Council Tax Exemptions

gmc_3

Hi, i'm looking for some advice. I recently bought a flat but haven't moved in yet as it is in need of renovation. My local council offers exemption from council tax for 6 months on a vacant and unfurnished property, the 50% relief for another 6 months. I applied for the exemption as I wouldn't be living there. I have been sent a bill with 50% relief, which I queried as I thought I had 6 months exemption. I have been told that the previous owner claimed exemption from January to July, so i'm only eligible for 50%. This seems a bit of a scam to me as I haven't been using any of the services the council provides (there isn't even a toilet at the moment!). I haven't had a chance to query it further, it seems strange because someone could have claimed exemption 5 years ago - but would that affect me?

Any experiences / advice will be gratefully appreciated.

Local council is Aberdeen.

Thanks

moonrakerz

I have been re-furbishing a house which was previously occupied by my mother.
When I originally contacted the local council they said it was exempt under Class C, but after some discussion about the work I was doing inside the house (blocking off doors, opening up doorways etc) they agreed that it should be Class A which gives me 12 months with no Council Tax.
Have a good look at the requirements for each Class:

http://www.westwiltshire.gov.uk/index/council/your-council/council-tax-finance/council-tax/ctax-exemptions.htm

I think these Classes apply all over the UK. Talk to the council, I found my local council very helpful.
Also, don't forget your water rates as well, you can get relief on those as well.

elmer

Hi your previous occupant had an empty and unfurnished exemption which is 6 months max per property (not per owner) with 6 weeks occupancy before it can be applied again. What you want is an Under reconstruction exemption, which is 12 months, however with us it has to be extensive work that renders it uninhabitable, and we send out our visiting officer to check

Elmer

not having a toilet would qualify though

gmc_3

Hi, thanks for the replies.

Spoke to the council, the under reconstruction exemption has to be more structural than the repairs i'm doing.

Looks like i'll have to pay for 6 weeks, then start a new 6 month exemption.

Cheers

G

Siemo

I have a similar problem I think, I've tried to get some answers from the home buying/selling forum but perhaps I'll have more luck here! Can someone tell me if it is possible to do what gmc has planned - to pay just for 6 weeks then start the new 6 month exemption - even if no one has lived there for those 6 weeks? I was under the impression that if it is unoccupied you have to pay 90% of the full rate unless it has been occupied for 6 weeks, then it can start again. It's so confusing to me and so unfair (we also didn't realise the exemption had been used up by a previous owner) and I'm trying hard to find a way round it! I don't mind paying for 6 weeks, but will this count as fraud as no one is actually using the property?

elmer

Hi, if you said that you moved in, we would not usually check, as long as you pay the bills, and then we would give you the exemption after six weeks that you are entitled to, however we are a very rural authority covering a very large area, other more urban authorities may make more checks.

Elmer

Siemo

Thanks Elmer, that's helpful. I think we'll just pay the full amount for the first 6 weeks and then try and get an exemption. Presumably if they come round to check within that 6 weeks (highly unlikely I reckon) they won't be able to get in because there's no one there! (and it's a top floor flat so won't be able to look through the windows...) Another quick question - the way the DD is worked out means you don't pay in Feb and Mar, so can those months be used as part of the 6 weeks or is that too cheeky as we won't have paid anything then!

elmer

Council tax is a daily charge that is paid in 10 monthly instalments so you will already have paid for Feb and March.
They are not "free months" , if you havent paid in full by Jan you still have to pay, and if you move in during Feb you will be billed for the remainder of the year ie until 31 march

Elmer