Council tax issue on house with static caravan.....

phoebe1989seb

Hi all,

We're tentatively starting our search for a new house with a bit of land in Wales and have found a couple we've added to our short list to view once we're in a position to proceed.

One of these has a static caravan on site. A quick check on the relevant website tells me the property is billed for two lots of council tax - one for the house and one for the static, which from the online photos, currently looks inhabited.

Obviously we'll be asking this question (not to mention the sitting tenant one ) when/if we view, but in the meantime I was wondering what happens, countil tax-wise if we buy the house and remove the static which we have no use for?

As it's not an obvious 'annex' attached to the house itself and adds no value to the property per se - in fact it's currently rather an eyesore, lol - and furthermore I can't see the property (which is in need if some work) increasing in value by its removal either, is the council tax band for the house likely to stay as is?

Any thoughts/experience would be most appreciated!

Thanks in advance.....

marliepanda

If theyre billed separately then removing the caravan shouldn't make a difference to your band. You'd just ring and speak to the CT department and potentially the addressing officer there too.


It happens quite often when people are renovating and living on site, once theyre done the caravan just gets taken off. Shouldn't be too much bother.

lincroft1710

The Valuation Office Agency (part of HMRC) deal with Council Tax assessment. Separate band for the caravan sounds as if it was used as separate living accommodation by someone who did not use any of the house facilities.

However I would suggest you confirm with the VOA why the caravan was separately assessed and if simple removal would be sufficient to take it out of assessment. If you do not intend to replace the caravan with another, then this should be OK

phoebe1989seb

You've both been very helpful, thank you

CIS

The caravan pitch is what 's banded, not the caravan itself. An unoccupied pitch would be exempt under a Class R exemption even if the banding itself is not removed.

Craig

phoebe1989seb

CIS wrote: »

The caravan pitch is what 's banded, not the caravan itself. An unoccupied pitch would be exempt under a Class R exemption even if the banding itself is not removed.

Craig

Ah, ok.....that's interesting. Thank you

lincroft1710

A pitch is only banded if there is currently a caravan on it or if no caravan there is the expectation of a caravan being placed on it. If there is no expectation of a caravan being placed on it, it should not be banded, or the banding removed and any value reflected in the band of the house in whose grounds it is situated.

I used the term caravan rather than pitch (and caravan) in my original post to avoid complication

HampshireH

Apologies for asking a question kinda unrelated but;

Are the inhabitants of the caravan the same family as those of the house and also vacating or are they unassisted occupants paying their own CT etc. Do they pay rent or have they acquired use of land on this particular area.

Could they be more problematic if they aren't part of or in agreement with the sale?