Do I pay double Council Tax?

abbyj

Hi All
I am really confused and getting contradictory info from my Council can anybody assist?
I bought a house in Oct 2017 that I planned to move into until the weather improved. We bought the house to knock down and rebuild -
right area wrong house. However the house was so bad when we moved that we ended up living in a hotel for 6 weeks until we bought a caravan. Some of the issues were no heating or hot water, a leaking roof and a mouse infestation. We bought the caravan and moved in and have been living solely in there since the middle of Nov. I told the Council when we moved and when we moved into the caravan but I am being billed for the house that they say is habitable?! and the caravan. I agree we should pay CT I have my bins emptied etc etc but why 2 lots that's what I don't understand. I've also been told that because the previous owner declared it unoccupied for 10 months my reduction will be reduced further but is uninhabitable different to unoccupied? Sorry for long message I've had 27 bills off the council since moving I have no confidence that they know what they're doing TIA

DREKLY

Remove the kitchen, completely.
It's then definitely classed as "uninhabitable",
you should pay only for a caravan then.
good luck !

abbyj

There isn't a kitchen or a bathroom thats whats baffling me how do they think you can live in there?! Thanks for your reply

CIS

abbyj wrote: »

There isn't a kitchen or a bathroom thats whats baffling me how do they think you can live in there?! Thanks for your reply

Are you in England, Wales or Scotland ?

The potential of a Council Tax charge being due will always remain unless the property is removed from the valuation list (which doesn't happen often) by the valuation office agency or the Scottish assessors. Where a property remains in the valuation list then a discount or exemption may apply.

abbyj

Thanks I'm in England. I've spoken to them this morning and they now agree its uninhabitable based on the photos I sent. I am told I will pay the empty 50% charge for 12 months for the house and the band A for the caravan and when the roof and walls start to go I can apply for the other exemption when it completely comes off the banding. I'm ok with it now as both probably add up to what I will pay when the house is finished thanks for your time

lincroft1710

DREKLY wrote: »

Remove the kitchen, completely.
It's then definitely classed as "uninhabitable",
you should pay only for a caravan then.
good luck !

The removal of the kitchen and bathroom fittings would not make a house sufficiently uninhabitable for the VOA to remove it from the Valuation List. It would take only hours to connect new fittings.