Paying Council Tax on a pile of bricks.

moonrakerz

If the property was empty and uninhabited for 35 years, its Council Tax valuation should have been about 37p. What is the valuation placed on it ? Appeal to your local VOA office and get it reduced.

And/or: if you think that the Council has delayed your plans by losing your applications, talk to them about it, if they still won't help go to the Local Government Ombudsman with a formal complaint..

BargainJunky

I was told by Birmingham Council that exemptions apply to the property not the owner. In my mums case the owner died and his relatives claimed the exemption she hasnt moved in straight away as the builders are in yet she has to pay full council tax yet when she moves in she will get a 25% discount for living on her own.

hodgester

you won't get an exemption under any circumstance. end of.

the Highways Authority will have paid Council Tax on it, since 93/94.

clutton_2

the old rating system produced a value for each property which was known as its "Rateable Value" - ie what the property would rent out for. I do not know if this same concept was tranferred to the Poll/Council Tax calculations - if this is so, then this property has a very low rateable value indeed. Or was this idea totally ditched with Poll tax ?

moonrakerz

clutton wrote:

I do not know if this same concept was tranferred to the Poll/Council Tax calculations - if this is so, then this property has a very low rateable value indeed. Or was this idea totally ditched with Poll tax ?

ALL buildings were valued and given a Council Tax banding starting in 1991. As I said previously this building should have had a very low valuation even at that time.

prudryden

hodgester wrote:

you won't get an exemption under any circumstance. end of.

the Highways Authority will have paid Council Tax on it, since 93/94.

But in their own literature, they say Class G properties are exempt. Surely, this needs testing or properly explained why they won't now give the exemption, even if necessary, by a third party judge or arbitrator.

It would be interesting to actually find out if the Highways Agency did pay Council Tax on a derelict and unfit property. I wouldn't assume that they actually did, without seeing that evidence. The Highway Agency does what they want in most areas, whether the council likes it or not. (NOTE: the West London Tram)

Hereward

prudryden wrote:

But in their own literature, they say Class G properties are exempt. Surely, this needs testing or properly explained why they won't now give the exemption, even if necessary, by a third party judge or arbitrator.

It would be interesting to actually find out if the Highways Agency did pay Council Tax on a derelict and unfit property. I wouldn't assume that they actually did, without seeing that evidence. The Highway Agency does what they want in most areas, whether the council likes it or not. (NOTE: the West London Tram)

Its not clear if the property just needs some cosmetic works, e.g. new kitchen or Bathroom, or it needs some structural work, e.g. a new roof. It is my opinion that the council would only classify the latter as uninhabitable. I don't think the council considers the property to be uninhabitable and from the OP, it sounds like it is habitable:

rizla01 wrote:

I own a dilapidated property, uninhabitable…

rizla01

hodgester wrote:

you won't get an exemption under any circumstance. end of.

the Highways Authority will have paid Council Tax on it, since 93/94.

hi Hodgester.

Can I ask what you base these 'Facts' on?

Just interested to know as you don't say 'I don't think' or 'you might' as most would but it is said with a degree of certainty.

You aren't familiar with my site, Are You?:D

prudryden

rizla01 wrote:

I own a dilapidated property, uninhabitable and empty for the last 35 years.

The existing has NO roof, NO windows, Rotten floors, Huge cracks in walls and NO services. And I am being asked to pay the same as a householder that has a fully functioning house, with all mod cons.

Hereward --
Sounds like a condemed building to me - even Travellers would probably complain to the Health and Safety people.

Hereward

prudryden wrote:

Hereward --
Sounds like a condemed building to me - even Travellers would probably complain to the Health and Safety people.

How did I miss that bit of the OP?

I agree it does sound like a derilict building to me, I would challenge the council about the tax banding and point out all of the problems and its current state of repair.