Council Tax when moving into deceased parents property?

vonsworld

My Mother recently passed away and her unoccupied property is currently exempt from council tax for a period of six months from the date I received probate.

I live within the same borough, I pay council tax, and my home is in the same council tax band as my Mothers former home.

My question is, if I decide to sell my home and move into my Mum's house within the 6 month exemption period, will I only ever pay council tax on one property?

The council tax guides I've read say that a deceased person's home is exempt from council tax for 6 months "whilst it is being sold". If I decide not to sell it but move into it myself, will the council turn around and say the exemption is now invalid because the property has not been sold, and I now owe council tax on it from the day my Mum passed away?

Thanks for your advice

Yorkshireman99

vonsworld wrote: »

My Mother recently passed away and her unoccupied property is currently exempt from council tax for a period of six months from the date I received probate.

I live within the same borough, I pay council tax, and my home is in the same council tax band as my Mothers former home.

My question is, if I decide to sell my home and move into my Mum's house within the 6 month exemption period, will I only ever pay council tax on one property?

The council tax guides I've read say that a deceased person's home is exempt from council tax for 6 months "whilst it is being sold". If I decide not to sell it but move into it myself, will the council turn around and say the exemption is now invalid because the property has not been sold, and I now owe council tax on it from the day my Mum passed away?

Thanks for your advice

You should not have to pay untill you move in. However you need to
enquire with the Council about the tax on your current property.

Crabapple

The deceased exemption will cease if someone is living there, it's an allowance for unoccupied properties pending sale where the owner has died.

You'll likely find you have to pay full council tax on your own property as well even if it is empty.

getmore4less

vonsworld wrote: »

My Mother recently passed away and her unoccupied property is currently exempt from council tax for a period of six months from the date I received probate.

I live within the same borough, I pay council tax, and my home is in the same council tax band as my Mothers former home.

My question is, if I decide to sell my home and move into my Mum's house within the 6 month exemption period, will I only ever pay council tax on one property?

The council tax guides I've read say that a deceased person's home is exempt from council tax for 6 months "whilst it is being sold". If I decide not to sell it but move into it myself, will the council turn around and say the exemption is now invalid because the property has not been sold, and I now owe council tax on it from the day my Mum passed away?

Thanks for your advice

some councils are a bit keen on trying to avoid the probate/6month exemption completely if the beneficial interest is from DOD so you need to be aware of that.

if yours is one that is reasonable ones then you should be OK and only get charged from date of occupancy.

if planning to sell your own house and move in then it might be worth delaying the probate application for a while till it is clear your place has sold to delay the 6 month clock staring..

CIS

The Class F exemption ceases as soon as someone becomes resident.

Craig

vonsworld

Thanks for your replies

I did think about delaying probate for a while. Presumably until probate is granted the house will be in limbo and the council won't have anyone they can point the finger at to pay council tax!

unforeseen

vonsworld wrote: »

Thanks for your replies

I did think about delaying probate for a while. Presumably until probate is granted the house will be in limbo and the council won't have anyone they can point the finger at to pay council tax!

Unless it's a council as per #4

getmore4less

vonsworld wrote: »

Thanks for your replies

I did think about delaying probate for a while. Presumably until probate is granted the house will be in limbo and the council won't have anyone they can point the finger at to pay council tax!

Te estate will be liable for any tax due and no one else is responsible like an occupier.