Council tax reduction/exemption for elderly relative query

BearBoi

Background
My father in law, 85, now resides in care. He lived abroad for about 20 years before getting ill, then returned to the UK about 3 years ago to convalesce and he lived near us in a rented flat until his health deteriorated further, and he now needs a lot of care, so is in residential care.
He owns his own home, which was rented out through an agency for much of the last 20 years, but has been neglected and in need of a lot of tlc. When the last tenants gave notice, we decided to sell the house rather than re-let, so have spent that time doing some refurbishment.
Local council, (Cumberland), after initially stating he would be eligible for exemption due to his care home status, have now informed us that he is not in fact exempt, as the property was not his main residence before going into care,
So he has a vacant unfurnished property his only home, not a second house, (just on the market), liable for the full rate of council tax. He can't possibly live there due to his health needs, I wondered is there any reduction to which he is entitled, before I accept the councils charges.
Thanks for any advice

p00hsticks

I don't think there will be, but @lincroft1710 is the expert here I think.
I assume from the way you write that you or your spouse have PoA for him ?

Note that when you sell the property there will likely be Capital Gains Tax to pay as he's not lived in it for so long, and this needs to be paid within 60 days of completion. 

lincroft1710

I think the council are correct as it was not his main home.prior to going into care. Be aware that Cumberland Council charge 100% premium for dwellings which have been empty for more than a year.


If he had owned (as opposed to rented) the flat he was occupying, he would have got CT exemption on that property as that was his main home. If he was unable to surrender the tenancy of the flat and remained liable for CT until the tenancy ended he would have got CT exemption for that period

FrustratedPython

Are there any allowances regarding CT for properties in need of / undergoing refurbishment?  I have a vague idea there have been in the past but not sure of current rules.  That might be a better possibility to explore.

BearBoi

Thanks to everyone for their replies. Looks like I may have hit a dead end.
The refurbishment referred to was painting, new carpets, some doors and minor plumbing, none of which made the house uninhabitable, (it just wasn't very nice).
Although the house is empty, he is a single person. Should he be entitled to single person discount ? - It seems perverse that he would be paying more for the house being empty, than he would if he was able to live in it.
It seems a shame that he is now paying council tax twice, one lot for where he lives, and an extra lot for the empty house he owns. Just hope it sells soon,

lincroft1710

BearBoi said:

Thanks to everyone for their replies. Looks like I may have hit a dead end.
The refurbishment referred to was painting, new carpets, some doors and minor plumbing, none of which made the house uninhabitable, (it just wasn't very nice).
Although the house is empty, he is a single person. Should he be entitled to single person discount ? - It seems perverse that he would be paying more for the house being empty, than he would if he was able to live in it.
It seems a shame that he is now paying council tax twice, one lot for where he lives, and an extra lot for the empty house he owns. Just hope it sells soon,

Single Person Discount is just that, discount for a single occupier. Empty properties do not attract SPD. Why is he paying CT if he is in care? Or does he have his own flat in sheltered housing?

BearBoi

He is paying council tax as he has his own flat in sheltered housing - still it seems perverse that if he was living in his own home he would get a discount, but because he is unable to, he won't.

lincroft1710

BearBoi said:

He is paying council tax as he has his own flat in sheltered housing - still it seems perverse that if he was living in his own home he would get a discount, but because he is unable to, he won't.

He would be entitled to the 25% SPD in the flat. I don't understand why and what sort of "discount" he would get by living in owned rather than rented.