New Council Tax Bill

[hammocity]

That’s odd. When my Dad passed away we received a significant reduction as it was an empty house. Mind you it was about 10 years ago so perhaps policy has changed.

Think it has pal but thanks anyway

 

[Corky]

That’s odd. When my Dad passed away we received a significant reduction as it was an empty house. Mind you it was about 10 years ago so perhaps policy has changed.

It was a 50% discount until it was localised about 10 years ago - which meant central Gov funding was was cut and the Council could then keep the additional they earned, and that is when premiums started for empty properties which have gone up 150% charge 2 years went to 200% and the 5 and 10 year additional.

You get 6 months grace from the date of probate also, until the property is disposed.

A lot of people when faced with the 150 or 200% charge put furniture in and call it a second home (100%), but the Gov are looking at banning that. They Councils encouraged Second Homes Substantially Furnished to get more new homes bonus, worth about £8k each at one point, but that pot was reduced to almost nothing, so given new powers they will close in on them if they had the staff. Most "second homes" are band A, so you know it is complete bollocks.

 

[fierydan]

It boils my piss at having to pay full council tax on an empty house in circumstances like that.
When my wife and I met, we both had our own place and received a 25% discount.
She moved into my house and put her house up for sale.
We did the honest thing and told both Local Authorities and were rewarded for our honesty with both of us losing our 25% discount!
We had to pay full council tax on the empty house until it was sold despite the fact that neither of us received any of the services listed on the bill.

If the empty house had burned down or was vandalised or burgled would you have called the Fire Service or Police?

 

[Gazza]

If the empty house had burned down or was vandalised or burgled would you have called the Fire Service or Police?

Would the police have bothered to attend or just sent a crime number?

 

[mad4city]

My Council Tax bill for Tameside arrived yesterday posted from Coventry, wtf, most of those lazy fuckers at Tameside don’t have enough to do anyway. Also in this day and age why are they posting when email costs nothing?

You can apply to receive it by email, however if there is more than one name on the bill you need their permission and they will also have to receive the email

Lads, the following observation is posted from the outside, looking in (therefore, possibly without the full facts to hand or a complete understanding). Apologies in advance, if I am out of order. Whatever else, please know that I make it without casting judgement on yourselves:

It's interesting (and a bit surprising) how the British people have gone from marching on the streets and vehemently opposing the imposition of new Council Tax during the early 90s to offering each other advice about the best ways to receive said bill, 30 years later.

Yours sincerely, from the country next door (and also being rode bareback on tax) etc.

Anyway, back on topic: the Media, manipulative bastards, aren't they?

 

[aguero93:20]

If the empty house had burned down or was vandalised or burgled would you have called the Fire Service or Police?

What's the point of ringing the fire service if its already burned down? Surely the insurance assessor would be more of a priority?

 

[Blueboy73]

If the empty house had burned down or was vandalised or burgled would you have called the Fire Service or Police?

Probably however having paid Council Tax and income tax for decades and not had cause to contact either service I'm quite within my right to do so.
My step son-in-law is a Fireman and a good friend of mine is an electrician, both checked the house over, and made sure everything was safe and compliant as we were selling the house.

My point is that we were penalised for being honest and had to pay 100% for an empty house without the benefit of the majority of the items listed on the bill but previously were paying 75% of this for a house that was occupied when gaining the benefit of everything listed on the bill.

Had we not said anything both of us would have kept our discount and nobody would have been any the wiser.
We didn't object to paying something but did object to paying for the majority of services listed on the bill that were not being used even though the relevant council were told that the house was empty and that it was in the process of being sold.

If you had bothered to read my post fully you would see the point I am making.

 

[Keep the Faith]

Stockport band C = £1986.35

 

[blue for life]

Take all the furniture out and start a full (nudge nudge) renovation project, that should get you an exemption

That doesn’t exist anymore. Still get charged full charge

 

[yeseye]

A lot of people were put into the wrong bands and have received thousands £ backdated compensation .

You can check on Gov.uk
And make sure you are in the same band as your neighbours with similar properties.