How to appeal against paying council tax when away for 2 months???

bertiebassett_3

Anyone have any advice or who can point me in the right direction about wording etc for a council tax appeal. We are going to be out of the country for a couple of months. I have emailed our council only to be told to appeal if we want to request a reduction in our council tax - which, of course, we do! Just want to get the appeal wording and advice before proceeding.

Many thanks
Nina

sooz

eh, sorry i thought you only got a reduction if the place is vacant - ie no possessions left, not just if you are on holidays. please, someone correct me if i am wrong, but was away last week, and might need to pursue my case with my local council........ :rotfl:

heck, if i get a discount might go out tonight, and spend my council tax in the pub

Fran

What is the decision you are you appealing against?

daveboy

I am out of the country for a month (for most of November), never in a million years would I even dream of looking into getting a discount off my council tax. It is property based, not based on whether you are actually there or not (I know second properties may get some sort of reduction).

This thread has given me a chuckle as it shows how the OP has no grasp of reality when it comes to paying tax . None of us like it - but you're going to have to pay it even if you were away from your property for a year.

Murtle

I agree with sooz, I thought you could only not pay if there property is vacant, and you can prove that. My Mum rented a property out and inbetween lets it would get totally redecorated and council tax didn't have to be paid, as there was no electricity/gas etc connected and so could be proved....

Never heard of it when on hols or similar??!! Otherwise we'd all do it!!

CIS

This page explains the exemptions available

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourCouncil/CouncilTaxSection/cotax/ctexempt.html#explanations

Somerset

Agree with most of above.

Leaving a property empty because you are on holiday/working away is not an exemption for council tax payment. Second homes are also no longer exempt either ( obviously empty for periods ). If the property isn't habitable I know you can appeal/prove this. There's also a letting exemption where if your property is between lets no CT is paid, but for a limited period ( 6 months I think ).

Sorry Bertie - you won't get a rebate just because you are out of the country for a few months.

YorkshireBoy

Somerset wrote:

There's also a letting exemption where if your property is between lets no CT is paid, but for a limited period ( 6 months I think ).

I think they're closing this loophole now. Checking my local council's website, it appears that if you let your property "furnished", then there is no exemption for vacant periods.

sooz

i think prescott has let them reduce the loophole for vacant between lets, from 50 percent to 10 percent, at the local council's discretion. can get more reduction if unhabitable, ie unfurnished. works out cheaper now to say one person living there to qualify for 25 per cent reduction.

researcher

Check your insurance - most contents policies only offer cover for theft for a property which is vacant for up to 30 days - when we went to Australia for 2 months I had to cancel one insurance mid way through the time we were away and start another from that date.

Unless your property really is vacant and empty of your possessions I think your wasting your time with the council.

N9eav

Maybe I will claim £40 for my 2 week holiday in December?