My best options for empty house

Stephq

Hey guys, hope this hasn't already been asked. I would be grateful for some advice. I am currently on a working holiday visa in Australia and have been renting out my house through an agent. Everything had been going ok more or less, but the tenant has now ended her tenancy so it will be empty for 2 months until we get back. This means I will need to pay the mortgage, buildings insurance as well as (I think) council tax and water and possibly gas if I need to ask my parents to put the heating on to prevent the pipes freezing. I'm trying to keep costs to a minimum because I've not been able to get a good job over here and have to pay rent here too. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and have any advice? I was considering renting with air bnb but wondered if anyone had any other ideas? Thanks 😊

SuzieSue

Make sure you tell your insurance company that it will be empty as they usually have srtingent requirements for empty properties.

AnotherJoe

Who do you think is going to manage an airbnb rental with an absentee landlord? Even as basic as providinga key, checking everything is OK when the lodgers leave? Thats bonkers. Or would you lumber your parents with that?

It would cost peanuts to keep the heating on low. And yes check your insurance company dont want a premium. You could always have your parents stay one or two nights in teh middle of the period to make that a non problem.

If you haven't got a good job and are finding it a struggle, why dont you just go back to the UK?

Person_one

Can you come home a bit early? Without a good job over there and with an empty house causing issues over here, how much of a holiday is it going to be for the last couple of months?

I bet your mum would be chuffed to have you back for Christmas too.

G_M

You could get the agents to find new tenants.

But you'd then have to plan to stay elsewhere when you get back in 2 months, for at least 4 more months and maybe longer.

If you stayed with family/friends, you might build up a bit more savings.....

FBaby

For Council tax, check your council rules. Many will allow a period without payment for an empty house, some will have a 50% payment after that initial period, so allow a break for 6 months.

Re. gas and electricity, check that tenant has provided accurate readings. Be aware that some providers require a fix monthly fee whether you use the utilities or not (e-on do for instance) so you could have to pay even if you don't have anything on. Check readings for water too.

agrinnall

FBaby wrote: »

For Council tax, check your council rules. Many will allow a period without payment for an empty house, some will have a 50% payment after that initial period, so allow a break for 6 months.

I'd be very surprised if this applied in this case. I don't think many will allow a 100% discount for an empty house these days, particularly when the house is only unoccupied. It might be possible to get some sort of discount if the house is genuinely empty (i.e. no furniture, no power, no water) but not just because the owner is away for a couple of months. It might be worth a try but the OP should not get his hopes up that it will be successful.

FBaby

It would apply in my area, but only for a month.

CIS

The fact you are returning to your property and only away for a working holiday raises the whole issue of 'sole or main residence' and 'intention to return' for council tax purposes. This can affect any reductions which are available.

It can be easily argued under Council Tax legislation that you should have remained liable for the Council Tax charge for the entire period and remained 'resident' for Council Tax purposes.

Craig