 home 6 years ago, 1 family, a driveway, 3 kids, 1 dog, 2 lots of council tax!!!

As long as the properties have separate bandings then the council are obliged to bill each property separately as they each have an entry in the relevant valuation list. Only if the properties are re-banded as one property can the council change the bill.

You need to do what Lincroft1710 suggests and contact the V.O.