COUNCIL TAX ON STORED STATIC CARAVAN...help

orbracs

Thanks Im happy to answer as a group or privately?

anselld

orbracs said:

Thanks Im happy to answer as a group or privately?

“Is it connected to mains water, drainage or electricity? What are you using it for? Can you check on the council's planning website to see if planning permission had be given for use as a standalone dwelling?” … can’t see why any of that needs to be private.

I would add .. What facilities does it actually have for cooking and sanitation?  

orbracs

It has everything a static has built into it. It does have water as far as I know but not tried it. No sewage. Or electric. No doesnt have no planning that I do know.

lincroft1710

orbracs said:

It has everything a static has built into it. It does have water as far as I know but not tried it. No sewage. Or electric. No doesnt have no planning that I do know.

Most statics on holiday parks actually have mains drainage and electric (as do mobile/park homes). If it had mains water you would see a pipe going up from the ground to the tap at the kitchen sink. 


You need to check with the council planning department if there is pp extant for the caravan whether as a permanent or holiday home. You also need to ask the council what evidence they have that the static is used as a standalone dwelling and ask the VOA why they believe a static caravan, unoccupied for 12 years, without mains electricity or drainage should be banded as a standalone dwelling.  

ReadySteadyPop

Grumpy_chap said:

orbracs said:

I got the bill from Council first some weeks ago.  Just received a letter from VOA with intention to charge me just after I posted this, in letterbox. The static isnt in badly condition but feel that is not the point. If it was they can still charge me. I do have the option of breaking it up. Lot of work. I need to know my legal standing before I contest this. I have found out that if its ancillary to your home and not lived in you shouldnt be charged. Anyone got solid legal advice? 

IANAL but I think the issue around being "ancillary to your home" is not solely whether it is lived in but also whether it is capable of being lived in.

A simple shed might be similar size to a small static caravan, but the way a shed is arranged would not normally indicate capable of being lived in.

A static caravan, however, is presumably arranged to include kitchen, living, sleeping and washing areas.  Static caravans often have chemical toilets so don't need a fully fledged sewer.  Cooking is often using LPG so no need for a piped gas supply.  While not ideal, electricity, water, and drainage from a sink can be rather informal and temporary arrangements but still function to a basic level of adequacy.  For these reasons a static caravan could be far more easily assessed as being capable of being lived in.

There might also be a difference between a static caravan stored in a garden for over-wintering but then sited on an approved site from spring through autumn rather than a static caravan stored in a garden and fixed for several years.

There has been a lot with Local Authorities tightening the rules around so called "Beds-in-Sheds" and the static caravan may have been assessed as a "Posh-Bed-in-Posh-Shed".

For "solid legal advice" you would need to consult a Solicitor.  Anything anyone says on these threads is only informal and friendly comment related to the situation.  Hopefully, someone may know more and can provide a more solid reference around the rules in force.

I believe some adult children are living in sheds in their parents gardens now to avoid paying landlords their rent, regarding the caravan I would just sell it, let the council tax gouge somewhere else.

lincroft1710

ReadySteadyPop said:

Grumpy_chap said:

orbracs said:

I got the bill from Council first some weeks ago.  Just received a letter from VOA with intention to charge me just after I posted this, in letterbox. The static isnt in badly condition but feel that is not the point. If it was they can still charge me. I do have the option of breaking it up. Lot of work. I need to know my legal standing before I contest this. I have found out that if its ancillary to your home and not lived in you shouldnt be charged. Anyone got solid legal advice? 

IANAL but I think the issue around being "ancillary to your home" is not solely whether it is lived in but also whether it is capable of being lived in.

A simple shed might be similar size to a small static caravan, but the way a shed is arranged would not normally indicate capable of being lived in.

A static caravan, however, is presumably arranged to include kitchen, living, sleeping and washing areas.  Static caravans often have chemical toilets so don't need a fully fledged sewer.  Cooking is often using LPG so no need for a piped gas supply.  While not ideal, electricity, water, and drainage from a sink can be rather informal and temporary arrangements but still function to a basic level of adequacy.  For these reasons a static caravan could be far more easily assessed as being capable of being lived in.

There might also be a difference between a static caravan stored in a garden for over-wintering but then sited on an approved site from spring through autumn rather than a static caravan stored in a garden and fixed for several years.

There has been a lot with Local Authorities tightening the rules around so called "Beds-in-Sheds" and the static caravan may have been assessed as a "Posh-Bed-in-Posh-Shed".

For "solid legal advice" you would need to consult a Solicitor.  Anything anyone says on these threads is only informal and friendly comment related to the situation.  Hopefully, someone may know more and can provide a more solid reference around the rules in force.

I believe some adult children are living in sheds in their parents gardens now to avoid paying landlords their rent, regarding the caravan I would just sell it, let the council tax gouge somewhere else.

If the council have made a mistake (which I believe they have in this case), there should be no need for OP to sell the caravan.