Council tax for a property on a caravan site that is closed.

SST22

It is no more than a box (part of an old railway carriage but still moveable as one unit without dismantling) in the middle of a touring/static caravan and holiday chalet/camping site. No electricity, no water, no amenities, no lights etc. Very basic. My place most definitely falls within the official description/definition of a caravan and is not used nor suitable as a residence, so my next task is to go to the Tribunal to try and get it taken off the list. I have never understood why CT was charged and from everything I have read I am convinced that the decision to charge CT is wrong. 

lincroft1710

Odd that inn the 2020s a caravan site would allow part of a railway carriage on its land. There must have been a reason why it has a CT band, have you or a previous owner used it as a main or sole residence as holiday caravans are not usually subject to CT. Have you appealed to the VOA about removing the "caravan" from CT list

SST22

I haven't appealed yet. Now the place is open I intend to go take photographs and measurements to make sure that I can present as much to the Tribunal as possible. 
As far as I know, it's been there since the 1930's. The whole place is, let's say, very rustic.
I don't (nor ever have) live there but I don't know about previous owners but I doubt it very much because it really wouldn't be suitable for permanent occupation and the lease strictly forbids it. I have a theory (very very plausible) as to why the decision to levy CT was made but I will save that for the Tribunal. 

CIS

My place most definitely falls within the official description/definition of a caravan and is not used nor suitable as a residence, so my next task is to go to the Tribunal to try and get it taken off the list.

You need to go to the VOA first and ask - only then you can go to the VT at a later date, if needed (if you don't follow the correct process then it'll just get tossed out). They are usually fine if the case is put across right, I had several caravan cases last year and didn't have any issues with any of them.

SST22

Thank you CIS. 
I had asked the CT office and they just told me to go directly to the Tribunal via a link they sent me. I shall do more reading. 

lincroft1710

SST22 said:

I haven't appealed yet. Now the place is open I intend to go take photographs and measurements to make sure that I can present as much to the Tribunal as possible. 
As far as I know, it's been there since the 1930's. The whole place is, let's say, very rustic.
I don't (nor ever have) live there but I don't know about previous owners but I doubt it very much because it really wouldn't be suitable for permanent occupation and the lease strictly forbids it. I have a theory (very very plausible) as to why the decision to levy CT was made but I will save that for the Tribunal. 

As CIS has stated you need to appeal to the VOA first. Your theory as to why it was banded is completely irrelevant, only facts are relevant. The VOA will know why it was originally banded, I would presume either someone did live there permanently, or it was reported to the VOA that it was being used as someone's home and the VOA couldn't obtain any info, so just acted on the report and banded it.

Do you have a lease on the land upon which it stands or do you just pay an annual rent. If you owned the land on which it stood (or had it on very long lease) then banding it would probably be correct as it would be treated as a second home. I presume you do not let it out to holidaymakers

CIS

SST22 said:

Thank you CIS. 
I had asked the CT office and they just told me to go directly to the Tribunal via a link they sent me. I shall do more reading. 

The council are wrong. There is a full statutory process that needs to be followed before a case can go to tribunal. As has been pointed out you need to go to the VOA and ask that they remove the banding. The council have no say in this.

SST22

Just an update. 
I sent an email request for removal through a link given to me in an email from the council. After several emails back that clearly demonstrated that they thought I was trying to get a temporary deletion (for renovation) and several clear explanations that I wanted permanent removal (with details and photos), I received an email from them saying that they did not believe that the property should be removed. I then telephoned the Tribunal and was asked to read the exact content of the refusal and the very helpful lady at the Tribunal told me that what they had sent was NOT an official refusal as it WASN'T in the correct form nor did it contain the required information (guidance on what to do next etc). 
I was given the correct link and downloaded a proper PROPOSAL form, which I completed and returned with additional information/photographs. 
I have just been informed that the property will be removed from the listing forthwith (and backdated). Excellent result.

 
Thanks again for all your previous help.