300% Council tax premium on empty property?

300% Council tax premium on empty property?

9:49 AM, 26th July 2021, About 3 years ago 14

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In February my daughter (first-time buyer on lowish income) bought an empty terraced house to live in. She could see that the house had been empty for a while but nobody warned her about empty property council tax premiums. The local council (Leicester City) now says that she is liable for council tax at 300% for the period it has remained empty since completion while renovations have been undertaken. The work consisted of new gutters, rewiring, installation of central heating, complete replastering, new kitchen and bathroom and redecoration.

The local empty housing officer did ask her to complete a questionnaire about her intentions and she received some reduced VAT on some of the work whilst paying her normal council tax assessment.

Having just been billed for the extra CT she is rushing to complete enough work to be able to occupy the house as soon as possible.

Should her solicitor have warned her about the council tax? It doesn’t appear to be part of the standard search questions.

Is there anything she can do about the CT premium?

Many thanks

Simon


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Comments

Jim

10:38 AM, 31st July 2021, About 3 years ago

I am paying 200% council tax on a property but I have asked the City Council for a reduction or rather extension of the 24 month rule period before you go into the 200% bracket based on the fact that during periods of Coronavirus lockdown I was legally NOT ALLOWED to access my property with builders to carry out building works that would then allow me to have the property available for letting and so reduce my Council tax bill. ie all periods of lockdown should be deducted off the 24 month period. The City Council refused to cooperate and allow this extension, wrote to my MP who quite simply "just did not care" went through a full formal complaints procedure with the City Council which was fully rejected. I went to the valuation tribunal who have tried to throw it out by replying with wrong interpreted information of which I have now corrected them, I now await their final review comment and after that I shall take them to court. Nothing to do with the money which is negligible but I will not be bullied by the City Council. Useless MP whom I will publicly disgrace on social media when I win my case. NRLA were sympathetic but would not add there name to the case and would not take up my suggestion to write an article about this case in their magazine. The NRLA have absolutely no stomach for a fight at all and are actually frightened of the Government and local councils. Either that or they are in bed with them.

Paul Shears

10:59 AM, 31st July 2021, About 3 years ago

Truly admirable tenacity from which others can learn and some will benefit.

Simon Britton

11:55 AM, 17th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Success! Valuation Office have de-listed the house from the date work started. With no council tax the City Council have lost out. They were receiving normal council tax, less 25% single person discount, whilst work was in hand; now nothing until date of re-occupation.

Paul Shears

13:16 PM, 17th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Simon Britton at 17/11/2021 - 11:55
Great to hear. Well done. 🙂

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