Council Tax Cost Cutting: reduce your band and grab any discounts Discussion Area

lincroft1710

cathodetube wrote: »

I have seen annexes just be incorporated into the main house, with a correspondent increase in the amount of the main house's council tax. Does it have it's own address?

This would only happen if the annex was or became non self contained. Having the same or different address as the main house is of no consequence, I've seen many annexes just referred to as "Annex at....." when they have been separately banded.

Wywth

MSE Martin's tweet today eventually brought me to this thread:

From Apr you have a little known right to pay council tax in 12 mthly installments (not the current 10 then 2 off) http://t.co/YjYNGI55Gg

I'm not sure it is little known, as my council has already advised me of this right. They went on to say, you need to inform them if you wish to change from paying in 10 installments to paying in 12.

This brings me to a few other updates the article linked to in the OP may need revising (either because it is wrong or because the situation also changes with effect from the next council tax year)

Is your property being renovated or is it empty?
For unoccupied and unfurnished properties which need or are undergoing major repair work to make them habitable, you can claim a council tax exemption for the first 12 months, provided the previous owner didn't. For any length of time after that, you may be entitled to up to a 50% discount off the normal rate, or no discount at all, depending on which council's area you're in. This is because each council is free to decide what "long term empty" rate it wishes to charge after the exemption has ended.

If your property is unoccupied and unfurnished, but not being renovated, the council may grant an exemption for up to six months.

Be aware that under recent legislation, councils may also charge up to 50% surcharge on the council tax of a property that has been left unoccupied and unfurnished for more than 24 months. :eek:

(You'd probably be better off getting youself down to DFS if you are affected by this change )

Do you have a second home?
You're liable for the full council tax on a second home. However, you could receive a discount of between 10-50% at the discretion of the appropriate council.

My understanding is that a council must offer a discount of between 10% and 50% on a second home.

Holiday homes or second homes will be liable for council tax. However, council's must offer a second homes' discount of between 50% and 10% because no one lives there on a permanent basis. This depends on the policy of the local authority where your holiday home or second home is located.

Source: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/tax_e/tax_council_tax_ew/council_tax.htm

cathodetube

Wywth wrote: »

Watch the first story here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qzfrp
Be quick - it's only available on iPlayer for the next 5 days.

You seem to be renting one of these illegal properties, and if it was built without planning permission, a demolition order may be placed on it.

If the council have already given it a rating then I can't see how it could be illegal.

CIS

Be aware that under recent legislation, councils may also charge up to 50% surcharge on the council tax of a property that has been left unoccupied and unfurnished for more than 6 months

The surcharge comes in to effect from 1 April 2013 and only for property which have been unoccupied and unfurnished for 2 years or more.

I'm not sure it is little known, as my council has already advised me of this right. They went on to say, you need to inform them if you wish to change from paying in 10 installments to paying in 12.

I've been mentioning it on here for several months.

My understanding is that a council must offer a discount of between 10% and 50% on a second home.

Badly written but they mean the rate of discount between 10% and 50% is at the councils discretion - although this will change from 1 April 2013.

Wywth

cathodetube wrote: »

If the council have already given it a rating then I can't see how it could be illegal.

Yes you are correct. I have deleted that erroneous post.

cathodetube

CIS, by 50% percent surcharge, you mean 50% percent of whatever 100% of the amount already is? When did this go through?

Wywth

CIS wrote: »

The surcharge comes in to effect from 1 April 2013 and only for property which have been unoccupied and unfurnished for 2 years or more.

Correct, it does need to have been empty and unfurished for 2 years - I have now amended my previous post

CIS wrote: »

Badly written but they mean the rate of discount between 10% and 50% is at the councils discretion - although this will change from 1 April 2013.

Yes, I agree it is badly written, hence why I suggest it is changed.

Could you inform us how it will change with effect from 1 April 2013 please? Perhaps this could also be included in any update

cathodetube

What if it is empty but not unfurnished?

Wywth

cathodetube wrote: »

CIS, by 50% percent surcharge, you mean 50% percent of whatever 100% of the amount already is? When did this go through?

Correct.

It applies from 1 April 2013
The Local Government Finance Act 2012

I think it also means empty properties undergoing repairs may also be liable for 100% council tax too, without any initial exemption period.
http://www.coventry.gov.uk/news/article/705/new_rules_on_council_tax_and_empty_properties

Wywth

cathodetube wrote: »

What if it is empty but not unfurnished?

Then you don't get a 50% surcharge, hence why I suggest anyone affected gets themselves down to DFS
(at least you only pay once for furniture, not every year as you do with council tax.)

Other furniture stores are available.