Council Tax Query

Nardge

Good morning all!

I'm currently sole tenant in rented accommodation for which I pay sole tenant council tax. I have bought a house which I plan to move in to. The house will remain empty for 6 months however, due to the need for refurbishment and renovation.

I've a few questions:

• Must the house be registered for Council Tax right now, at this stage, too?
• Therefore I'll have to pay Council Tax X 2 up until the time I've move into my house?
• What discounts, if any, are available in these circumstances besides sole tenant?

Thanking you in advance for your replies,

With Kind Regards

lisyloo

Is the house actually habitable?
Which council is it? They all have their own rules and normally this info is on their website.

Nardge

lisyloo said:

Is the house actually habitable?
Which council is it? They all have their own rules and normally this info is on their website.

Habitable yes,
though in need of overhaul of the subfloor, ground floor timbers, external walls, rainwater goods, and chimney stack...

Manchester City Council.

FlorayG

You have to register, yes. The council will keep sending letters to 'the new occupier' until you do
After that, only people who pay council tax to the same council as do you can help because they are all different. My council allows 6 months zero tax if you can show the house is being refurbished, but that's not the case with others. Some will make you pay for both residences, some will only give you 3 months

DullGreyGuy

https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500336/how_council_tax_is_worked_out_data_and_policies/5990/how_we_work_out_the_council_tax_for_empty_properties


Manchester is fairly strict... full council tax for unoccupied properties going up to 300% council tax if the property has been empty for a long time

p00hsticks

FlorayG said:

You have to register, yes. The council will keep sending letters to 'the new occupier' until you do
After that, only people who pay council tax to the same council as do you can help because they are all different. My council allows 6 months zero tax if you can show the house is being refurbished, but that's not the case with others. Some will make you pay for both residences, some will only give you 3 months

The previous owner will be asked to give details of the new owner when they contact the council to say they are no longer liable for the council tax.

Note that if the property was empty before the sale and the previous owner was claiming any empty property exemption this does NOT reset on change of ownership so it may not be available for your to claim.

Also note that some councils actually charge double the normal rate of tax after a property has been left empty for more than a certain period, to encourage owners to get them lived in.