Council Tax on Empty Property is Changing

Red_dog_Sam

Lots of stuff around on welfare reform and how many people will end up paying more council tax due to cuts in council tax benefit but seems to be less information around on plans to change empty property Council Tax charges. So this is a heads up for landlords \ owners \ tenancy holders etc with empty properties who may be facing bigger bills next year.

From 1st April 2013 plans include:
Abolition of the Class A exemption (Major Structural Repairs)which can currently last for up to year. To be replaced by a locally decided discount rate.
Abolition of Class C exemption (Empty and Unfurnsihed) which can last up to 6 months. To be replaced by a locally decided discount rate that can be stepped in monthly intervals (e.g. 100% for 1 month then 50%).
Abolition of Class L exemption (Repossessions) which can be open ended. These will change to the empty rate applied locally.
Long Term Empty Levy - a change to enable authorities to charge more than 100%. A locally decided levy can be applied after a period of the authorities choosing. They will be free to set specific exclusion categories though.

This isn't a comment on the rights or wrongs of the policy - just hopefully raising awareness.

John_Pierpoint

Any news on what I would call "the bereavement allowance": Currently tax free until probate obtained, then plus a further 6 months free ?

Given that a DIY executor has to get grant of probate, and then has 2 - 3 months to identify any other creditors/claimants and then is free to sell the house - probate plus 6 months is approaching a reasonable minimum.

As bankruptcy is "living death" and without it, the mortgage defaulter remains liable for the mortgagees losses (if any) for 12 years, messing about with any allowance for repossession is getting close to victimising the victim; honourable enough to try to meet their liabilities..

Red_dog_Sam

There is nothing in the Council Tax reform proposals to change the way Class F (subject to probate) exemptions work.

Full details on Council Tax reform proposals available at:
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/technicalreformcounciltaxsors