Empty Property - Council Tax

We wish to retire in a new area and have just bought a property, our current home is on the market and yet to sell, hopefully it will soon.  The new property is currently empty waiting for redecoration/new bathroom etc. I rang the Council this morning and they said that there is no exemption for empty properties and that this was stopped in 2017 and we would have to pay the full CT on the new property.  Is there any way to get round this, did it really stop in 2017.  If that is correct, could we claim single person discount on the Council Tax in the new property?
Thank you
Ms Chocaholic
Thrifty Till 50 Then Spend Till the End
You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time

Comments

  • Flugelhorn
    Flugelhorn Posts: 7,116 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Yes I think it did stop about then, only exemption is for probate or for a limited range of occupations.

    I often pondered about OH and I living at different addresses to that we could get 2 single person discounts but it seemed like fraud to me. 
  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Posts: 22,525 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Cashback Cashier
    I'm not aware of any discount or exemption that would apply in your situation
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 14,231 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If that is correct, could we claim single person discount on the Council Tax in the new property?

    My understanding is that If one of you is genuinely living in one property and the other in the other then you could both claim single person discount, but it must be a reflection of the real life situation - i.e.e you must genuinely be living in the property for the majority of the time.
  • Empty property discount is at the discretion of the council, years ago you got 6 months - in the North West the one's I've dealt with recently still give 1 month.

    I did with one council explain that I was only staying at the property Mon - Thurs to renovate, thus just over the 50% point so had to pay full tax less 25% - but that allowed me to do the same at home - a higher band so a better saving.
    Mr Generous - Landlord for more than 10 years. Generous? - Possibly but sarcastic more likely.
  • My council gives six months empty property discount. I unfortunately didn’t qualify as the seller had already claimed it prior to my taking ownership 
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,618 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    . I rang the Council this morning and they said that there is no exemption for empty properties and that this was stopped in 2017 and we would have to pay the full CT on the new property.  Is there any way to get round this, did it really stop in 2017.  If that is correct, could we claim single person discount on the Council Tax in the new property?

    Yes the rules changed about that time giving individual councils the choice to offer exemption between zero and twelve months. Most councils offer zero exemption. As has been previously stated SPD could only be claimed if you were genuinely living apart in different houses
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
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