Council Tax for Empty House - HELP!

rachelandgromit

Hi

I rung up my Council today to let them know I was the new owner of the house and to sort out the necessary things. After reading on their website, I knew if the property was empty I would get 6 months free then a 50% reduction for 6 months if it was still empty.

I knew that I need a new kitchen, bathroom and to decorate so am planning to stay at my parents (rent free!) for at least 6-8 months whilst I am doing this.

I was told that as the property had already been empty for about 9-10 months, I could not claim the 6 months free as they had already done that, and may be able to get the remaining 2-3 months at the 50% off but then will be paying normal council tax (minus 25% for being on my own). Ironically if someone lives in the property for 6 weeks, then moves out, I can get the 6 months free again!

So even as a new owner, I can't get 6 months free despite the property being empty. Its not my fault that it had been on the market for a while! Does this make sense??

As a FTB I'm already skint, without paying for something I'm not living in - AND it's in Band C which is the best part of £1300!!!

:mad:

billywhizz

Ummm, this is only a thought, but as you have bought the house and the bills will be in your name etc what is to stop you "moving in" for 6 weeks and then moving back out because you didn't like sleeping on a mattress on the floor while you were doing the house up.

Good luck with the new house BTW, I bet you £5 you move in way before it's all done up because you're itching to move in!

rachelandgromit

billywhizz wrote:

Good luck with the new house BTW, I bet you £5 you move in way before it's all done up because you're itching to move in!

I am itching to get in already but as well as staying at my parents, I can pay off any debt too so I'm stuck here until at least April/May next year or when I'm debt free!!

By time I move in I will have enough freebies to keep me going for a while - now sending them off to my new address and my parents for twice the freebies!!!! :beer:

nshackle

I have been in a similar situation this year when I bought my house. The house is a 1960's semi and has needed a large amount of work to bring into habitable condition.

The previous owner had died in January of this year. Her son inherited the house and once probate was granted, he put it on the market. At this point a class C exemption was granted whilst he put it up for sale.

By the time the legalities had been completed I was only entitled to to 1 months exemption.

However my LA (Kirklees) have an even stricter ruling that once the 6 months is up, you are then hit with having to make the full Council Tax full payments (there is no 50% discount), nor a single persons discount if you do not live in the property.

I paid two months full Council Tax which really stung, at a time when I am renovating the house. However, looking into this further I decided to apply for a Class A exemption (Major Repairs/Structural repairs) as the property required a full rewire, installation of Central Heating, replacement staircase (open tread, no handrail), new kitchen & bathroom and virtually replastering throughout.

I sent in photocopies of invoices/quotes for this work, and some photographs of the rooms where work was required.

The council granted me the Class A exemption last week to run until June 2007, and refunded me the payments I had made. They didn't even send an inspector round, so the evidence must have been sufficient.

It might be worth looking into obtaining a Class A if you have significant work to undertake, and the property is uninhabitable in the meantime.

rachelandgromit

Although it needs a new kitchen and bathroom and numerous amounts of woodchip wallpaper stripping, I think it's probably classed as habitable! The only niggly thing is that there has been water damage in the property so as a result the kitchen is rotton, the walls have suffered with damp (so much so the tiles are falling off) and there has never been a fire fitted in the house! As I'm ripping the old boiler off and the water tank for a new combi and get rid of the airing cupboard the house will have no heating for a period of time too. I did explain this to the LA and they are sending an inspector round but I'm not holding my breath!

Lions21

If you intend replacing any carpets rip them out before he comes, I know someone who worked for the Council and they said doing this really helps.

The Woman who came to see my flat was really helpful and was more than happy to give me 12 months off Council Tax to do up my flat! (I think the Council outsourced the inspection work).

Good luck - If it's not liveable then you should get 6 months. Just make it look a mess!

If it needs serious works then it's 12 months exemption with a visit beforehand. I hardly needed serious works, just laid it on thick about the electrics and cost of things, bathroom, kitchen etc.