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Do i Pay Council Tax on unsold House

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Comments

  • Fire_Fox
    Fire_Fox Posts: 26,026 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    dodgy wrote: »
    I suspect not, but it seems insane that I pay more council tax having no people living there than having one person there. I don't' even live in the same county ..

    Technically you don't pay more council tax - you pay 50% for an empty property and I am charged 75% for living here alone. You are lucky that your 50% discount is allowed up front, the single person is pro rata. I assume the logic is that if the house is empty for more than six months it is superfluous to requirements - the six months gives you ample time to let or sell.
    Declutterbug-in-progress.⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
  • rcgood
    rcgood Posts: 31 Forumite
    The 6 month grace would have been ok, prior to the economic crash. Now selling a house in 6 months is unlikely. So unless there is some way of moving back in and then claiming another 6 months.
  • dodgy
    dodgy Posts: 164 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Fire_Fox wrote: »
    Technically you don't pay more council tax - you pay 50% for an empty property and I am charged 75% for living here alone.
    Over the course of a year, you're right, however six months turned out to be not long enough to sell my property, and next year I pay 25% more than you.

    I suspect you use considerably more local resources than I do, given I don't live there.

    But it's all besides the point. The government gives the council the option of charging between 50-100% for an empty property once the six month exemption was up, my council decided 100% was the right figure. Thanks council.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The principal behind it is to get unoccupied houses occupied by giving a bit incentive to the owners..
    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.
  • rcgood
    rcgood Posts: 31 Forumite
    i am no longer live in the same county as my empty house, And i want to sell the house not keep it, But it is making me think about taking the plunge into letting, and at least then i get some return on the council tax.
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