Hampshire CT adding 100 per cent premium as property empty after one year

megandz

Hi all.  I just had notification from Hampshire CT that they are charging us another £1456 for the rest of the ct year - so want payments of £414 from November.   We cant afford the normal amount.  Is there anything we can do? 

We own a buy to let but the tenant left last June (23) - the place was in a horrendous state with mould /smoke damage etc.  We are in a financial mess and didnt have the money to hire someone to sort it out so my husband took in on.  It's been a year with a suicide attempt (me due to financial issues), death and illness.  He hasn't had the time to do it but is now almost finished the work. The tenant returned to Brazil so nothing to claim from them. 

We've been honest with council  re the above and the fact that  the property was affected by cladding and couldn't be sold.  Thats almost fixed now and our intention is to sell so we cant rent out as the interest only mortgage expires in less than six months and the min rental term is 12 months.  

We can't remortgage due to it being in negative equity.   We are maintaining the interest only mortgage and the basic council tax from our own income but it's a real struggle and we have zero spare money. 

I know we are lucky that this isnt our main home etc.   The council don't care about the financial situation we are in or the health issues we are experiencing.   Any ideas? 

Thank you. 

tacpot12

There is good advice here: Dealing with Council Tax arrears - Citizens Advice

megandz

Thank you :-) I read through that but it's mainly to do with your own home. This isnt our home.  I just wondered if there was a way to dispute the penalty for leaving a property empty.  We didn't want to do that but we had no choice. 

FlorayG

All councils have different rules unfortunately there's no one rule for all. Some councils will allow zero or reduced council tax for properties that are uninhabitable - would it come under this description? ( mould and damp are a danger to health so that might be an argument to use). That might be worth a try.

lincroft1710

FlorayG said:

All councils have different rules unfortunately there's no one rule for all. Some councils will allow zero or reduced council tax for properties that are uninhabitable - would it come under this description? ( mould and damp are a danger to health so that might be an argument to use). That might be worth a try.

Plenty of properties have mould and damp and continue to be lived in. Unless a property has been condemned by the relevant council dept as unfit for habitation, the council won't entertain any claims that CT should not be payable. 

megandz

Update - I spoke to council today as we have paid total CT for the year - our account would be at zero were it not for this decision. The lady was lovely but she said there was nothing they could do.  It's legislation that drives this charge not the local councils.... 

Grumpy_chap

megandz said: 

We've been honest with council  re the above and the fact that  the property was affected by cladding and couldn't be sold.  Thats almost fixed now and our intention is to sell 

Tell the Council that the property is on the market to sell and you will settle their bill once the sale funds are received and you simply do not have the money to meet the bill in the mean time.  If necessary, offer a token monthly payment in the interim.