Council Tax Exemption

likklegem

Hi all,

Hoping someone could help me?

My partner and I bought our first home last month, everything completed fine so was very pleased. The day the completion happened, I phoned the local council and explained that we were now the legal owners of the property, but we were not going to move in to the property for 6 months as there is quite a bit of work that needs to be carried out.

There is two major structual issues that need addressing
1. The garage is structually unsound and needs to be removed
2. The purlin in the roof needs to be replaced due to longitudal splits

The rest of the issues that need doing is then fairly minor (in the council eyes at least - mine not so much!)

1. Shared drain (under the garage is believed to be seeing which resulted in issues above with garage
2. Full electrical re-wire
3. Gas central heating and plumbing
4. Complete replaster
5. Decorat, bathroom kitchen etc.

On the day I phoned I asked if at possible to be exempt from council tax. Their website clearly states that:

"There are certain circumstances in which some properties may be exempt from council tax. These include:
Property that is undergoing major repair work.

They asked if I could send a copy of the survey which I said wouldnt be a problem.

Two days later (after we just started gutting the house) I sent via email (which I got a email recieved notification) of the survey, structual engineer report, HIP and a bunch of photographs clearly showing the place cannot be lived in.

I got a phone call today from the little gits, and they said that I didn't qualify (despite sending the above and explaining that there is no gas or water to the property!) as it was personal choice not to live in the property whilst the work is being carried out!!!:mad:

I kindly explained that the house is unlivable. There is no washing facilities, cooking facilities etc, and the lady said well on one of the photographs their was carpet and wardrobes in. Kindly explained to her I wanted to give the council enough information, the carpet has been removed throughout and the wardrobes where built in (which was explained in the email) and that they are no longer there. Said she would email, come home after work and there is nothing.

Advice would be great on what to do? Are they trying it on or is there any way I can get them to over turn this? Sorry if this is in the wrong thread but I've searched everywhere and can't see anything similar. All they're offering me is 50% zero occupancy discount which seems unfair - I'd like to see them live in it. I've given them the address where I'm living currently and where I'm paying out Council Tax already (and I'm not rich by any stretch of the imagination!) but dont know what to do or who I can go to on this!

lincroft1710

The fact that the garage is structurally unsound won't make the house uninhabitable. You also say there is no water or gas, do you mean there is no mains water supply on to the property or that it has been turned off at stopcock. Many houses don't have gas.

You may be able to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal against the council's decision. Check your council's website or speak to them. Even if you make an appeal you will still have to pay CT while waiting for the case to be heard.

likklegem

Thanks for the reply. The water is turned off from street level. The whole house has now been gutted - so there is no way we can live in it - I wouldn't mind but as I'm not using their services, and that they've already come out to check that I'm not living there (with the neighbours) I dont see why acording to their own rules I'm liable. I still haven't heard anything from them in writing so I'm waiting on that before I make my next move. Just seems odd and wanted to know if anyone has had similar experiences.

The garage is not the only structual issue thou - so is the roof, the purlin needs replacing on both sides so we have to remove a good chunk of the roof to get to them. Sorry I forgot to mntion this in the above post!

snugglepet20

The rules for my council state that if a house is unoccupied and unfurnished (regardless of livability) you can have 6 months exemption followed by 6 months half-price, it is written on the back of the annual statement they send. I don't know if this is just a local rule though but worth checking out.

lincroft1710

you can have 6 months exemption

This may have been "used up" by previous owner. The 6 month unocc and unfurn rule is CT law so all councils in Eng and Wales (not sure about Scot, law is different there).