Council tax...

eld

Okay since most of my life has been spent living at home i've never had to pay it before.

Got a letter today saying we need to pay from april and a bill is on it's way.

We currently have a 4 people house 2 workers and 2 students, do you think we will get a discount?

sleepless_saver

No discount, sorry. If you had 3 students and 1 worker, then you would get a 25% (single person) discount. If all students, then no council tax.

riazbax

Hi I have received a council tax bill to pay half on a property which is never used. The property was on the closing order for several years or a clearance order which is used now a day. Under this exception council tax does not need to be paid. Would anyone with experience share a light why I received a bill to pay half. thanks

scottishblondie

riazbax wrote: »

Hi I have received a council tax bill to pay half on a property which is never used. The property was on the closing order for several years or a clearance order which is used now a day. Under this exception council tax does not need to be paid. Would anyone with experience share a light why I received a bill to pay half. thanks

Exemptions usually only last for 6 or 12 months AFAIK, tho I am not familiar with the term "clearance order". If you are an owner of the property then you are liable if the CT exemption is removed, which I would guess is what has happened. Best to call the council and ask, really.

00ec25

riazbax wrote: »

I received a bill to pay half. thanks

do you mean half of a full year's bill ie you have been billed in full from month 6 - you have been given a 6 month exemption which has now expired ?
or
have you been given a 50% discount on a full years bill - you have been given a discount becuase the property is empty and unfurnished ?

the bill should provide the info you need to work this out yourself - it will show either the exmeption class or define the discount given - look then up on google

CIS

Can you clarify what you mean by closing order/clearance order so I can advise you further ?

riazbax

If a closing order is issued for your home, it means that the property can no longer be used as living accommodation. The council can send you a closing order if your home is below the tolerable standard but is part of a building in which other properties are not

00ec25

so do you mean it had (has?) a Class G exemption - Premises where law prohibits occupation?


Any premises:

• Which are unoccupied and
• Where occupation is prohibited by law or it is unoccupied by reason of any action taken by a public body to prohibit occupation
• Please note that this exemption only applies where the premises are unoccupied and the exemption will be lost even if occupied illegally
• The exemption will commence from the day the premises becomes unoccupied and subject to prohibition
• The exemption will last for as long as the conditions are met.

so it would appear that the council think the status of the property changed half way through the year and are billing you for the remainder of the year on the basis the exemption has been lost?

What does it actually say on your bill?????????? they must have provided some explanation for why they are charging you 50%

riazbax

I had been to the council office and I got told that the Closing Orders has been revoke or repeal due to the regulations change
Closing Orders ((section 264 or 368(4)) shall cease to have effect on 6 April 2008
Closing orders
2.—(1) A closing order made under section 264 or 368(4) of the 1985 Act before the first
commencement date shall cease to have effect on that date unless it is an order to which subparagraph
(2) applies.
(2) This sub-paragraph applies to a closing order—
(a) which has become operative as mentioned in section 268(2) of the 1985 Act before the
first commencement date; or
(b) in respect of which an appeal has been brought under section 269 of that Act before that
date.
(3) During the period beginning on the first commencement date and ending on 5th April 2008,
the following shall not have effect in relation to a closing order to which sub-paragraph (2)
applies—
(a) the repeal of sections 264, 267(2) and (3), 269(2A) and (3A), 276 to 278, 368, 395, 396,
397, 604 and 604A of the 1985 Act;
(b) the repeals in sections 317, 319(1)(b) and 323 of that Act; and
(c) the amendments made by section 48(2) and (4) of, and paragraphs 13, 14, 22, 26, 27 and
33 of Schedule 15 to the 2004 Act.
(4) Where—
(a) an appeal in respect of a closing order to which sub-paragraph (2) applies is allowed; and
(b) the judge includes in his judgment a finding such as is mentioned in section 269(3A) of
the 1985 Act,
the local housing authority shall take the finding into account if they subsequently consider taking
action of a kind mentioned in section 5(2) or 7(2) of the 2004 Act in respect of the premises
concerned.
(5) A closing order to which sub-paragraph (2) applies shall cease to have effect on 6th April
2008 except in relation to anything done in connection with the order before that date.
(6) The amendments made by—
(a) paragraphs 3, 4(3), 5 and 6 of Schedule 15 to the 2004 Act (which amend the Land
Compensation Act 1973); and
(b) paragraphs 30 and 31 of that Schedule (which substitute compensation provisions of the
Housing Act 1985),
shall not have effect in relation to a closing order to which sub-paragraph (2) applies.

00ec25

so when you asked the council about the legislation, what did they say about why you have been billed - you did ask them didn't you????

Austinxuflagg

"Dim Blonde" they dont teach this basic stuff at school or uni!
they dont even teach basic cooking or how to cope with bills and finance!! (our home ec in school was finding out how many bits of sweetcorn and mushroom was in a po. :money::A