Council tax bill for newly purchased property

WhiteRabbit6

Hi. My sons have just bought a house which was empty for over a year. They are doing some work before moving in (central heating) but have been hit with a council tax bill double the standard rate as they are being charged 100% extra because the property was empty for over a year. This seems very unfair (and not affordable for them) as they have only just bought it. It seems they are being penalised because the previous owner left it empty before selling. Is this fair? Can they appeal this extra charge? Thanks for any guidance/info you have to help us under and this.

Dobbibill

They status prior to purchase should have no bearing on the current CT tax bill. 

Your son should be eligible for zero rate whilst empty as a new owner for a few months. (this is for a limited period)

If your council rules have changed recently and the above is no longer allowed then update the status to resident with them and they should only be charged the standard amount - if a single occupant then they will be eligible for the single persons discount reducing the bill by 25%.

EG - this is on my local council site as one of the reasons a property may be except

• Requires or is  undergoing major repair or undergoing structural alteration (exemption allowed for up to one year only or 6 months from completion of the works, whichever the sooner)

Have a look on your council website for further information that may be applicable to your son's circumstances.

p00hsticks

Dobbibill said:

They status prior to purchase should have no bearing on the current CT tax bill. 

I don't believe that's true. The 'time property has been left empty' clock doesn't get reset on change of ownership.

grumpy_codger

Dobbibill said:

Your son should be eligible for zero rate whilst empty as a new owner for a few months. (this is for a limited period)

My council says that it's only reduced, not zero, and only if undergoing major renovation. And by 'major' they mean something like removing walls and installing RSJs.

Complete luck of kitchen (no cabinets, no sink, no hob, rewiring) doesn't count.

housebuyer143

Dobbibill said:

They status prior to purchase should have no bearing on the current CT tax bill. 

Your son should be eligible for zero rate whilst empty as a new owner for a few months. (this is for a limited period)

If your council rules have changed recently and the above is no longer allowed then update the status to resident with them and they should only be charged the standard amount - if a single occupant then they will be eligible for the single persons discount reducing the bill by 25%.

EG - this is on my local council site as one of the reasons a property may be except

• Requires or is  undergoing major repair or undergoing structural alteration (exemption allowed for up to one year only or 6 months from completion of the works, whichever the sooner)

Have a look on your council website for further information that may be applicable to your son's circumstances.

The discount is based on the property, not the ownership. There would be no empty discount because the previous owners likely used it. 

Bookworm105

Dobbibill said:

They status prior to purchase should have no bearing on the current CT tax bill. 

Your son should be eligible for zero rate whilst empty as a new owner for a few months. (this is for a limited period)

If your council rules have changed recently and the above is no longer allowed then update the status to resident with them and they should only be charged the standard amount - if a single occupant then they will be eligible for the single persons discount reducing the bill by 25%.

EG - this is on my local council site as one of the reasons a property may be except

• Requires or is  undergoing major repair or undergoing structural alteration (exemption allowed for up to one year only or 6 months from completion of the works, whichever the sooner)

Have a look on your council website for further information that may be applicable to your son's circumstances.

I am sorry to say that your knowledge is lacking. There has been no change in rules, CT has always been based on linear time, not change of ownership. Exemption periods span across owners and when they end, they end. It does not cease to be empty until someone takes up residence in it.

ReadySteadyPop

WhiteRabbit6 said:

Hi. My sons have just bought a house which was empty for over a year. They are doing some work before moving in (central heating) but have been hit with a council tax bill double the standard rate as they are being charged 100% extra because the property was empty for over a year. This seems very unfair (and not affordable for them) as they have only just bought it. It seems they are being penalised because the previous owner left it empty before selling. Is this fair? Can they appeal this extra charge? Thanks for any guidance/info you have to help us under and this.

The previous owner is liable for the bill.

lincroft1710

ReadySteadyPop said:

WhiteRabbit6 said:

Hi. My sons have just bought a house which was empty for over a year. They are doing some work before moving in (central heating) but have been hit with a council tax bill double the standard rate as they are being charged 100% extra because the property was empty for over a year. This seems very unfair (and not affordable for them) as they have only just bought it. It seems they are being penalised because the previous owner left it empty before selling. Is this fair? Can they appeal this extra charge? Thanks for any guidance/info you have to help us under and this.

The previous owner is liable for the bill.

The previous owner is only liable for the payment of CT during their ownership.

If a property has been unoccupied for more than 12 months, double CT can be charged, the clock is not reset with change of ownership

grumpy_codger

ReadySteadyPop said:

WhiteRabbit6 said:

Hi. My sons have just bought a house which was empty for over a year. They are doing some work before moving in (central heating) but have been hit with a council tax bill double the standard rate as they are being charged 100% extra because the property was empty for over a year. This seems very unfair (and not affordable for them) as they have only just bought it. It seems they are being penalised because the previous owner left it empty before selling. Is this fair? Can they appeal this extra charge? Thanks for any guidance/info you have to help us under and this.

The previous owner is liable for the bill.

How come? The previous owner is liable for the tax until the completion. As the bill was sent to the new owner, the council is aware of the change and the tax starts on the completion date. I guess the new owner informed the council that they were going to move in later.

ReadySteadyPop

WhiteRabbit6 said:

lincroft1710 said:

ReadySteadyPop said:

WhiteRabbit6 said:

lincroft1710 said:

ReadySteadyPop said:

WhiteRabbit6 said:

Hi. My sons have just bought a house which was empty for over a year. They are doing some work before moving in (central heating) but have been hit with a council tax bill double the standard rate as they are being charged 100% extra because the property was empty for over a year. This seems very unfair (and not affordable for them) as they have only just bought it. It seems they are being penalised because the previous owner left it empty before selling. Is this fair? Can they appeal this extra charge? Thanks for any guidance/info you have to help us under and this.

The previous owner is liable for the bill.

The previous owner is only liable for the payment of CT during their ownership.

If a property has been unoccupied for more than 12 months, double CT can be charged, the clock is not reset with change of ownership

 They are doing some work before moving in (central heating) but have been hit with a council tax bill double the standard rate as they are being charged 100% extra because the property was empty for over a year. This seems very unfair (and not affordable for them) as they have only just bought it. It seems they are being penalised because the previous owner left it empty before selling. Is this fair? Can they appeal this extra charge? Thanks for any guidance/info you have to help us under and this.

The previous owner is liable for the bill.

The previous owner is only liable for the payment of CT during their ownership.

If a property has been unoccupied for more than 12 months, double CT can be charged, the clock is not reset with change of ownership

. They are doing some work before moving in (central heating) but have been hit with a council tax bill double the standard rate as they are being charged 100% extra because the property was empty for over a year. This seems very unfair (and not affordable for them) as they have only just bought it. It seems they are being penalised because the previous owner left it empty before selling. Is this fair? Can they appeal this extra charge? Thanks for any guidance/info you have to help us under and this.

"Hi. My sons have just bought a house which was empty for over a year."

First line explains that no one wants to re-set the clock?

elmer

We require to see evidence of an increase in utility bills before we cancel the 200% charge