council tax exemption?

Dimey

A few years ago I built a new (replacement) self build property in my garden while I lived in the existing house. When the new build was finished I knocked down the old house and moved in the new.

I had no idea that during the 5 year build process the local council tax officers had been spying on me and even came on to my property when I wasn't there to inspect my progress.

This only came to light as two years before I'd finished I received invoices for two lots of council tax. They'd even given my new build a different name.

I was furious that the council had been so cloak and dagger about this. If they'd contacted me and asked to visit and talk they would have been welcome.

I didn't know that you had to pay two lots of council tax and the planning/building regulations departments hadn't told me either so I hadn't informed council tax. I just expected to be reassessed when the new replacement house was finished and would have contacted them then.

I appealed to a tribunal and they stopped the council re-naming my house (although the council now address me in a different village, just to be awkward). The tribunal also ruled that I couldn't be charged for the new house until the roof, windows and doors were on - then it could be classed as someone living there and taxed, even though there was no running water, heating, kitchen or bathroom.

The old house had to have the roof torn off as soon as I moved into the new house then once the roof was gone, doors and windows torn out and plumbing disconnected, I'd not pay tax on that property.

Strangely the Council Tax inspectors refused to visit to check the roof was off the old house. I had to send photos in.
Maybe they only like visiting under the thrill of trespass.

tim123456789

K.Tarshes wrote: »

So how is it possible now after the April 13 changes to get CT exemption for a derelict property?

By showing that it is completely un-inhabitable rather than just "habitable after some modernisation".

The line where this is is obviously blurred, but my guess is that it's somewhat below just, not having a kitchen and bathroom, or missing a roof.

tim

K.Tarshes

tim123456789 wrote: »

By showing that it is completely un-inhabitable rather than just "habitable after some modernisation".

The line where this is is obviously blurred, but my guess is that it's somewhat below just, not having a kitchen and bathroom, or missing a roof.

tim

There is some confusion here. Could someone clarify that this is still the case after the changes from April this year?

I know this was the case before the changes, but some seem to say that since the changes ALL properties in the UK are not exempt anymore. Matters not if they are habitable or uninhabitable.

There must be a clear answer to what is the truth?

ognum

I think this is great news, houses will come back into the housing stock and landlords will be encouraged to charge a reasonable rent and yes I am a landlord!

witchy1066

yes ALL property will be subject to pay council tax under the new changes but (always a but) each council will view cases differently and may or may not give some leeway in certain cases

the clear answer is to ask the council in your area,

sooner rather than later if you have derelict/empty property, or you may end up with a hefty back pay bill as it will take the team assigned at least another tax year to get the registry updated

strapped cash councils are determined to get as much money coming as they can so I urge anyone with empty/derelict/un-habitable property to get something done about it.

tim123456789

witchy1066 wrote: »

yes ALL property will be subject to pay council tax under the new changes .

Not true.

All property that has a CT rating will be subject (blar, blar, blar).

Completely derelict houses are not given a rating.

tim

witchy1066

ah but they will be , that is the whole idea, ALL property will eventually be rated ,

tim123456789

witchy1066 wrote: »

ah but they will be , that is the whole idea, ALL property will eventually be rated ,

I think that you are wrong

I have seen no proposal to re-rate unrated properties

K.Tarshes

I hope Tim is right, but how can we know for sure. Can any one settle this?

K.Tarshes

tim123456789 wrote: »

Not true.

All property that has a CT rating will be subject (blar, blar, blar).

Completely derelict houses are not given a rating.

tim

So a derelict property that has been for decades, and has had no CT rating will be exempt? But what about this change in April? How many previously non CT rating properties will start to get a CT rating? If non then what was that change all about?