Query council tax on deceased MIL house

JH517261

Hi just hoping for some advice on querying a council tax bill on my deceased mother in laws house. 

She was in a care home for 4 years and her home was rented out to help pay care home bills. The council tax was paid for by the tenants. 

They gave notice to move out last March and we were in process of redecorating it before renting it out again but unfortunately my MIL died 6 weeks later at the end of April. 

We could not rent out or sell the empty house as we were waiting for probate. 

We informed the council of her death and they did not bill for council tax but in January we received a bill for £2725 for council tax whilst it was empty. 

I was under the impression that when an owner died no council tax is due whilst the estate is applying for probate and for 6 months afterwards. - exemptions. Probate has just been approved and we are waiting for the papers to come through. 

We have queried it with them twice but that are saying that because she did not live in the house prior to her death the exemption F does not apply. Is this correct please? It does not seem fair to me. The council involved is Thurrock council in Essex. 

Keep_pedalling

The exemption applies to the death of the occupant not the owner so yes they are correct. 

lincroft1710

As @Keep_pedalling said, the council are correct in saying Class F Exemption does not apply in this case