Purchase new home - not moved in yet because renovation - Do I need to pay council tax/utilities?

Theresonly1

Could I get an exemption from paying council tax since I not yet moved in as I'm renovating the new property which could take 4-6 months to complete and I'm already paying council tax for the address I'm currently live in the meantime ?

Or can i apply for some sort of a discount?

Does this varies council by council?

or is there no such thing? meaning that I need to pay council tax for my property since completion even though I'm not technically living there at the moment?

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Same question for utilities such as Electricity/Gas/Water?

propertyrental

* Irrelevant that you pay CT elsewhere.
* irrelevant that you are not living there
* you might get an empty property exemption - check the relevant council website for exact requirements  and for how long
* beware empty properties can be charged additional amounts - - check the relevant council website for exact requirements
* if the utilities are connected you'll need an account. Even if not used there'll be a standing charge. If you use the gas etc, you pay for the usage.
* if the utilities are not connected, there'll be no charge.

Jonboy_1984

You might get an empty property exemption if there is no furniture in the building, but they normally are for a maximum of six months and are per property(regardless of ownership). If this was a probate property or similar and empty for a while before purchase it is very possible the previous owner has claimed it all. 

If this has happened it can potentially lead to the point you are liable for paying 200% council tax under their schemes to get empty properties back into use….

housebuyer143

Council tax - you may get an exemption if it's empty and unfurnished. My council gives you 6 months.. It's on the property though so if the previous owners claimed it or some of it recently the amount of time is reduced for you. If the property is empty too long you may have to pay increased council tax instead.


Utilities - no chance. You have to pay even if it's empty unless you disconnect the supply and then it's expensive to reconnect.
Water - if it's empty and you don't use any water then they will not charge you anything if you notify them. Renovation though they will specifically ask if you are doing this. If you answer yes then you need to pay.

ThisIsWeird

TO1, surely you'll need utilities connected and running in order to carry out the reno? Leccy at least?
As for the CT stay, I was offered this in my previous house in exactly this situation - a fellow came out to look at the property to confirm it wasn't 'habitable'. The complete lack of kitchen and boiler was enough for him. I think it was for 6 months max, as I recall.

Keep_pedalling

Did you take meter reading when you took ownership? You may not realise it but you have a deemed contract with whoever was supplying gas and electric to the previous owners, and even if none has been used you already owe the standing charges. While meters are in place you can’t avoid this. If you are going all electric with the refurb you could get the gas meter removed to get rid of those standing charges but nothing you can do about the electricity charges. 

35har1old

Keep_pedalling said:

Did you take meter reading when you took ownership? You may not realise it but you have a deemed contract with whoever was supplying gas and electric to the previous owners, and even if none has been used you already owe the standing charges. While meters are in place you can’t avoid this. If you are going all electric with the refurb you could get the gas meter removed to get rid of those standing charges but nothing you can do about the electricity charges. 

You also need non standard house insurance when property is empty and being renovated

amateur_house

My council charges double council tax when a property is empty. I moved a few years ago, and didn't move in for about 10 days whilst things were being sorted out. I was charged double for the 10 days the house was empty.

propertyrental

amateur_house said:

My council charges double council tax when a property is empty. I moved a few years ago, and didn't move in for about 10 days whilst things were being sorted out. I was charged double for the 10 days the house was empty.

Wow!...... Just... wow!

chanz4

A lot charge more for empty now