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Empty Property Premium - on a house just purchased

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Comments

  • MARTYM8`
    MARTYM8` Posts: 1,212 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts
    OP - can I be blunt.

    Them's the rules - the property has been empty for more than two years and is therefore subject to the empty property premium of 50%. Almost every council now applies this policy.

    The idea is to incentivise the owner to make it habitable - and have someone live there as we have a housing shortage. So I suggest you get on with the refurbishment - cos the sooner its done the sooner you can stop paying the premium.

    Hopefully it will go to provide social care for an elderly or disabled person less fortunate than you or for a vulnerable child! Cos there is always someone worse off than you!
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    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.
    Compared to all the other costs of buying and refurbishing an "uninhabitable" house? No, not really... It's a drop in the ocean compared to the things that can be found as you work on the place.
  • "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.
    "....That's the way to do it ;)

    The council don't have the inclination/resources to chase council tax payers....They're too busy chasing those that won't pay :cool:
    No longer trainee :o
    Retired in 2012 (54) :)
    State pension due 2024 (66) :(
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The council don't have the inclination/resources to chase council tax payers....They're too busy chasing those that won't pay :cool:

    They do when the 50% premium is involved.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
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