Council tax banding

ThisIsWeird

Eldi_Dos said:

The assumption that the kitchen would need to be removed seems shaky ground to me. What is to stop people having two kitchens in their home.
Someone running a home baking, chutney making business would benefit from such a set up, indeed there may even be cultural preferences for two kitchens.

I am not saying it's the case, but will likely (from past experience when considering buying such a property) influence their decision on what determines a 'separate' property. Coupled with the separate power supplies, it's pretty obvious this example is.

Yes, you could add a few units and a sink and cooker in any additional room in your own house that you may wish, but bear in mind if BC and Planning find out you'll get a spanking.

If JG asks their council to consider this property as a single dwelling, but "I'm keeping the kitchen and separate supplies...", then - as a non-betting fellow - I am happy to bet a £iver on what they'll say. :-)

macman

It's relatively trivial to remove the kitchen. A couple of hours to remove any units and then the sink and any cooking appliances. One days work? That should satisfy any inspection. Then it depends what you intend to use the room for afterwards. There is no reason you can't have a sink in it if it was to become a bedroom?
The definition is really around removing 'food preparation areas'.
Assuming you are paying at least £1k a year in C Tax, surely this is worthwhile. if it is never going to be used as an annexe again?
The gas can be capped off and the meter removed: that alone will save you several hundred a year in standing charges. The electricity supply would need to be rewired so it is fed from the main property. That may not be a huge job.
Sooner or later you are presumably going to sell the property, so unless you want to have to sell it as is, you will have to tackle it then?

Bookworm105

As you may know the VOA are the only body who determines if a property is subject to council tax and if so, what band it falls in. Each individual council has no say in the matter, they simply receive a "valuation list" from the VOA giving the address and its band.

Council tax legislation sets out when a property is liable to CT, As from 1 April 1997 the definition of self-contained unit was changed to mean “a building or part of a building which has been constructed or adapted for use as separate living accommodation”.

Patently it is possible to "merge" back into one, however, the VOA makes clear that the decision it is now one based on the facts of the individual case. Unsurprising therefore you got no help over the phone, as an inspection would be needed. 

However, I hope you can immediately sense the underlying issue, if the annex cannot be lived in without needing facilities in the other part of the house then it is not a separate dwelling. "Living" requires use of a kitchen and bathroom, with the non existence of a kitchen obviously being more clear cut than a bathroom. 

In crude terms you do indeed need to remove things that made it capable of self contained living: kitchen, separate utilities, door that closes it off. At some point on that list the VOA will accept it is no longer self contained, but that point will be down to the decision of person making the decision! Whether that decision would require utter removal of everything, ie the pipework in the kitchen rather than just the units themselves, may be down to the person you deal with 

You should research for yourself the VOA manual (section 5)
Council Tax Manual - Council Tax: practice notes - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Cloudicloud

Hi
I live in a block of flats, that includes 3 bed, 2 bed with garden, 1 bed. We are all on the same council tax Band C
Is this the right way of banding a block of flats?
It's a council property.
 

Bookworm105

Cloudicloud said:

Hi
I live in a block of flats, that includes 3 bed, 2 bed with garden, 1 bed. We are all on the same council tax Band C
Is this the right way of banding a block of flats?
It's a council property.
 

it is better to ask your question in a new thread otherwise people start replying to the first post, not your question

there is a great deal of detail on the main MSE site explaining how to compare & appeal council tax banding, please read it:
Council Tax & Government Grants - MoneySavingExpert