Double Council Tax demands after a death - truly awful.

theartfullodger

My brother died December 2020 , not Covid, during lockdowns etc.  Intestate so slow complicated sorting out estate etc.  I and my sister (obviously) paid all relevant bills, utilities, repairs, CT demands, solicitors and estate agent fees, house and garden clearance etc etc, promptly without argument:. From our funds, not his 

Gavin83

Cash_Cow said:

Gavin83 said:

I'm confused by the math here. If they're charging £400 a month from the date of death where has the £5k amount come from?

Approx 12x£400 = £5k ish...

So your mum passed away a year ago?

Keep_pedalling

I do not think the council have applied the correct rules here, this is clearly not a holiday home and the OPs mother was the sole occupant, so it should actually be exempt from CT.

https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/council-tax/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/how-will-council-tax-be-affected-by-the-death-of-an-adult-occupant/

canaldumidi

Cash_Cow said:

Gavin83 said:

I'm confused by the math here. If they're charging £400 a month from the date of death where has the £5k amount come from?

Approx 12x£400 = £5k ish...

So the property has been empty for a year? Is there a mortgage? Proper insurance? Clearly the long term plan for the property needs deciding, and dealing with, as costs (not just CT) will mount up.

thegreenone

Keep_pedalling said:

I do not think the council have applied the correct rules here, this is clearly not a holiday home and the OPs mother was the sole occupant, so it should actually be exempt from CT.

https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/council-tax/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/how-will-council-tax-be-affected-by-the-death-of-an-adult-occupant/

I think from reading the link that Councils must differ, although why I don't know.  

My Mum went into hospital after a fall in May 2020 and remained in care until she died 1 November 2020.  She had paid her CT in April 2020 for six months.  I told the Council about the situation and they refund me five months CT as she wasn't living there.  After she died, even as a residual beneficiary and executor, I didn't pay any CT.  

Your link also states that any house that is unoccupied but furnished is treated as a Holiday Home which is exactly the situation the OP finds him/herself.

elsien

To be fair to the council, yes you need time to grieve but if your mother died 12 months ago, they’re hardly “straight in.”

lincroft1710

Keep_pedalling said:

I do not think the council have applied the correct rules here, this is clearly not a holiday home and the OPs mother was the sole occupant, so it should actually be exempt from CT.

https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/council-tax/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/how-will-council-tax-be-affected-by-the-death-of-an-adult-occupant/

The issue in OP's case is slightly different as he was already a joint owner of the property before his mother's death. So he could be liable under the "CT hierarchy"

user1977

Cash_Cow said:

There is too much furniture to store.

If the intention is to sell the property, surely it will need cleared anyway?

canaldumidi

user1977 said:

Cash_Cow said:

There is too much furniture to store.

If the intention is to sell the property, surely it will need cleared anyway?

And if the intention is to keep the property, then CT will be due!

Cash_Cow

Gavin83 said:

Cash_Cow said:

Gavin83 said:

I'm confused by the math here. If they're charging £400 a month from the date of death where has the £5k amount come from?

Approx 12x£400 = £5k ish...

So your mum passed away a year ago?

I'm telling you what the bill I received was.  Yes it can be paid monthly.  I don't need any more grief thanks.