Saving money on unoccupied house?

Dinah93

Is there any way to save? Our insurers came around yesterday and declared the house uninhabitable and have moved us out as an emergency situation for around 3 months. Council tax you can't save on anymore, and we paid upfront for landline and broadband for the year and can't 'pause' or reduce the contract as I hoped.

phill99

If the house is not capable of occupation, then you need to speak to the council who normally will not charge for the period it is 'out of action'.

CIS

What is actually up with the house ? - it makes a difference as to whether there's anything you can do regarding the council tax (which country are you in ?)

Craig

Doozergirl

Broadband providers should move your existing contract to a new property.

I moved house so many times - we always took our contract with us.

Worst case for us was cancelling and agreeing that if we rejoined within a certain period they would credit us back the money.

FreeBear

Switch energy suppliers to someone like Ebico - Although the per-unit costs are higher, they don't levy a standing charge. Scope to save a few pounds there.

When the property is ready to be occupied again, Ebico won't charge a termination fee either should you wish to move to another supplier.

Dinah93

CIS wrote: »

What is actually up with the house ? - it makes a difference as to whether there's anything you can do regarding the council tax (which country are you in ?)

Craig

There has been a long term escape of water under the ground floor of the house, the joists have rotted through in several places, floor has begun to collapse, cracks appearing in walls. Significant evidence of black mould under the floor. All downstairs floors apart from the lounge need to be taken up, professional driers are coming in next week to begin drying out the house, joists and boards replaced, ground underneath stabilized, three internal walls need rebuilding and other walls possibly just re plastered but might need underpinning.

In England. Thanks

CIS

Dinah93 wrote: »

There has been a long term escape of water under the ground floor of the house, the joists have rotted through in several places, floor has begun to collapse, cracks appearing in walls. Significant evidence of black mould under the floor. All downstairs floors apart from the lounge need to be taken up, professional driers are coming in next week to begin drying out the house, joists and boards replaced, ground underneath stabilized, three internal walls need rebuilding and other walls possibly just re plastered but might need underpinning.

In England. Thanks

I'd imagine there is no legal prohibition order in place on occupancy (an insurer stating they believe it is uninhabitable would not be sufficient) ? - if not then this rules out the Class G exemption.

The Class A exemption which did apply to properties undergoing or requiring works was abolished and replaced with a Class D discount. Unfortunately the discount is a delegated power for each local authority to set the rate individually.

You could try and apply for a Section 13A discretionary reduction - http://lgfa92.co.uk/section-13a-write-off/

Craig

phil24_7

Could you not claim for these off of the insurance company?

konark

If you pay water rates (i.e don't have a meter) they will stop charging you as long as the property is unfurnished.