Buying a house - wrong use class

wiggy1682

Hoploz wrote: »

Regarding the proof of residential use issue, perhaps the tenants have been paying council tax?

The seller really needs to sort this one out. You will have to sit and wait it out.

They are students so i believe they dont pay council tax, but surely the council can see this as I have no way of gathering this info..

davidmcn

wiggy1682 wrote: »

So is there any evidence I can get hold of to show the council it has been used as multiple occ for over 10 years? By doing this I presume they cannot refuse it being turned back into a single dwelling class. I know this info should be provided by the seller but she is being completely unreasonable

Are you sure the past use as multiple occupancy is relevant? Change of use of a former house from a nursery back to residential is the sort of thing which normally goes through on the nod (unless there are local policies about it). Anyway, it should really be the sellers sorting this out, they will hopefully become more reasonable when they realise you're not exchanging.

AdrianC

wiggy1682 wrote: »

Would the fact that the house has "history" one of the 1st to be built in the city, (Name plaque on the outside) and documented in various article about the local area make a difference in returning its class to what it was originally?

No.

I presume it's not listed or otherwise protected?

silvercar

wiggy1682 wrote: »

They are students so i believe they dont pay council tax, but surely the council can see this as I have no way of gathering this info..

Depending on the town, either the university will have given the council tax department a list of students with their addresses (to show who is exempt) or the students will have sent evidence to the council tax department.

agrinnall

And of course the council will have stopped receiving business rates from the day nursery 10 years ago.

LittleMax

wiggy1682 wrote: »

ok, not good....

So is there any evidence I can get hold of to show the council it has been used as multiple occ for over 10 years? By doing this I presume they cannot refuse it being turned back into a single dwelling class. I know this info should be provided by the seller but she is being completely unreasonable

Well if she wants to sell she will have to start taking action.

Hoploz

Bear in mind that the council's Planning department will have no communication with council tax or any other department. All the paperwork will have to be got from one dept and passed on to the other.

(E.g. When I applied for a parking permit I had to wait for the council tax dept to post me out a copy bill as the original was more than 3 months old, so I could take it down and show it to the parking dept to prove I was a resident!)

LittleMax

Hoploz wrote: »

Bear in mind that the council's Planning department will have no communication with council tax or any other department. All the paperwork will have to be got from one dept and passed on to the other.

(E.g. When I applied for a parking permit I had to wait for the council tax dept to post me out a copy bill as the original was more than 3 months old, so I could take it down and show it to the parking dept to prove I was a resident!)

Not strictly true - they are allowed to communicate when it suits them. For instance all extended properties get notified to Council Tax so they can flag up with Valuation Office for future revaluation when property is sold. Of course, when you need them to have communicated they suddenly shout data protection!

Hoploz

The key phrase there being 'when it suits them'