buy to let and council tax

ali137

Hi

Can someone give me some advise please:

If you have a buy to let house, does the tenants pay the council tax? if yes, do the tenants register their name with the council?

If tenants move out and the property is left unoccupied does the landlord pay the coucil tax???

moneysavinmonkey

1) If you have a buy to let house, does the tenants pay the council tax?

Depends... If it is an HMO then the landlord is responsible otherwise the tenants are responsible unless it is agreed otherwise (e.g. rent includes council tax etc)

2) if yes, do the tenants register their name with the council?
Yes if the tenants are paying the council tax they need to register.. you can do this for them if you like.

3) If tenants move out and the property is left unoccupied does the landlord pay the coucil tax???
Yes - although depending on your council certain reliefs may be availble depending on whether the property is furnished or unfurnished. Check your district council web pages for details.

tbs624

If it's an HMO, then the LL is responsible for Council Tax.

If not, then it's up to the wording of the Tenancy Agreement. If the property is empty but part furnished then yes a liability will rest with the LL. Check via your local council website - under Council Tax exemptions.

msm- hadn't seen your reply before hitting button

moneysavinmonkey

great minds think alike....

mlz1413

If the house is empty as in unfurnished then you can claim up to 6 months free council tax in any one year.

If it is a let furnished and you don't have any tenants you will be liable for the council tax on it.

Also if the property is empty you should tell the utility companies, always have the readings to hand when you call. Because of this I would recommend changing the tariff to one where standing charge is added to the unit price. Hence no units used nothing to pay.

desdemona01

Another thing to think about is if the property is empty for a long period, I think my insurers quoted 30 days, you need to let your insurers know.

Tassotti

Can anyone explain WHY council tax is charged if the property is furnished?

Seems a bit rediculous.

All my properties are let unfurnished and I have never paid council tax between lettings...Mind you, nobody from the council has ever visited to check if it is furnished or not

Tass

mlz1413

If it's furnished then you can live in it all the facilities are there.
If it's unfurnished then it's clear you are not living there nor have the ability to live there.

Councils are normally quite strict that empty is empty, even if you left a table or a chair that would be considered furnished.

Not sure how often they check though!

Bungarm2001

I think they mostly take your word for it if you tell them it's unfurnished and tenantless...at least we've never been checked up on as in them actually looking around the house.

I did hear from the neighbour of a property we own that a council official looked thru the front room windows to check. Room was empty, so no council tax for 6 months!

chappers

Where I live in Oxford they come and inspect in 100% of cases and are very stubborn I just had one heck of a battle to get a property exempt retrospectively.
to say it is exempt for 6 months is only true if it is still unoccupied and unfurnished, if you re-let the property it is yours or your tenants duty to re-notify the council.

ali137

Thanks to everyone who replied to my thread. Now less confused