Paying long term vacant council tax fees during a pandemic

d4rr3n

I purchased a rundown house a few years ago that needs alot of work and the council are now charging me huge long term unoccupied council tax fees putting me under severe stress during this pandemic. I dont have the money at the moment to revamp the house and obviously selling during this time would be bad. I want to know if it is legal for the council to be putting me under financial stress by charging increased council tax charges during a pandemic when most are facing unemployment, reduced income and under financial stress? I may have to move into the property even though the conditions are not good just so they will be forced to change the status to occupied. Basically they are forcing me to live in bad conditions. Even if it is not unlawful to be putting me under financial stress during a pandemic I feel it is morally wrong, unthinking, heartless people!

davelewis

I know my local authority is offering loans to assist renovation of long term empty residential properties. Worth checking if your local authority offer these loans. 

Swansea - Owners of empty properties

d4rr3n

davelewis said:

I know my local authority is offering loans to assist renovation of long term empty residential properties. Worth checking if your local authority offer these loans. 

Swansea - Owners of empty properties

They do but this house doesn't qualify because they are only interested in small houses and flats (in my borough) because their interest is letting them out after to council tenants on a long them contract. 

HampshireH

Yes it's legal. You probably won't like this answer but It's council tax and it's not new for you if you have owned it a few years and it's still empty. It's a bill that is owed.

They aren't forcing you to move in. Having an empty property deteriorating rather than improving is in nobodies interest.

Have you lost your job as a result of Covid? If so it's worth seeing what benefits you are entitled to. They won't pay for a 2nd property (if that's what this is) as the housing market is moving nicely and it could be sold. You are just choosing not to.

As above there are grants for doing up property available though probably less so that before an economic downturn.

SpiderLegs

d4rr3n said:

I purchased a rundown house a few years ago that needs alot of work and the council are now charging me huge long term unoccupied council tax fees putting me under severe stress during this pandemic. I dont have the money at the moment to revamp the house and obviously selling during this time would be bad. I want to know if it is legal for the council to be putting me under financial stress by charging increased council tax charges during a pandemic when most are facing unemployment, reduced income and under financial stress? I may have to move into the property even though the conditions are not good just so they will be forced to change the status to occupied. Basically they are forcing me to live in bad conditions. Even if it is not unlawful to be putting me under financial stress during a pandemic I feel it is morally wrong, unthinking, heartless people!

It seems to me you are putting yourself under financial stress.

where do you live at the moment?
how long have you owned the property?
what was your renovation plan when you bought it and why has that not happened?
why can’t you sell the property?

d4rr3n

I was saving money to do it up until this pandemic hit. My plan was to move in since I am currently living in a studio. I have not become jobless but like most people my income is much reduced. 

HampshireH

Obviously we don't have all the details.

But if your income has been reduced it would suggest furlough or reduced hours or self employed and reduced custom.

If anyone of those still apply could you fit in a second job to help cover costs?

Hasbeen

The council are doing nothing wrong. You are putting yourself under financial stress. They are not forcing you to live there.

You bought a house that needed a lot of work.

You have had the house now for a few years. It still needs the same amount of work.

It appears it is now time to sell to someone who will do the work and make it a home.

d4rr3n

HampshireH said:

Obviously we don't have all the details.

But if your income has been reduced it would suggest furlough or reduced hours or self employed and reduced custom.

If anyone of those still apply could you fit in a second job to help cover costs?

Will have to either get a second job or move in I guess, to be honest probably going to be easier to fix a room up and move in. Do it up gradually room by room whilst living there. When I purchased it I thought I might qualify for a council loan but didn't workout like that

SpiderLegs

d4rr3n said:

I was saving money to do it up until this pandemic hit. My plan was to move in since I am currently renting. I have not become jobless but like most people my income is much reduced. 

That plan was illogical. saving money by paying rent whilst maintaining another empty property?
How much have you saved up in the few years you have owned this house?
presumably quite a bit. Your income has only taken a hit in the last nine months so I don’t see how you can blame a pandemic for this.

d4rr3n

SpiderLegs said:

d4rr3n said:

I was saving money to do it up until this pandemic hit. My plan was to move in since I am currently renting. I have not become jobless but like most people my income is much reduced. 

That plan was illogical. saving money by paying rent whilst maintaining another empty property?
How much have you saved up in the few years you have owned this house?
presumably quite a bit. Your income has only taken a hit in the last nine months so I don’t see how you can blame a pandemic for this.

The house needs quite a bit of work. To be precise I am not renting rather I rented out my home and have been staying in a room within that property so to save up. I have saved up but not enough to do the house up but probably have enough to make it liveable for myself. Will just have to live in it as I do it up.