Help pls - council tax exemption?

Hopejack

Just bought a new (old) house. It needs modernisation, mostly cosmetic, and we'd like to get the kitchen and utility/garage knocked through before we move in. We have a young family and as the house was previously owned by an old couple, it isn't really set up for us. We are living with my parents until the work is done which could take up to 4 months. Most of our furniture is in storage, apart from the bits we have at my Mum's house.

Rang the Council to inform them of buying the place and that it is empty and they contacted me today to tell me that they want to come and inspect the property on Monday.

I'm happy for them to do this as we are genuinely not living there but I'm concerned as there is some furniture there - white goods mainly, that the previous owners left. An old freezer, fridge, their old stand alone cooker, wardrobes (fitted) and a chest of drawers in one of the bedrooms. Will this matter? We are planning of disposing of them but thought we'd do it when the builders are in and have the skip outside or better still give them to a needy charity. We only got the keys last Friday so have only owned the place a week and so really haven't had much time to do anything yet!

The chap I spoke to at the Council when I telephoned to inform them of our ownership was very rude and I think he immediately passed the matter on to the inspection team. I've never heard of anyone I know being inspected before!

Any advice please? Knowing our Council, I wouldn't be surprised if they say as there are some furnishings that we have to pay!

McKneff

~Whatever youre throwing away, just pile it in the garden, near to where the skip will be. If necessary take the door off the fridge (actually i dont think you can dispose of fridges like that nowadays, not sure though) so i would ring the council and check about the fridge and the freezer. Take the door off the cooker for safety reasons, just make sure the house is empty. Forget the wardrobes if they are fitted.

jezzebell

Hi i work for a Council and they will be coming to check for 2 things..a Class A exemption can be awarded for up to 12 months if there are major repairs being undertaken but from what you have written it doesn't sound like you will qualify for this.

A Class C exemption is for maximum 6 months and is for empty and unfurnished properties. The property doesn't have to be completly empty though. At my council we work on the fact that if there are 8 rooms total and less than half have some furniture in then the property is classed as predominantly empty. This doesnt mean that you can fully equipe the kitchen front room and 1 bedroom though!!

It sounds to me that you would qualify for Class C (as long as the previous owners didnt have it at any time) and an inspection is not unusual for them to do,dont worry!

Fire_Fox

Maybe break up any furniture you are planning to skip, even if you then leave the bits in situ?