Certificate of Lawfulness and Council Tax?

Gameplayers

Hi All,

Hope all is well. I have been wondering if anyone could help and give me some advice please?

Basically, our Victorian terraced home was converted into two self-contained flats by its previous owner many years ago, each flat has its own separate council tax/water/gas/electric bill etc. Everything is freehold on one title. It has a ground floor flat, then all upper floors is another flat by itself.

We have recently decided to combine the two flats into single dwelling house, for our whole family to live in. The reason is to make 2 council tax bills into just 1 council tax bill, to save our costs.

Our council told us that we need to apply for planning for this, so we did. We applied for Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) and its been granted now. It means this change does not require requiring planning permission.

Now, we are kind of confused as to what needs happening next. Obviously, there would be some building works to be involved, for example: -

- Removing the doors of the two flats internally
- Removing the extra kitchen, as we only wish to keep one
- Changing all water / electric / gas supply, from two supplies into one supply

Question, do we have to carry out all building works first before we could apply for changing 2 council tax bills into 1 council tax bill please?

Also, does anyone know if we still need any building regulations certificate/checks at any stage from now on please? After getting the Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) I mean.

I would be really grateful.

Many thanks,
GP

CIS

Council tax will change from 2 bands to 1 on the day they cease to exist as separate dwellings. In real terms it'll probably be a while before the actual update gets processed so you need to give them the date as soon as it is known.

Gameplayers

CIS wrote: »

Council tax will change from 2 bands to 1 on the day they cease to exist as separate dwellings. In real terms it'll probably be a while before the actual update gets processed so you need to give them the date as soon as it is known.

Thanks a lot! So does it mean that someone from council will need to come to our house to inspect before they would approve the council tax change please?

Many thanks!

CIS

The valuation office agency are responsible for the banding side. The council will only become involved once the property has been banded.

lincroft1710

The system may have changed since I worked in the VOA, but you needed to do the work necessary to convert to a single dwelling, before the VOA would inspect and reband accordingly

Gameplayers

Thanks a lot!!

I will get the building works done first. From your experiences, would the VOA need to see the building regulations certificate before they would inspect and reband please? Or are they two completely separate things?

Also, how do I book an appointment with the valuation office agency please? How much would it cost please? Would you be able to recommend me a VOA please? I'm based in London.

I would be really grateful.

Many thanks!!

CIS

The VOA are a government organisation, there is no cost as they are undertaking a statutory duty in respect of taxation.


The VOA can be contacted by looking on their website for their contact details.

lincroft1710

VOA do not need to see the BRC