Council Tax on empty property

AnotherJoe

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

We could all say that - and I know I'm baffled by economic policy that charges single people so much more on bills than someone who is living together/married. I'm baffled by childless people having more money taken off them in tax for those that have children.....etc etc.

I expect the only people happy with economic policy are those who have a good income, are married/coupled-up, have children.

Can you give an example of a single person being charged more than a couple ?

AdrianC

AnotherJoe wrote: »

We could all say that - and I know I'm baffled by economic policy that charges single people so much more on bills than someone who is living together/married.

Can you give an example of a single person being charged more than a couple ?

If you look "per head", then it's very common.

There's usually good reason, simply because it is inevitably more efficient for a pair to cohabit in the same amount of space as one.

AnotherJoe

AdrianC wrote: »

If you look "per head", then it's very common.

Indeed but as you know its a canard to claim that single people are being charged more, doubles (or more) are sharing costs, which isa different thing. The charges themselves are not per head, they are for a service or item, lets say for renting a hotel room, heating a house, renting a car, and if two or more people decide to share the cost then obviously its cheaper for each individual because that what sharing a cost means.

AdrianC

You know that, I know that. We're not trying to be outraged.

Crashy_Time

justjohn wrote: »

In some Scottish regions its 100%!!! Bang out of order.

Is there a housing "shortage" in any of those regions?

Nauti

I was surprised when our empty house (we moved out to sell it) was charged full rate and not discounted, but if it discourages people from leaving houses empty then I think that's a beneficial policy.

chunkytfg

lebowski1980 wrote: »

We're relocating to Somerset away from Sussex.
Will be renting until our place is sold and the place will remain empty.

Called our local council who said there is no discount for an empty property.
Why is it a single occupancy gets a discount but a zero occupancy gets none?

I get that some people just leave their properties empty but I'm not a rich man and don't do this out of choice.

Beggars belief!

Perhaps just 1 of you could move out so it is occupied singly and therefore get the single occupancy discount!?

lincroft1710

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

My house has a one bed annexe that is rated separately for council tax and so I pay two lots at my address. Only the main property is discounted for single occupancy, even though the annexe is also in my name and vacant, they wouldn't apply two single occupancy discounts.


In the end I ripped out the kitchen and bathroom and they delisted it. But then they moved my main house up a band as it now included the annexe for ratable value and charged me extra for that!

There was no need for you to rip out the bathroom. Plenty of houses have 2 bathrooms or more.

justjohn

dantheram1985 wrote: »

Damn right, should be 200% - Leeches

Council tax goes to local authorites not goverment lol


They charge it because they can get away with it.

justjohn

Crashy_Time wrote: »

Is there a housing "shortage" in any of those regions?

Yes and No . Current policy is they do not want empty houses and since the goverment does not build many houses anymore they are trying to force occupancey of empty proprties.


If a property is empty or up for sale for more than 2 year they hammer the owner on council tax.