council tax on two homes?

MinniMe_2

Hi guys hoping some one can help - I am having to rent a second property for 6months as I have to move for work, I am not planning on renting out my place while away as it is only for 6months but I have just spoken to the council and they say that as I get single person discount I am not entitled to any other discount even though my home will be empty and I will be paying council tax on that and the rented place.

Does anyone know any way around this?

Thanks!

CIS

Is the property required by the job ? (i.e not just so that you can live in the area for work but specified as part of the employment contract)

Your 'home' property will be classed as your main residence however you will get a second home discount on your 'work' property. If you work it correctly then you can play between the two councils as to which one you declare as your man residence and which one you declare as your second home in order to minimise your council tax liability.

chappers

If you can move your furniture out( a pain I know) then as empty and unfurnished it is exempt. you will have to get them to come round and see it empty though.
Think the exemption lasts for 6 months.

MinniMe_2

Many thanks! I will not be able to remove all of the furniture to make the property exempt but will keep looking at options.

Anon

We recently moved out of our house and it is currently empty (ready for rental) - we informed the council that no-one was living there until tenants moved in - they sent back exemption for 6 months (or until someone moves in, whichever is sooner).

They didn't require that someone come round to visit.

Anon

MinniMe_2

Anon is your place still furnished?

chappers

Anon you are very lucky then as the council tax rules for exemption state that the house must be unfurnished.and they nearly always come and check first , well here in Oxford they do .
Its all on the direct.gov website.

CIS

The direct.gov site is slightly out with the information re a Class C exemption - the actual definition is ' empty and substantially unfurnished' . As with many issues in Council Tax it is up to local councils to decide on the actual interpretation of unfurnished.

Most councils do check but the council I work for is one of the few I suspect that doesn't - we have 250000+ residents and 2 inspectors.

tinkerbell84

CIS wrote: »

Is the property required by the job ? (i.e not just so that you can live in the area for work but specified as part of the employment contract)

Your 'home' property will be classed as your main residence however you will get a second home discount on your 'work' property. If you work it correctly then you can play between the two councils as to which one you declare as your man residence and which one you declare as your second home in order to minimise your council tax liability.

Not necessarily. Not every council offers a second home discount. I have to pay full CT on both of my properties.

CIS

Second home discounts are variable (between 0 and 50% discount) depending on the council but a job related second home is still fixed in legislation as being 50%. Councils have not been given powers to vary job related second homes.

tinkerbell84

CIS wrote: »

Second home discounts are variable (between 0 and 50% discount) depending on the council but a job related second home is still fixed in legislation as being 50%. Councils have not been given powers to vary job related second homes.

My second home is job related. Council said I wasn't entitled to a discount.

How do I get this sorted? I've been here 4 years!!! :mad: :mad: