Council Tax & Building Control

fed_up_and_stressed

LaurenHeath123 wrote: »

Thank you for clarifying this.

I think I simply needed an explanation such as yours.

The property needs a complete renovation but everything I mentioned seemed to not fall under the "extensive works". I mentioned it would be inhabitable as it would be lacking bathroom and kitchen for some months - ground needs digging up, with installation of a membrane as there is severe damp penetrating from beneath. Currently there are no ceilings as they were old and needed replacing.

There is currently no hot water (it was powered by a very old aga) but heating engineers have told me not to put it on as it would not be safe. Hence not being able to use the bath (although, this is hanging off the wall so I wouldn't attempt it).

Anyway, in my opinion it is inhabitable by modern standards and I hope they will agree. I'm not trying to get out of paying the council tax for longer than necessary but just until it is habitable so my money is being spent on the renovations rather than £2000 a year on council tax where I do not live there nor have the ability to do so until the work is carried out.

After the above explanation, I was met with "I'll send an inspector around".

I had a property where I had the entire ground concrete floors dug up, new concrete reinstated with membrane Floor signed off by building control and a kitchen put in by builders in a week. If you think this takes months your builder is taking the proverbial.

LaurenHeath123

** Uninhabitable **

Carmarthenshire County Council - they are usually very good but I think I may have rang at a bad time!

I am doing what I can myself and leaving the experts do the rest. The builders definitely don't think it will take a week, more like a day but that is one very small job on a very long list of to do's.

I work full-time so it has taken me a week to remove most of the wallpaper - it was on every wall, every ceiling and every possible item that you could imagine!

Hoploz

What has Building Control got to do with whether or not the property qualifies for council tax exemption?

CIS

Providing it meets the criteria of a property which is unoccupied, unfurnished and is undergoing/requires major works/structural alterations to make the property habitable then the property would be exempt for 12 months and awarded a 50% discount afterwards.

Replacing kitchens and bathrooms is not normally regarded as sufficient by most local authorities - things such as replacing internal walls, replacing floors etc would be. Water/heating is a grey area in the middle.

Craig

CIS

Hoploz wrote: »

What has Building Control got to do with whether or not the property qualifies for council tax exemption?

Nothing specifically.

The local authority may however use evidence gathered by building control towards determining what works have taken place or are required. In some cases they may use the same inspectors for building control and some council tax discounts/exemptions which need a visit.

Craig

LaurenHeath123

The inspectors around here can be quite invasive so I would not be surprised if this 'inspector' makes regular visits after he determines whether or not the property is exempt from CT.

I have friends who have had work done to their property and the 'inspectors' have seen work being carried out across the street and have decided to nip over to see what is going on. In fact, this happens all the time.

I'm not worried about them coming over, everyone who is doing the work is more than qualified and I'm paying for those qualifications and expertise. I'm just aware of the cost that they are allowed to charge for making these visits. It just seems silly to pay experienced and qualified tradesmen who are regulated by all these different bodies to then have to pay £200 for someone with a checklist to say yes, they did their job properly.

Alternatively, I have got the wrong end of the stick?

davidmcn

LaurenHeath123 wrote: »

everyone who is doing the work is more than qualified and I'm paying for those qualifications and expertise. It just seems silly to pay experienced and qualified tradesmen who are regulated by all these different bodies to then have to pay £200 for someone with a checklist to say yes, they did their job properly.

Alternatively, I have got the wrong end of the stick?

Probably, if you think anyone is actually "regulating" your tradesmen, or that your tradesmen don't have a vested interest in declaring their own work compliant with regulations.

Doozergirl

LaurenHeath123 wrote: »

The inspectors around here can be quite invasive so I would not be surprised if this 'inspector' makes regular visits after he determines whether or not the property is exempt from CT.

I have friends who have had work done to their property and the 'inspectors' have seen work being carried out across the street and have decided to nip over to see what is going on. In fact, this happens all the time.

I'm not worried about them coming over, everyone who is doing the work is more than qualified and I'm paying for those qualifications and expertise. I'm just aware of the cost that they are allowed to charge for making these visits. It just seems silly to pay experienced and qualified tradesmen who are regulated by all these different bodies to then have to pay £200 for someone with a checklist to say yes, they did their job properly.

Alternatively, I have got the wrong end of the stick?

Your tradesmen are, in the main, not regulated by anyone nor are many of them actually qualified. Bit to say that they don't do a priepr job; I am glad you have so much confidence before they start.

There is one fee for building control. It proves that the building meets minimum standards and is valuable to you, not only in terms of a small amount of piece of mind that you haven't hired a cowboy, but exceptionally valuable to any future buyer. I'm also surprised that you seem to know that BCOs like to turn up and surprise people without having done this before. That is not usual practice at all and my LA BCOs are not allowed on sotes without having been invited!

As a project manager, I am always happy to have the BCO round. Good ones bring knowledge and experience themselves to a site. I'm frankly shocked that you think it's a waste of money.

Now I am going to give you, hopefully, some good news. Building work on property that has been unoccupied for two years is subject to reduced rate 5% VAT on building materials and labour on a supply and fit basis.

That should make up for your council tax issue.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-notice-708-buildings-and-construction/vat-notice-708-buildings-and-construction#reduced-rating-the-renovation-or-alteration-of-empty-residential-premises

Did your wonderful builder tell you that?

LaurenHeath123

Maybe 'regulated' was the wrong word but I was under the impression they are registered with various bodies (e.g. Corgi for gas).

I apologise for coming across so negative, I have no doubt they provide knowledge and can be useful etc, and maybe I have listened to too many stories from friends and family about them "popping over".

I'll keep an open mind going forward. I was under the impression there were several fees, I'm sure I've seen a table with them listed.

No, but that will be useful information so thank you.

I think lesson learnt - I'll let my own experience speak for itself and stop listening to stories!

Thanks all

booksurr

you may well be confusing a council tax inspection with a building control inspection

the council tax inspection must, of necessity, be on an unannounced surprise basis otherwise they would not be able to detect a false claim if, for example, an occupied property was then emptied in advance of a visit so as to support a claim that it is empty when the reality is that it is not.

building control inspections are by invitation because the contractor needs to tell the BC inspector that the works are at whatever stage he is due to inspect. He won't come before then otherwise he may not have anything to inspect