Landlord changing agents and tenants, council tax while house is empty?

delmonta

Hi

I am a landlord and have had agents managing my property. I have just had a nightmare of a time with them which is costing me a lot of money. I have decided to let them go.

The tenants have just moved out which was planned, and I will find new agents in the next couple of days. But the house is unoccupied now and probably for a couple of weeks until we find new tenants.

I am wondering what to do about council tax. I read somewhere that if the house is 'substantially' unfurnished there is a discount. I have a sofa and chair and a kitchen atble, but no beds or furniture in any of the 3 bedrooms, surely that is substantially unfurnished?

Do I have to contact the council about this or will they just send me a bill? Currently all mail goes to my useless agents, and that is what has costed me so much them not forwarding my mail to me!

Any help appreicated

G_M

Yes you must contact the CT dept and tell them you are now liable for the CT.

There may be a discount or exemption, but you still have to tell them.

For details of any discount/exemption, look at your council's CT website, and claim if you qualify.


* Letting agents: how should a landlord select or sack?

00ec25

if you want to get a discount on the CT you very obviously have to claim it, the council are not mind readers.

whether YOUR council offers a discount at all is entirely at their discretion. The details will be on their website along with how to claim

obviously you are indeed liable as the owner whilst there is no longer a tenant resident. However, the exact date you became liable is a direct result of how the tenancy ended, there is a difference between:
- end of contract (fixed term)
- mutual surrender
- tenant give notice whilst on periodic tenancy
- you obtained a court possession order

if you don't know what the differences are then use the forum search function

delmonta

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it

OOec25. Sorry I have had a hell of a day and I'm close to banging my head on a wall! If you do know and wouldn't mind telling me....the tenants gave their months notice and moved out at the end of that. They paid their rent up to the date they moved out.

I'm guessing that means I am liable from the day they moved out?

G_M

delmonta wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it

OOec25. Sorry I have had a hell of a day and I'm close to banging my head on a wall! If you do know and wouldn't mind telling me....the tenants gave their months notice and moved out at the end of that. They paid their rent up to the date they moved out.

I'm guessing that means I am liable from the day they moved out?

You don't say if the tenants were in a fixed term, or periodic tenancy.

But assuming periodic, and the notice aligned with the periods, then they ceased to be liable for CT on that date (and you took over).

delmonta

I'm pretty sure it's periodic, although I don't really know. I only just looked up what the difference was!

So yes it seems I am liable now. According to this, from earlier this year even if the property is unfurnished and unoccupied you are still liable for full council tax

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-tax/empty-properties

G_M

delmonta wrote: »

I'm pretty sure it's periodic, although I don't really know. I only just looked up what the difference was!

:eek::eek::eek:

Please tell me I've misunderstood and you are the tenant.......

dimbo61

So no time to waste,
Get the property ready for the market, sort out repairs and any refurbishment you want and need to do.
Find a new letting agent if you need one and get the property rented out.
PS the council tax while the property is empty is tax deductible

delmonta

Thanks Dimbo

Yes I am going to try and sort it all out tomorrow

Thanks for the help

G_M

and please take some time to learn a bit more about your business:

See

Tenancies in Eng/Wales: Guides for landlords and tenants This thread is intended to provide information to both landlords and tenants relating to Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales.

CIS

G_M wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek:

Please tell me I've misunderstood and you are the tenant.......

You'd be disappointed on that premise.

Craig