Council Tax

Dac

My sister and I have inherited a property. When my father lived there he got various reductions on his council tax bill i.e. single occupancy, age related. We emptied the house and were given a rebate, we have now been informed that since the house has not sold within six months we now have to pay the full amount for the period from our fathers death to the end of the year also pay back the refund they initially gave us unless we put furniture back in. As we gave all the original furniture away to charity we would now have to buy some, we are reluctant to do this. Have the council a right to impose these charges and reclaim the refund?

Chippy_Minton_2

My understanding was 6 months grace to sell the property, then they start charging at I think a reduced rate.

If you need furniture in the property, they can't really state what, so don't you need somewhere to store your patio table and chairs?

ormus

you can actually make money at this.
peeps will pay good money to store funiture etc...!

cannyshopper_2

I had this situation too.

I got the first 6 months "free", then a 50% discount as long as the property WASN'T furnished. (I suppose if there's no furniture, its not likely someone would be living in it & trying to get away with not paying the Council Tax.)

I'd double-check the rules applicable for that particular local authority, I think each LA is allowed to decide for themselves what discounts to give for unoccupied property. There should be a fairly general leaflet enclosed with the last bill, or check their website. I'd be surprised if they really did offer a discount on a furnished property & not for a completely empty one.

I'd be careful with the water bills too, if its not metered. You could find that you have to pay in full if there is any furniture in the property...

EDITED TO ADD: I did get a small rebate from them (as executor), but this was the difference between what he should have paid up to the date he died, and the amount they had actually collected in payments, as they work it out in 10 installments not by the week/month. This is completely separate from any charges/discounts applicable after the date of death. They would only be entitled to ask for this back if it had been wrongly calculated.

Tucker

I think you have been mis-informed.

It's 6 months exempt if unfurnished. Then 50% charge whilst it remains unfurnished.

roswell

Had this issue a few months ago, they let you not pay for 6 months its not 6 months FREE, they then charge you at.
A) 50% if iunfirnished from the dat of date of death or point the proprty was empty.
75 % if a single person lives thier. from date of death
C) 90% if furnished ( as a second home) from date of death.

Empty is considered if you lift the house upside down and nothing falls out its empty ... leave a chair in thier and its furnished.

macman

It depends on the LA. Some LA's have now designated unfurnished properties as full charge. There's no national standard policy.
The 6 months exemption is initially from date of death, then effectively 6 months from grant of probate. However you say you have 'inherited' the property. Do you mean it has already been transferred into the names of you and your sister? If so, CT becomes chargeable from that date, the 6m exemption no longer applies.