New build area - council tax query

nannytone_2

so go live on a desert island and [rovide every amenity for yourself. otherwise shut up and pay like we all do

comeandgo

Your council tax pays for many things and not all people access all items but nobody gets deductions, I have no access to library's, street lighting dont need schools but have to pay full whack same as everyone else. I did try for a reduction years ago but was told no way. Also most new housing schemes have factors who deal with the landscaping issues rather than the council again no council tax deductions.

comeandgo

Marisco, we pay about £200 a year to the factor but the houses collectively own a good few acres of land so need it cut and insurances on it. If we could not pay, its a debt same as any other and the usual processes would apply, final demand then court.

Marisco

comeandgo wrote: »

Marisco, we pay about £200 a year to the factor but the houses collectively own a good few acres of land so need it cut and insurances on it. If we could not pay, its a debt same as any other and the usual processes would apply, final demand then court.

Thanks, another question though, sorry about the ignorance, but I've never lived on a new estate. Why is it not part of the council though, they are all in the same borough? What I mean is, why are the council not liable for new estates in the same way they are for "old" streets/estates. I just thought they got "absorbed" into the council once they had been built!

nannytone_2

because the council didnt build it, a private developer did.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

I loath paying every penny Council Tax.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Marisco wrote: »

Thanks, another question though, sorry about the ignorance, but I've never lived on a new estate. Why is it not part of the council though, they are all in the same borough? What I mean is, why are the council not liable for new estates in the same way they are for "old" streets/estates. I just thought they got "absorbed" into the council once they had been built!

For a Council to adopt a highway the road and pavements have to be to the Local Authority and National Highway specifications - if it is cheap and nasty then they won't adopt it until either the developer or residents bring it up to standard. Plenty of new estates built where the highway is automatically adopted as it is up to or exceeds specifications.

marybelle01

Marisco wrote: »

Thanks, another question though, sorry about the ignorance, but I've never lived on a new estate. Why is it not part of the council though, they are all in the same borough? What I mean is, why are the council not liable for new estates in the same way they are for "old" streets/estates. I just thought they got "absorbed" into the council once they had been built!

There are lots of "old" areas where the council has no responsibility too. The first home I ever bought was built in the 1940's and on an unadopted road for which the council had no responsibility. We had no street lights and pot holes to die for! For the council to adopt it every homeowner would have had to pay for the frontage to be done to the required specification. In my case I believe it was about £1200 - and that was in 1982! That sum was about a tenth of the value of the house!

I now own a large Victorian (so rather old) house. The front street is adopted and maintained by the council. The back street is not. Fortunately there are no potholes because the Victorians knew how to build streets!

My friend has just moved in a new estate in Wales - the council do not maintain the streets there, and it is the developers responsibility because it is their private land.

It has nothing to do with old or new - it is about curtilage and ownership. I actually own half the back road behind my home. Such an arrangement is not uncommon.

comeandgo

The land our factor "looks after" is owned by the houses on the estate, not the council, which is why we have to pay to get the grass cut and strimmed and trees looked after. We control the factors, tell them what we want done in maintenance, we can't get rid of having them as it is a requirement in our deeds that they continue, but we can change the factoring company if say we can get another company to do it cheaper.

Marisco

Thanks folks, as I said you learn something new every day on MSE Sorry for diverting the thread!