Council tax on Empty Properties

Tripledrop

Thanks for all the responses guys, appreciate it. I had already paid the amount (was only £35), just wanted to check the legitimacy of it, but it appears they are within their rights!

Thanks again

Crashy_Time

movilogo wrote: »

Most councils now charge full tax on empty properties. They just want to maximize their revenue.

Yep, and many of them are still in debt.

sevenhills

Tripledrop wrote: »

Now I understand that normally Government agencies should be correct, however this is Birmingham Council, who are completely inept at anything resembling sensible working and knowing what they're talking about, so I thought it best to check this advice is correct.

You should really apologise to all the members reading this that are from Birmingham, anti council rhetoric is just plain wrong.

Crashy_Time

sevenhills wrote: »

You should really apologise to all the members reading this that are from Birmingham, anti council rhetoric is just plain wrong.

Why........?

balooney2000

I was in the same position last year, between tenants and assumed the local council didn't charge for empty property.

I was wrong and when I contacted them, they couldn't discuss as I was not the name on the account! I sent the documents they required but they take 31 days to reply. By this time I had received a court summons for non-payment and a further for court costs :-(

I was always prepared to pay (once I found that council tax is due) this is a government initiative from 2013. It took many phone calls and emails to get the court summons removed and refund the court costs, due to their inability to deal with anything in less than 31 days!

Norman_Castle

movilogo wrote: »

Most councils now charge full tax on empty properties. They just want to maximize their revenue.

They want to maximise occupation.

Curiousone_2

Yes, Councils can adapt Council Tax Regulations differently. You payment can be included in your Tax Return as an expense though.

I work in the Council Tax Department of West Lothian Council in Scotland.
We charge 50% for void periods when a property is unoccupied, If the landlord completes the self-declaration that the property is unfurnished, there is 100% relief for 6 months, followed by 50% for a further 6 months.
Added to this, if the landlord provides evidence that the property is still being marketed due sale or let once 12 months have elapsed, another 50% relief can be awarded for 12 months.

maisie1234

My Father is shortly to move into a care home. We are going to try and sell immediately. I have looked on the LB Hounslow website and getting confused. Does he actually get a discount or even worse have to pay the full amount without the single person discount once he leaves

CIS

maisie1234 wrote: »

My Father is shortly to move into a care home. We are going to try and sell immediately. I have looked on the LB Hounslow website and getting confused. Does he actually get a discount or even worse have to pay the full amount without the single person discount once he leaves

Assuming the property will be unoccupied, and it's intended to be a permanent vacation, then a Class E exemption will apply.

Crashy_Time

Norman_Castle wrote: »

They want to maximise occupation.

Best way to do that is to stop Help To Borrow schemes and allow prices to drop, not try to milk property owners for council tax.