Empty Property Premium - on a house just purchased

harrys_dad

Maybe you should have checked the rules properly and asked the Council for up to date information BEFORE you bought the property instead of crying foul afterwards. Still the rules are doing their job aren't they; bet you are hurrying up the job and trying to let/sell it asap.

shays_mum

I was going through a total refurbishment recently, the council refused any discounts even though it was not habitable at all, talking no kitchen/bathroom/roof etc etc.


However, one of the nice council staff explained that if you contact the Valuation Office they can come round & assess what they class as habitable. If they find the property is not habitable (like mine) they can contact your local council to get a freeze on council taxes.


Once your moved in you can contact them again, they can come around, attest its habitable, contact the council & off you go, back to paying council tax.


This service is free & I have been using it for the last year.


http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/CouncilTax/DomesticPropertiesWhichAreInDisrepairOrAreDerelict.html


Sting in the tale, is that when the Valuation Officers come back they can assess works as new & band accordingly. Not sure how that works as bands were set years ago & on my street there are plenty of houses bigger than mine!.


HTH

Mallotum_X

Why dont one of you "officially" move in. shift your addresses on banks etc and register to vote etc. Then claim single person discount. Your partner claims it on the other place.

If you choose to stay at a friends place regularly the council a) wont know and b) no one will actually care.

Both properties are paying tax, council will leave you alone, especially if its not for a long period of time.

pippin30

harrys_dad wrote: »

Maybe you should have checked the rules properly and asked the Council for up to date information BEFORE you bought the property instead of crying foul afterwards. Still the rules are doing their job aren't they; bet you are hurrying up the job and trying to let/sell it asap.

Actually we've got a set critical path, a premium tax isn't going to move the job on any quicker. And not that is makes any difference, we're not looking to let or sell this is going to be our home.


Thanks for the advice shays_mum, we have considered this but believe the best option would be for one of us to move in while the works going on rather then risk a change in band once its complete!

m_13

pippin30 wrote: »

Actually we've got a set critical path, a premium tax isn't going to move the job on any quicker. And not that is makes any difference, we're not looking to let or sell this is going to be our home.


Thanks for the advice shays_mum, we have considered this but believe the best option would be for one of us to move in while the works going on rather then risk a change in band once its complete!

We've just bought a property that's been empty for over two years and the previous owner was complaining about paying 150% council tax. We are living in the property so back to 100% now.

I do hope you are taking advantage of the 5% VAT rate on renovating a property that has been empty for two years or more? I've only just discovered that we are eligible even though we've moved in already.

G_M

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Council Tax is not a direct payment for services, it is tax on residential property which goes towards funding council spending.

Indeed. Otherwise I would expect a discount for not using schools. Or support for the elderly. Or a multitude of other services I have no interest in.

anselld

shays_mum wrote: »

I was going through a total refurbishment recently, the council refused any discounts even though it was not habitable at all, talking no kitchen/bathroom/roof etc etc.


However, one of the nice council staff explained that if you contact the Valuation Office they can come round & assess what they class as habitable. If they find the property is not habitable (like mine) they can contact your local council to get a freeze on council taxes.


Once your moved in you can contact them again, they can come around, attest its habitable, contact the council & off you go, back to paying council tax.


This service is free & I have been using it for the last year.


http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/CouncilTax/DomesticPropertiesWhichAreInDisrepairOrAreDerelict.html


Sting in the tale, is that when the Valuation Officers come back they can assess works as new & band accordingly. Not sure how that works as bands were set years ago & on my street there are plenty of houses bigger than mine!.


HTH

^^^ This is the way to go if you are happy to have the place revalued at the end of the work.

You are actually applying to have the property de-listed by the VOA for the duration of the renovation. If the VOA de-list the property then the Council cannot charge until it is re-listed.

pippin30

m_13 wrote: »

We've just bought a property that's been empty for over two years and the previous owner was complaining about paying 150% council tax. We are living in the property so back to 100% now.

I do hope you are taking advantage of the 5% VAT rate on renovating a property that has been empty for two years or more? I've only just discovered that we are eligible even though we've moved in already.

Many thanks for this, I most definitely will be

lincroft1710

anselld wrote: »

^^^ This is the way to go if you are happy to have the place revalued at the end of the work.

You are actually applying to have the property de-listed by the VOA for the duration of the renovation. If the VOA de-list the property then the Council cannot charge until it is re-listed.

If you plan on extending the property or considerably improving it, it may be better not to involve the VOA.

Do bear in mind that there is no definition of uninhabitable in CT law, so it will be up to the individual caseworker or their line manager, whether or not they believe a building no longer constitutes a dwelling.

Sarahspangles

Isn't this an issue that conveyancing solicitors should be advising their clients on? I know it's not something that is included in the Council searches, but maybe it should be, to at least disclose the dates over which discounts have applied. The fact a buyer might have to pay in the order of £1500 to £2000 over a year while renovating a house is pretty significant.