Council Tax on empty property

chipmunk

dazeruk wrote: »

If the house caught fire, you'd still expect the fire brigade to attend or if it was burgled, the police to attend.

Thanks, you're right of course, yes I would. Just feel it's a bit harsh having to pay full tax for greatly reduced services. Obviously, we don't mind paying something towards services we still might use.

poppysarah

chipmunk wrote: »

Thanks for your comment. Have to say, your comments appear to be a tad aggressive.:(

You started it by having a rant about not being able to realise your optimistic price.


Speak to the EA and see what price they suggest for a quick sale.

Do you think prices are going to go up in the next few years?

RabbitMad

chipmunk wrote: »

My wonderful Mum passed away in January leaving her house to my two brothers and myself. We had 6 months council tax after probate at 0% but have just received a bill for 7 months at 100% - £978!

It's been up for sale since Mum died but no offers yet (except for stupid ones!).

We knew this would be happening so not a surprise, just having a rant:D I thinks it's disgraceful, I mean what actual drain on resources is an empty property and what are we actually paying for? The council don't even empty the bins anymore.

I don't get this - Your Mum Died in January. You get from death to 6 months AFTER probate has been granted where council tax isn't charged. How quickly did you get probate for the council to be charging already?

I'm executor for a relative who passed away in december and we are only just ready to apply for probate now and that is likely to take 6 to 8 weeks to be granted.

JimmyTheWig

I think the reason they charge is so that people with two houses are charged twice.

I did think, however, that you got a 10% discount for an empty property.
Also, have you checked the band is correct for the type of house / area?

chipmunk

RabbitMad wrote: »

I don't get this - Your Mum Died in January. You get from death to 6 months AFTER probate has been granted where council tax isn't charged. How quickly did you get probate for the council to be charging already?

I'm executor for a relative who passed away in december and we are only just ready to apply for probate now and that is likely to take 6 to 8 weeks to be granted.

We got probate really quickly (about 4 weeks IIRC). Very simple estate to administer regarding her affairs/will etc. and we already had POA if that makes any difference.

The bill has only just arrived today and is from August till next March

Grimbal

Ah ok, so what's happened is that they've given you the 6 months relief for an empty property & are just informing you that after these six months you'll be liable. Is there any way you can reduce the price for a quick sale?

ETA: sorry to hear about your mum

Werdnal

It may vary from area to area, but you should get 6 months free council tax if the property is unfurnished. However, you need to register for this in advance (as we do when we have occasional voids in our rental lets). Speak to the council tax office - I am sure they will be sympathetic if you contant them. If they didn't know the circumstances, the will automtically charge until you tell them otherwise!

chipmunk

poppysarah wrote: »

You started it ......

Started what? I just made a post about how I felt about council tax, I didn't post just to start an argument with you.

Perhaps you don't intend to sound belligerent but that's how your replies come across to me. Perhaps you're just having a bad day;)

Apologies if that's not your intention.

chipmunk

Grimbal wrote: »

Ah ok, so what's happened is that they've given you the 6 months relief for an empty property & are just informing you that after these six months you'll be liable. Is there any way you can reduce the price for a quick sale?

Yes, my apologies for not making it clear. We will reduce the price if it's taking too long to sell although property is starting to move in this area so we're hopeful. It's had a lot of interest but most of the potential buyers have a house to sell themselves and as I've mentioned, we can afford to 'run' the property for quite a while on the difference between the asking price and the lowest offer.

Thanks for your comments.:)

stottie_2

Sorry about your mum.

I do understand why councils charge but feel they could be more flexible - I got made redundant and had to move to find work (so not my choice to move), flat didn't sell for ages and I got charged two lots of council tax. I'm certainly not on a two homes kind of income and the last year has been a real struggle. I was so cross that I wrote to my MP who was very sympathetic but the council wouldn't budge.

It seems a bit harsh that a property with one resident gets a 25% discount, an unoccupied property with a bed and a chair in it gets a 10% discount and an unoccupied, unfurnished property doesn't get any discount at all. Some kind of means-tested system for second home council tax would seem to be fairer.