Council Tax discount on empty rental property

ThriftyBrit

My Tenancy started in July, but I was unable to move into the property until September. The reason being I had been working and living abroad for seven years, and the packing up and leaving process took far longer than expected. My local council want to charge the full council tax for the two months I was not in the country, and the property sat empty. Surely I must be entitled to a discount of some kind, given that: 

(a) the property was empty;

(b) I was not in the country; and

(c) I did not benefit from any of the services funded by council tax. 

The council tax paid whilst the property was empty is just over £300, so not small change.

davidmcn

By "empty" do you mean unoccupied and unfurnished? If so then there may be a discount for that period. Otherwise the fact you weren't living there isn't going to get you any discount.

ThriftyBrit

davidmcn said:

By "empty" do you mean unoccupied and unfurnished? If so then there may be a discount for that period. Otherwise the fact you weren't living there isn't going to get you any discount.

I should have been clearer, unoccupied and unfurnished.

anselld

It varies by Council.  Check the local council discounts, if any.
Mine and many others charge 100% for empty, no discount whatsoever.  

HampshireH

Penny_Pincher said:

My Tenancy started in July, but I was unable to move into the property until September. The reason being I had been working and living abroad for seven years, and the packing up and leaving process took far longer than expected. My local council want to charge the full council tax for the two months I was not in the country, and the property sat empty. Surely I must be entitled to a discount of some kind, given that: 

(a) the property was empty;

(b) I was not in the country; and

(c) I did not benefit from any of the services funded by council tax. 

The council tax paid whilst the property was empty is just over £300, so not small change.

The council tax will be your responsibility for the duration of your tenancy agreement whether you chose to live there or not. I'm surprised your surprised by this.

Unusual for a landlords insurance to allow for a property to be empty for so long 

If a single person you will be eligible for the single person discount.

Some councils may offer a reduction for not living there but it's unusual.

ThriftyBrit

HampshireH said:

Penny_Pincher said:

My Tenancy started in July, but I was unable to move into the property until September. The reason being I had been working and living abroad for seven years, and the packing up and leaving process took far longer than expected. My local council want to charge the full council tax for the two months I was not in the country, and the property sat empty. Surely I must be entitled to a discount of some kind, given that: 

(a) the property was empty;

(b) I was not in the country; and

(c) I did not benefit from any of the services funded by council tax. 

The council tax paid whilst the property was empty is just over £300, so not small change.

The council tax will be your responsibility for the duration of your tenancy agreement whether you chose to live there or not. I'm surprised your surprised by this.

Unusual for a landlords insurance to allow for a property to be empty for so long 

If a single person you will be eligible for the single person discount.

Some councils may offer a reduction for not living there but it's unusual.

I do not expect a 100% discount, as I would have been reliant on the police and fire brigade service should anything have happened in my absence. The council have said no, and the same seems to be the consensus here which answers my question.  Thank you.

greatcrested

The single person discount won't apply as a single person was not livig there.

Check your council's website for what discounts are available. eg

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20144/exemptions_and_discounts

Note that CT is not related to services provided which you may or may not use - it's simply a tax. I don't have children but I still have to pay taxes towards education. I also don't use buses, but have to contribute to the subsidies the bus companies receive...

ThriftyBrit

greatcrested said:

The single person discount won't apply as a single person was not livig there.

Check your council's website for what discounts are available. eg

Note that CT is not related to services provided which you may or may not use - it's simply a tax. I don't have children but I still have to pay taxes towards education. I also don't use buses, but have to contribute to the subsidies the bus companies receive...

Makes sense when looking at it from that perspective, thank you.

KatrinaWaves

Council tax is not a service charge. Most councils no longer offer the discount as central government funding has been slashed repeatedly year on year. 

theartfullodger

One of the councils I rent out in charges a 100% uplift if you apply for such a discount but then don't move in fast enough.  

Good to see councils cracking down on empty properties.

Tory government have starved councils of60% of funding the ba**a***s 

Remember at next election

AdrianC

Penny_Pincher said:

My local council want to charge the full council tax for the two months I was not in the country, and the property sat empty. Surely I must be entitled to a discount of some kind, given that: 

They are perfectly entitled to...
https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/second-homes-and-empty-properties