Call for council tax relief on empty landlord properties

Reply to the comment left by Paul Shears at 05/05/2020 – 20:42
Thank you Paul

Reply to the comment left by Paul Shears at 05/05/2020 – 20:44
Star Man Paul – cheers…my email pinging off to my MP now.. 🙂

The official line from Bath and North East Somerset Council is that Covid 19 laws do not stop people moving in to properties and full Council tax is payable from the day it is unoccupied.

I did say that potential tenants or buyers could not view properties because it was considered non-essential but was advised that did not prevent them moving in!

Reply to the comment left by Adrian Jones at 06/05/2020 – 10:51
Get those scatter gun Emails to your MP’s sent!

All the councils have got together in a cartel to trot out the party line.

I will be working on a full submission to the Valuation Tribunal in the next few days which will be non-specific to a property and include a stated case which may assist once I have manipulated it to our cause. I will post it on here so you can all cut and paste it into a word document, add your details and send it on. to your own VTs and MPs. Remember I am not a solicitor and don’t profess to be one but I have been to numerous First Tier Tribunals against freeholders and the odd leaseholder and won.

Reply to the comment left by Gary Nock at 06/05/2020 – 11:17
Thanks Gary for your very hard work. Are tribunals open for such services or is that also having to wait months?

Unsure Clint. I think they are working “remotely”

Dear All,

Just received this morning- a response via my MP stating the response from MHCLG:

“Local authorities are responsible for the administration of council tax and therefore I cannot comment on individual cases. The Department is also unable to offer legal advice. However, I do hope the following information will be useful. A property will be eligible for a Class G council tax exemption in situations where occupation is prohibited by law. It is for local authorities to look at the particular circumstances of each case in assessing whether any property might be eligible for an exemption or discount. While the Government is encouraging moves to be delayed where possible in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no ban on advertising or listing property, provided that any marketing activities undertaken are in line with public health guidance including on social distancing.
Further guidance on home moves is available at: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home moving during-the coronaviruscovid-19-outbreak. The Government is keeping this guidance under review as the pandemic unfolds.

The Government has also published broader guidance for landlords and tenants who may be affected by current events, which is available at:
http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-
renting-guidance-for-landlordstenonts-and-local-authorities.”

It is very carefully phrased. It says we can advertise etc but is referring to guidance in relation to occupation. What it does tell us is that there will be no help from government in relation to council tax on landlords unoccupied property.

So now it’s a decision. To appeal to the Valuation Tribunal or not? I think I may have a bash.

Reply to the comment left by Gary Nock at 07/05/2020 – 12:15

So yet another “democratically” elected bureaucrat utterly devoid of any capacity of leadership and hiding behind an irresponsible Email forwarding exercise.
What is clearly needed here is an MP who is willing to spend some committed time & effort raising this in parliament. What’s required here for society’s benefit, is a directed change of process unless the priority is to shut down the small private rental sector……… (Perish the thought!).

Exactly Paul. Still might have a bash at the Valuation Tribunal as it will cost me nothing except time and will provide me with some entertainment.