Moving from rented to own property COUNCIL TAX

ABradley

Hi All,

Wondering if anybody can be of help....first time posting here!

We have just purchased our first property & are moving on the 11th...woop!
Although me trying to be organised phoned the LA today to inform them of this & sort out our council tax.
Our Short hold tenancy doesnt actually finish until the 31st October, however due to vendor having to move quickly or get reposessed we have had to go ahead earlier then planned with completion.

Anyway...council informed me today that we would have to pay for both properties from the 11th (obviously only the rented until the 31st) as we are ending our tenancy early!
We are still paying rent, unless the letting agents can find a new tenant to take over the lease 2/3 weeks earlier!
I did tell the council this seemed a little unfair...as clearly the rented property will be empty! No refuse & all the other things i.e street lights that are only on for an hour anyway! :mad:
I have just gone back to full time education so we cant really afford to pay about £200 for both of the CT!

Not the biggest fan of LA, anyone know where we stand on this?

Sorry for the rambling...(tends to happen on a night shift)

Amy

CIS

Anyway...council informed me today that we would have to pay for both properties from the 11th (obviously only the rented until the 31st) as we are ending our tenancy early!

That is correct if you still hold the tenancy on the property. You will be entitled to a discount/exemption on the property you have vacated.

FOURCANDLES_2

This reminds me of the poll tax days I remember we rented a house 6 months in we gave it up and moved to another private rental and were asked to pay both poll taxes . One was with a different council area we were told to pay it and claim it back from our new council . We complained and I remember the solicitor said there was some loop hole on the poll tax law which aloud them to do it . I refused to pay as my new council said why should we pay you a refund when it is the other council I paid my new council tax which was 6 months . They chased us via a bailiff for the old poll tax however only me not the wife and I had to pay it and the same happened to 4 work associates it made the local media etc it was put down to the madness of the UK .

sooz

speak to your current council (where you are renting) carefully, & make enquiries about their policies on empty properties, before you give your address.

You may be able to claim an empty or unoccupied full discount.

However, if, like in my council, they got rid of this, you might be better off saying that only one person will be living there til your tenancy ends, thereby entitling you to a 25% single person discount.

Doozergirl

If you have vacated the premises with the agreement of your landlord, the tenancy has ceased and the liability moves to your landlord on the 11th.

However, if you are continuing to pay rent until the 31st because you are vacating earlier than your notice period, then the Council Tax is your responsibility; however, if the property is empty and unfurnished then you should get a 100% discount until the 31st when the tenancy ends. You need to call the council and ask for an exemption form.

If you move in to the new house on the 11th then you will have to pay proper money for that.

vectistim

You're in full time education now? There are exemptions for this.

So find out what their empty property discount is, and check your entitlement to an educational exemption.

mrcol1000

Is the rented property furnished? If it is then your still be liable for Council Tax. If its going to be compeletly empty with nothing in it at all then you should be exempt. You need to remember that Council Tax doesn't just pay for your rubbish to be collected. As well as a whole host of other council services it also pays towards the police and fire service. Both would still need to attend if your empty rented flat was broken in to or caught fire.