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Council Tax: Is my property "unoccupied"?
Crashtogether
Posts: 102 Forumite
in Cutting tax
I currently live in Manchester and rent a flat there. Because of work I am moving to work in a different part of the UK for 5 months and won't be living in manchester anymore but will be renting another flat.
I want to continue renting my manchester flat (as I will be returning there after 5 months) but does anybody know whether I can claim any reduction on my council tax as I won't be living there on a permanent basis? and if so whether there are conditions (as in does it need to be unfurnished, can't sleep there at all).
I want to continue renting my manchester flat (as I will be returning there after 5 months) but does anybody know whether I can claim any reduction on my council tax as I won't be living there on a permanent basis? and if so whether there are conditions (as in does it need to be unfurnished, can't sleep there at all).
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Comments
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You have the intention to return and the absence is only temporary so your home in Manchester would be your main residence and the property elsewhere would be your second home with the appropriate discount. You can't claim any discount on your Manchester property for being unoccupied/unfurnished.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.0
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I live in Dorset, but rent out my house near Glasgow. When the Glasgow house is between tenants, I am entitled to up to 6 out of 12 months council tax free so long as the council come round and do an inspection to ensure the house is empty. And I mean EMPTY. Not even a single chair.
I would imagine your situation would be pretty similar.0 -
I live in Dorset, but rent out my house near Glasgow. When the Glasgow house is between tenants, I am entitled to up to 6 out of 12 months council tax free so long as the council come round and do an inspection to ensure the house is empty. And I mean EMPTY. Not even a single chair.
I would imagine your situation would be pretty similar.
Its a different situation.
You dont occupy the property in Glasgow so its entitled to a 6 month exemption (class c) when empty and unoccupied as no one has the property as their 'sole or main residence'.
The OP would still be occupying the property in Manchester as their 'sole or main residence' and thus a Class C could not be applied.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.0 -
thanks for the advice I wasn't aware of the second home discount.
I rang my council today to enquire. they said that my manchester property would be my second home (so qualify for a 50% reduction) as I would be spending most of my time at the other property and all my personal items would be there.0 -
There is some scope in the legislation for swapping the 2nd home between the two properties but its reliant on the council's playing ball.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.0
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