How to prove to council my house is not unfurnished and empty...

-taff

I just answered the question about what criteria needed to met. That's the criteria the council has for me, maybe his council has similar.

davidmcn

-taff wrote: »

I just answered the question about what criteria needed to met. That's the criteria the council has for me, maybe his council has similar.

The point is that if you occupy several furnished properties, you're only going to qualify for the single person discount at your main residence.

simond83

Not wanting to thread hijack, but my flat is empty and unfurnished, as i've moved abroad for work. It's been on the market for over 8 months. I can't rent it as it's shared ownership. I can't get the 25% sole occupancy discount as no one lives there. Are there any other options?

AdrianC

simond83 wrote: »

Not wanting to thread hijack, but my flat is empty and unfurnished, as i've moved abroad for work. It's been on the market for over 8 months. I can't rent it as it's shared ownership. I can't get the 25% sole occupancy discount as no one lives there. Are there any other options?

Reduce the price so it sells more quickly?

MontyHQ

OK my situation is that my wife and I pay council tax on another property that we rent (full whack, no discounts) and is just temporary. I want to know what I need to do to to reduce my council tax bill on the other property. If it means spending more time there or furnishing more then fair enough. I'm not looking to break the rules but better understand them.

sgun

MontyHQ wrote: »

OK my situation is that my wife and I pay council tax on another property that we rent (full whack, no discounts) and is just temporary. I want to know what I need to do to to reduce my council tax bill on the other property. If it means spending more time there or furnishing more then fair enough. I'm not looking to break the rules but better understand them.

You need to move in there, by yourself, and then you can claim 25% single person discount. There are no other discounts for habitable, unoccupied properties. Councils are on their knees financially, just pay your taxes!

AdrianC

MontyHQ wrote: »

OK my situation is that my wife and I pay council tax on another property that we rent (full whack, no discounts) and is just temporary.

So we're all agreed that that's your primary residence. That's where you actually LIVE.

I want to know what I need to do to to reduce my council tax bill on the other property.

Finish the refurb and move in.

How much is the annual CT difference between being getting two x 25% discounts, and not doing so?
How much are you spending in total per year on this ongoing situation - rent/double CT/refurb/etc/etc?

DE_612183

In my mind council tax is property related - so if you have two properties - you pay twice - yes you can get some discounts but you can't avoid it.

CIS

These cases are always 'fun' - I've argued both ends of them more times I can remember..

The argument over it becoming someone's residence when discounts,exemptions or premiums is involved is always one in which a prudent council will take a second look, just to make sure.


'Sole or main residence' is the key (which is more than just 'living' in it) - i.e. that property which the objective person, the 'reasonable man', would say was your residence if they had the facts. Typically, for obvious reasons, case law has found that a property in which a person has never been resident will not be their 'sole or main residence'.


'Unoccupied' is different to residence for council tax purposes - an unoccupied property is one on which 'no-one lives', this is a different concept to residence, which looks only at the 'sole or main residence'..

davidmcn

sgun wrote: »

You need to move in there, by yourself

Even if the OP actually did that, I don't think councils are likely to believe that a couple just happen to have distributed themselves over the two properties they own (unless they have genuinely separated).

OP, you are liable for the normal rate of council tax for the property you actually live in, and your other property is going to be treated under whatever regime the council has for second properties (which seems to be what is happening). I can't see that you occasionally sleeping in it is going to make any difference.