Council tax new changes

Flugelhorn

p00hsticks said:

Flugelhorn said:

From the House of Commons Library:

"

Acquiring an empty property you intend to live in

If you have bought a property that has already been empty for two years or more (one year in Scotland and Wales) and you do not immediately occupy it, you may have to pay the premium. Liability for the premium depends on how long the property has been empty: a change in ownership does not ‘reset the clock’. As soon as you move into the property, the premium will cease to apply.

Liability for a council tax premium will not appear on the normal legal searches that are conducted when purchasing a property."

You need to discuss with the council and they should reset the rate

... except that the OP has now added the additional information that they haven't yet moved in and the property is currently still empty, so they will still be liable for the 'unoccupied' rate until they do. 

very true ! they need to move in as quickly as possible 

Van_Girl

Once you move in, you inform the council and the bill will be recalculated at the normal rate, from the date you move in.

It's frustrating paying the extra, I know, but unfortunately nothing you can really do about it. 

I think there's some confusion above, the new owner is not responsible for the period before they took ownership. But they are being penalised with a higher rate for it being empty before they took ownership. 

fatbelly

Yes - it's a quirk of the rules.

They could be rewritten to include  a new owner resetting the clock on occupancy.

You will need to contact your MP but most have their minds on resigning or trying to get re-elected at present

lincroft1710

The legislation was purposely written so the clock does not restart upon a change of ownership as it is a charge on non occupation of property after a specific time period