Major Renovation & Council Tax

ouill

Hi all,

Firstly sorry if I'm going about this the wrong way - new to the forum and hopefully I'm not committing a cardinal sin in this post some unknown way.

I recently purchased a house (mid April 2013) and was surprised to learn I couldn't get a council tax discount for major renovations. I spoke to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) about the possibility of delisting my house i.e. having it temporarily struck off the council tax list as the works were very extensive.

I spoke to the VOA about the works and they inspected, however most of the works are classified as "normal repairs". Unfortunately as a new member I can't post links but more info can be found by searching for "Practice Note 4: Appendix 2: Repair of dwellings and deletion"

The area I was hoping for help on is does anyone know when works are classified as major renovation? The case officer I spoke to implied it was only for derelict properties however I'm skeptical as to whether this is right. I've had to replace the roof, replaster, install a DPC, woodworm, make some minor (voluntary) structural alterations, rewire and replumb in its entirity, and the property currently has no kitchen and bathroom and is not habitable.

I was hoping someone might be able to tell me whether they've had any luck with demonstrating that major renovation doesn't have to be on derelict buildings and if so how they did it or what I do next?

I'm quite happy to summarise other people's responses to create something of a guide for others as I wouldn't want anyone else to have to go through this kerfuffle.

Many thanks

Ouill

LEJC

the concessions given by councils in respect of renovation have all recently changed,most with effect from april 2013

In june 12 we were granted exempion status in order to renovate a property...that exemption was a full reduction and due to last a year...however when council tax exemptions were removed in our area and we had not finished the work by march of this year we were issued with a full bill for the period 13-14 in line with their new policies.

Each council is different but you will probably find there is no allowance,or little allowance available whilst renovating these days...

ognum

I can only suggest you go for single occupancy status to get 25% reduction.

Every loop hole seems to have been removed to get nil band rating in my area Sorry I hope someone else comes along with a better idea.

lavalamp

This is Bristol's policy, but maybe similar all over?
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/council-tax/council-tax-exemptions

Unoccupied and substantially unfurnished properties undergoing major repairs/structural alterations

Unoccupied and substantially unfurnished properties, which are undergoing major repair work or structural alterations, may qualify for a discount for a maximum of 12 months.

Please note, this discount applies to the property and can only be applied for a maximum period of 12 months.

Examples of qualifying work:

Roof work that is required on safety grounds
Removal of supporting walls or floor joists
Subsidence
Severe dry rot requiring extensive treatments/remedies

Examples of non-qualifying work:

Replacement kitchen/bathroom
Replacement windows
General refurbishment
Re-wiring, re-plumbing, plastering
Retrospective applications will require documentary evidence of the works carried out, e.g., surveyor’s report, builder’s estimates, invoices etc.

We were stung too as apparently kitchen and bathroom doesn't count!

Red_dog_Sam

As indicated in earlier posts, the exemption for properties undergoing major structural repairs was abolished by the Government with effect from 01/04/13.
Local authorities were given discretion to set their own local discount rates instead and many chose to apply no discount at all for these properties. And it could get worse - some will also be charging an empty property premium which means after so many months an empty property can be charged up to double the standard rate - and the clock starts ticking on the day it first became empty - not the day you bought it. You will need to check with your local authority on what rules thay have chosen to set and to see if and when you would be affected.

CIS

some will also be charging an empty property premium which means after so many months an empty property can be charged up to double the standard rat

The maximum premium is 50% and it start after 2 years of he property becoming unoccupied and unfurnished.

witchy1066

OP this is a grey area and every council across the land can decide what they can and can not give as concessions ,

only posts that have experience with the council you are dealing with will be of any use to you and only those cases since April of this year ,

no point you getting bogged down with others experiences good or bad as they most likely will not have any bearing on you

my council although give a list of discounts on the website, do make certain concessions in some instances, and try to look certain cases on a more one to one basis,

speak to your council and ask them to look at your case , tell them it doesn't fit any of their boxes (if indeed it doesn't)

just as an example , recently I dealt with a case were a lady had taken a chair and a book to her empty house while waiting to let workmen in, on leaving she left the chair,
a week later she got a council bill saying the property was partially furnished , I kid you not ,

what I am trying to say is if you feel you have been wrongly treated , persist that they look at your case on an individual merit

hope this makes sense to you and the best of luck , depending on your council you will need it

ouill

Thanks all, I was hoping there was some magical way to get a reduction of some kind but wasn't expecting it. I'll go down the single occupant route as that's the only way remaining but thought it best to pick the brains of others first!

I really appreciate the input of everyone here.

Ouill

lincroft1710

Being ex VOA and having dealt with many requests to delete a dwelling from the Valuation List, I would agree with the decision made by the VOA.

In practice it takes only a day or two to install a bathroom or kitchen.

dimbo61

If you put a camp bed in one of the bedrooms and a few items in the same room you are living there.
Ask for single person discount when you leave your old house if your OH is now living there on his/her own !!!!

ian103

We have had to pay full council tax whilst our new property is being made habitable, the vendor used the month of free council tax, we can't move in as the previous tennants abused the property and its uninhabitable, we have also now found very poor work from the previous refurb.

All in all with a quick programme and driving the works we should be in within 8 weeks. I intend to make sure I get my full allowance on the current house whilst we repaint it before the tennants move in.