granny annexe troubles

aloiseb

If an electric socket makes a kitchen, I now have a kitchen full of bicycles in my back garden, and another full of cacti.

Lakey

Surely a kitchen should have a sink?
The bathroom has a sink and a toilet and bath and then that's it!!
The trouble is that I cannot find a website that can explain the criteria for CT exactly, so I could say yes I've got that, but I aint got that. Its all too vague for me to get my teeth into.

lincroft1710

Lakey - the question to ask yourself is "Has my annex an area for food preparation, i.e. supply of cold water directly off rising main to sink (well, possibly but not ideal as it is close to a WC), facilities for heating food (er, there is no cooker/hotplate powered either by gas, electric or even solid fuel, and no plug in microwave)". So the answer IMHO is no, you do NOT have an area for food preparation.

I agree wholeheartedly that official VOA websites are not always user friendly for the layman.

A_Nice_Englishman

Why not alter the layout of the barn to remove the 'space with a plug that could be classed as a kitchen'?

Lakey

Well I could just take all the plugs out of the walls and trash the place. If I removed the plugs from the space the council tax man, who incidentaly reported me to the VOA, then I would still have another space with a plug!!
The VOA haven't even been inside the building, they called when noone was in. Then still went ahead with the tax.
Its a bit like the olden days when people got rid of their windows because of tax.
When I rang the council tax officer, a lady implied very strongly that I should be grateful that they won't back date any liability suggesting to me I should just pay it and shut up!
I want to sell up and ship out so I'm not sure if having two properties as it were, instead of a whole one is actually a plus point to sell!

Debt_Free_Chick

Two properties will be advantage for someone who genuinely wants a granny annexe, especially if they will qualify for the exemption.

lincroft1710

Lakey - you should appeal, I don't believe The Barn meets criteria for a separate dwelling, VOA will have to come out and inspect. BTW when he was(is?) living in annex, where does your son eat?

Lakey

Son has never lived in it as he isn't 18 yet, but used the space to shout/talk to himself/excercises etc. Had very few things in there, but plenty of space where he could be himself and trampete to excercise when it was raining and couldn't use large one outside.
Never put kitchen in cos was waiting until he was ready to move in and plus didnt have the cash or the need as he eat/slept in main house.

lincroft1710

The joke is, as your son seems to be main user of barn, therefore "occupier", he would be exempt from paying CT as he is under 18. He may well double qualify if his disability is sufficient that he would need "care" as would be provided by yourself. So when you get bill, inform council he is occupier.

As you intend selling, property with 2 CT bands will put people off, so even this is one of few categories of appeal where there is no time limit, you should appeal asap.