Council tax on empty propties

BLADES

Hi Everyone. I was wondering if anyone could help with the following information needed. Today my wife has received a new council tax bill for the coming year. We already received one in March and all looked fine, but today’s showed that the council tax had doubled. We tried ringing sheffield council, but there lines shut before anyone could answer. We were both confused by the increase as nothing had changed.
Having looked at various websites, we now understand that councils can charge an extra 100% council tax on properties empty for more than two years. Something we have never heard about or been advised about before.
The rule being “from April 2019, the Council Tax charge on properties empty for more than 2 years increases by 100%”

What I’m trying to find out was when was this law/rule?? Passed. ( The only thing I have found was it was possibly around July 2018.) if it was 2018 and it came into force April 2019 can it be back dated, or should should the two years start from 2018/2019
Basically my wife flat has been empty since June 2017( this the reason receiving for new bill today). The property is up for sale, and has been since 2017, there has been viewings but offers way below asking. It’s not like we use it as a second/holiday home. We don’t mind paying the council tax but to double out of the blue came as a shock

Thanks

hazyjo

Each council has different rules. Some charge from Day One. Others charge more for second property. Some charge none.

t0rt0ise

The rule for 150% council tax was brought in in 2013. The law which changed it to 200% is the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/25/contents/enacted/data.htm

BLADES

Thank you for the link. That does clear it up a little. When I was searching it looked to me like it was a new rule brought in,not one from 2013.

daveyjp

It will have been agreed as part of the Council budget, which happens in about February of each year.

The charge will apply to any property which has been empty for the period of time in the agreed policy. If the policy changes next year and it is still empty the new policy will apply.

Most Councils started charging more for empty properties 3-4 years ago.

Some areas increase the charge the longer it has been empty. Eg 4x if it has been empty more than 10 years.

Mojisola

BLADES wrote: »

Basically my wife flat has been empty since June 2017( this the reason receiving for new bill today). The property is up for sale, and has been since 2017, there has been viewings but offers way below asking.

If it's been on the market for two years and all offers have been below the asking price, it's overpriced.

tacpot12

It does seems a little unfair that this charge has been levied without any communication. I'm fairly aware of rules on Council Tax and didn't know about this so how are ordinary residents supposed to be aware of this?

Did you get any warning that the council tax woudl be doubled if the flat remained empty? Had you asked Sheffield City Council to send the Council Tax bill to you home rather than the flat?

If you didn't receive any notice, I think I would complain to the council and then to the Lover Government Ombudsban. A letter to your councellor might also get you some respite. Lowering the price of the flat seems to be the final solution.

BLADES

Mojisola wrote: »

If it's been on the market for two years and all offers have been below the asking price, it's overpriced.

I wouldn’t disagree with that. It’s just fine margins to play with there isn’t much room., to help it sell. flat bought in 2009 for 56kish. Bought with a 100% mortgage.
Put up for sale for 50k 2017 ( similar properties sold for around that) someone offered 40k so they wouldnt pay second home SDLT. Couldn’t accept as would leave to much negative equity. In last couple of month reduced to 40k (as we have paid more of the debt) and some one offered 30k for it, again could accept as would leave 13 k approx negative equity

BLADES

tacpot12 wrote: »

It does seems a little unfair that this charge has been levied without any communication. I'm fairly aware of rules on Council Tax and didn't know about this so how are ordinary residents supposed to be aware of this?

Did you get any warning that the council tax woudl be doubled if the flat remained empty? Had you asked Sheffield City Council to send the Council Tax bill to you home rather than the flat?

If you didn't receive any notice, I think I would complain to the council and then to the Lover Government Ombudsban. A letter to your councellor might also get you some respite. Lowering the price of the flat seems to be the final solution.

We have had absolutely no warning from the council about the increase. The council tax bill we got in March 2019 all showed normal, todays just came out of the blue. All the bills have alway come to our house, so we defiantly would of seen something

Larac

We had problems selling my late Mums retirement flat (notoriously difficult to shift) - once you have cleared probate your are allowed six months to sell and then you are paying a year at the full rate and then it doubles. Not advised this but a quick google of the CT site does come up with this information. They also wanted the entire CT upfront as well.

00ec25

tacpot12 wrote: »

It does seems a little unfair that this charge has been levied without any communication. I'm fairly aware of rules on Council Tax and didn't know about this so how are ordinary residents supposed to be aware of this?.

you have 2.5K posts to your name but have not bothered to educate yourself about the very many times council tax has been discussed on here whilst you had an empty property?
You never thought to google council tax and property for sale?

as stated, the rules changed in 2013.
The fact you were not even aware of that, and therefore looking out for changes, shows why "lack of communication" is entirely fair in your case.