Council Tax on empty property

dopester

Miss_Poohs wrote: »

Just glad you're not in charge then :j LOL

I'll have to take comfort those with empty homes, after 6 exemption, pay council tax and are squealing about it.

Council tax on empty homes is not being abolished as some people would like.

Too many people holding out for near peak prices. Market flooded with houses for sale. More sellers in troubled positions having to now accept lower offers in order to sell.

Maybe the offers the OP is getting which they consider "stupid" will sound generous in 12 months time, looking back in in retrospect (and after another 12 months of council tax payments on empty home.).

The other thing being, assuming the proceeds of this house sale are to be split 3 ways (house left to OP and their 2 brothers), they can much better absorb a lower offer in order to sell.

£30K offer below asking price, for example, is only £10K each lower between them on the proceeds of the sale, and they're on their way to having it sold with no further concerns with council tax on empty property.

In the meantime, sitting empty, council tax, risk of vandalism, insurance costs/issues, possibility of damage/damp/leaks/ as it stands empty.

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?

ceegee

chipmunk wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

, it's even more of a sting 'cos when Mum was alive, she only paid 75% council tax under single occupancy

I am in exactly the same situation. My Mum passed away in October. One of the sickening things re Council Tax is that it's not payable at all if you are in prison.:huh:

Slinky

Is it furnished? Are you living with a partner? Could you move into your mothers house until it sells? Your OH could then claim single person discount on your home, and you could claim single person discount on your mother's house. Things like insurance would be cheaper, a lived in home feels more homely than an unoccupied one so it may give it a better chance of selling, and given that you appear to live close to your mothers home you could quite easily both visit each other and spend time in both homes.

lincroft1710

Even if OP moves into his mum's home council may not accept that he has left the "marital" home as he intends to return and thus there won't be 25% discount. It is not the OP who is responsible for paying CT on his late mum's house, the money is due from the estate of the deceased.

CIS

I agree with Lincroft - the council would be extremely unlikely to grant a 25% discount in this case as the property would not be your 'sole or main residence' and therefore a 25% discount should not be awarded.

chipmunk

dopester wrote: »

A new owner would have to pay their council tax for it.

You've had a "council tax free period" 6 months to leave it empty and in which to sell it.

It's healthy for the housing market too. Having to pay council tax on empty homes after 6 months focuses the mind of the seller about price. It means a seller is slightly less likely to hold out for top-price for years on years, leaving a house empty and hogging-up resources, when they're paying annual council tax on an empty home.

If I were in charge I'd double council tax rates on empty properties.[/QUOTE]

Glad you're not then !:D

EDIT: Why aren't my "quotes" working ??

chipmunk

Slinky wrote: »

Is it furnished? Are you living with a partner? Could you move into your mothers house until it sells? Your OH could then claim single person discount on your home, and you could claim single person discount on your mother's house. Things like insurance would be cheaper, a lived in home feels more homely than an unoccupied one so it may give it a better chance of selling, and given that you appear to live close to your mothers home you could quite easily both visit each other and spend time in both homes.

No, yes and no:) Good idea but wouldn't work as per replies from CIS and lincroft. Also, don't know how my husband would survive on his own. Not even sure he knows how to use the kettle:rotfl:(joking of course).

chipmunk

Just been looking back on some of my old posts and thought I'd give an end to this story.

My Mum's house actually sold for £1,500 more than the original asking price following a bidding war between two potential purchasers not long after my last post. Just goes to show that you shouldn't always take notice of the doom-merchants And to those of you who were down-right rude,

motherofstudents

Glad to hear that Chipmunk. We tried to sell mum's flat but didn't have much interest so we are renting it out. It has worked out well with a lovely tenant. There was no need for the rude replies.