Council Tax 21 March 2009 at 7:49PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Consumer Rights 5 replies 674 views

Charlie74

Hi... I live in Barrow-in-Furness and pay council tax for my property which I occupy as a single occupant on a full time basis. I also own a wooden cabin at the beach in Barow for which I am having to pay additional council tax at Band A with a 50% reduction for vacant property. Because of the remote location of the cabin, there are no public services within 2 miles. There are no roads, no lighting, no refuse collection, no electricty or water supply. The cabin is a single room with a small additional cooking area (calor gas). The cabin if for occasional day use only. l have friends who have 2 properties and live in one and the second is vacant. This is within another county and they have never had to pay additional council tax for the 2nd property. Please advise whether Barrow council can legally charge me for council tax for the cabin. Thank you.

Butlers1982

yes they can at a discounted rate.

Mark_Hewitt

And even that is changing recently. Councils can now charge up to (I think) 90% of the council tax even if the property is empty.

Personally I think they should be allowed to charge 100%, if you can afford a second home and all that.

But I know for the OP a beach hut is hardly a second home and I think the council have a cheek charging any council tax on it at all!

pinkshoes

Very cheeky charging CT even though you don't get many services.

I would write to them stating that if you are expected to pay 50% of the Council Tax, then you will be expecting services in return; a weekly bin collection and recycling at least.

CT also pays for Police, Fire etc... so you would still be receiving these services.

Mark_Hewitt

I wonder just what services exactly the OP is receiving at their property?

Fire and police spring to mind. But anything else?

Charlie74

Thanks for all your replies... No services at all at the beach.