Council Tax - when should you start paying?

Brokenlynx

Hi all, 

I've recently completed on a property and am moving from my nearby family home. 

As it stands at the moment I haven't actually moved in and am currently moving between my nearby family home and the new property, measuring rooms and earmarking areas needing repair or painting. 

I was just wondering though at what point am I liable for council tax? 

Is it from the completion date? Or is it from the date I'm moved in? 

Thanks

Brie

From the date you own the property.  Whether you move in or not is immaterial unless someone else moves in and at that point they should be responsible.  (as in you're a landlord and the tenant pays council tax)

Jonboy_1984

When I registered our councils website asked for date of purchase and date of move( I
i.e. date it would be furnished). They automatically gave us empty property relieve on the dates in between.

Note there is a limit of 6 months relief per property and if you are buying a previously empty property (e.g. probate or ex rental) the previous owners may have used it.

KxMx

It can vary from council to council.
Mine gives no empty discounts on rental property for example. 
My tenancy start date was the date I became liable, despite it being empty for 5 weeks until I moved in.
I had no liability at my previous address. 

lincroft1710

As KxMx says empty home discount  varies from council to council. CT legislation permits councils to charge between 0% to 100% for empty homes, it is up to the council what they charge.

JReacher1

There is also the bizarre rule that if you plan to live on your own but haven’t officially moved in yet then you can’t claim single person discount so you’re potentially paying 100% council tax for an empty house!