Council Tax - What if my partner moves into the annexe?

user1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81929193#Comment_81929193

Don't think that would be relevant for council tax? You can have many completely separate properties on one title (or one house with several titles).

saajan_12

How large and how separate is the annex? Eg is it so far that its closer to prepare and eat lunch separately? Does it have a separate entrance and is this needed if he's just going from the house to the office?

It may be better to re-combine the annex into the property, and get VOA to reband it as one property?

Keep_pedalling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81929281#Comment_81929281

It does, if it is one deed then the OP could get a discount on the CT For the annex.

lincroft1710

You and your husband only own one property but for CT purposes it is 2 dwellings. I think the council are incorrect in charging double CT for the annex

Zweitaktmotor

Sorry, I was out for the day. To answer your various questions:

• House and annexe are on the same deed, but had two council tax bills since before we moved in. We didn't mind because we calculated: The house is band B and the annexe band A. If combined, they might be band C, but that would be roughly the same tax (before the premium was introduced). So nothing to be gained.
• The annexe is physically connected to the house. It does not have its own service connections, i.e. water, electricity, gas, heating, telephone, Internet are all provided from the main house. It does, however, have a separate entrance (literally one step away from the main house door) and it does have a cooker and a shower, which apparently classes it as a separate living accommodation.
• But for the above reasons, it cannot be sold separately and would be very difficult to rent out (also because of lack of parking space). We would not want to accommodate strangers in our property anyway.
• We made enquiries today and it seems the house and the annexe cannot be combined, but the Second Home Premium is a different matter. If you search for "Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes" on GOV.UK, you will find that annexes fall under a mandatory exception under Class F. We pointed this out to our local council and they promised to look into it.

We are still a bit concerned, though. The purpose of these premiums is to encourage empty properties back onto the market. Even if we are successful and get the excemption, will the law change again? Will they decide to force us into taking a tenant? (Either by requesting this directly or by making it expensive not to.)

We really want to avoid this being called an "empty property" and someone getting green eyes.

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81930036#Comment_81930036

Could you remove the kitchen from the annexe, so that it is no longer separate accomodation?

Ms_Chocaholic

If you remove the cooker, all you have is an extension to your main residence. The back door comes in that way and you have a downstairs shower room. I would challenge the decision that they can't be combined, who did you speak to.

user1977

it seems the house and the annexe cannot be combined

Physically? Why not?

lincroft1710

If you remove the cooker, cap off the pipe (if gas) or use a blanking plate (electric), the VOA should agree to merge the 2. You mention shower, but do not say if there is a WC (which is far more relevant). You may need to remove the sink and pipework plus make good - you didn't in my day (I'm ex VOA), but rules/interpretations may have changed.

Zweitaktmotor

Ah, too much hassle with all the changes (yes, there is a toilet as well). We don't have a problem with receiving two CT bills, but we do object to being charged a "premium" or possibly being forced to take a lodger, or else…