Buying a house with Annexe - Council tax

Ddlj1996

Hi all,

I found this thread useful to understand the trigger for the council tax review, etc. Thanks all for sharing

@lincroft1710 can I pick your brain on something related please. I have recieved a letter from VOC which seems to be part of the HMRC now seeking information to review the council tax band for the property which had a granny annex when I purchased it almost 4 years ago.

They have requested the information back via email including scaled drawings of both annex and the main property and the pictures.

1. In terms of drawings, I cannot find the scaled drawing representative of the property and the internal layout. Do they expect this to be obtained by using a professional architect or I can submit the closest drawings I have got following purchase i.e. area is correct but the doors and windows are not (internal and external)

2. How much detail is expected from the me. pictures capturing every corner of the house and annex?

3. I have a seperate door to access annex in addition to an internal access, also a small kitchen and a shower, does that mean it gets classified as a seperate dwelling? This was all there when I purchased the property but I don't use the kitchen. It wouldn't have made sense to remove it when it wasn't hurting me.

4. If the VOC makes a decision, would I have an opportunity to discuss alternative options i.e. removing kitchen if that leads to not classifying as a seperate dwelling?

5. If classified as a seperate dwelling, will annex have a its own address e.g 1A, or just two CT bills for the same address?

6. I am confused it this seperate CT would mean that property becomes independent for the CT, land registry, mortgage, etc.. all the utilities are currently shared too, so struggling to understand implication of this change if it gets to it.

Thanks in advance for the response.

koalakoala

the house we bought was band D

As soon as we moved in our bill arrived as band F, due to owners building an extension before they moved in to the house, which was new

No-one came out to the house, so must have just done it all internally

Unhappy me

Didn’t think a small extension would put it up two bands

Yep I tried to complain, but no luck

lincroft1710

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996032#Comment_81996032

1. A most unusual request, VOA would usually inspect and look for themselves.If you have no drawings, you have no drawings
2. Honestly don't know,
3. Yes would constitute a separate dwelling for CT purposes
4. Not really, VOA now seem to take the line that it is not for them to give advice
5. VOA won't give the annex an "unofficial" address, possibly just say "Annex at (address)"
6. The property would be 2 dwellings for CT purposes only. Nothing else is affected

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81254412#Comment_81254412

Planning permission does not mean any building took place. The applicants may have changed their minds or had a change of circumstances.

When I bought my house the seller advised they had planning permission for an attic conversion but decided to move rather than have the upset of building works.

Building Control signing it off might alert the VOA to the works.

Ddlj1996

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996073#Comment_81996073

Great, thanks for the prompt response. It seems my council will be able to provide a 50% discount if occupied by family member or used myself.

I was hoping that VOC would recommend an outcome and I would have a chance to discuss if I can remove the kitchen to avoid seperate CT - I don't use that anyway. Should I make that suggestion in initial response itself.

VOC have mentioned that if I struggle to provide the info or they are not happy with my details, then they can arrange a visit. Maybe a change as VOC is now part of HMRC rather than local council.

Atleast I am less worried now, that nothing else gets impacted due to potential annex CT. My little brain didn't realise you can have 2 CT on same address and was rather thinking a new address which would have been a real mess to deal with other stuff.

Herzlos

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996057#Comment_81996057

I thought bandings were re-asseed on sale unless it was requested earlier. So the previous owner bought a band D and extended it, and it was still a band D until it was transferred to you and reassed as band F.

Though probably not something it'd occur to many people to do when buying an extended house.

lincroft1710

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996363#Comment_81996363

The VOA will assess on what is there on the day. If you want to remove the kitchen, you need to do it before they visit. However be aware that if the annex is in a converted outbuilding or new extension, then incorporating this area into the main house may lead to a band increase.

The VOA (and its previous incarnation) has always been part of HMRC or its previous incarnation