Council Tax on Empty Property

[rfisher]

Is zero.

But what if the property is intermittently occupied (say 1 day per week)?

[M400 NBL]

I thought that council tax would be free for only 6 months of a year if it's unfurnished.

One day per week away wouldn't change the need for the council to provide you with a service (that will be their words so don't expect 1/7th discount.

Besides, councils wouldn't want the hassle/expense of policing people claiming to live away 1 day per week.

Have you checked your local council's website?... possibly www.[yourtown].gov.uk

[auditt]

I didnt think it was free, I know in London you get soem sort of discount but i dont think your fully exempt. I might be wrong.

[andye30m3]

I was old by my council it was up to 6 months if its just empty but this could be extended to a year if the property was uninhabitable for example due to a major refurbishment.

I have a feeling that different councils may vary slightly.

[Gareth79]

If it's essentially a second home then the discount is 10%, even if it's a second home of a single occupant, who would get a 25% discount if they lived in it as their main home.

[rfisher]

6 days a week - empty
1 day a week - occupied.

House is unfurnished and will be rented out shortly.

[Zingari]

Councils vary - but normally 6 months grace if unfurnished/unoccupied thereafter reduction.

I recall a chap in Bristol who met a girl in Scotland and went to live with her whilst keeping on his flat. Out of courtesy he told the council - they gave him a 10% on his full council tax. If he lived in it he would have got 25% as a single occupant.

Go figure the logic here.............

[Wings]

Zingari said:

Councils vary - but normally 6 months grace if unfurnished/unoccupied thereafter reduction.

I recall a chap in Bristol who met a girl in Scotland and went to live with her whilst keeping on his flat. Out of courtesy he told the council - they gave him a 10% on his full council tax. If he lived in it he would have got 25% as a single occupant.

Go figure the logic here.............

One student in the property makes the property Zero Council Tax.

[marcosal]

House next to mine has been uninhabited for nearly two years and has changed hands twice. First new owner stripped the place out Kitchen, Bathroom/toilet, Heating, Downstairs ceilings, the lot and made the house uninhabiatable and then their nerve gave out. New owner number 2 bought it as a project, applied for a waiver on their council tax and were turned down because the previous owner had used up the 1 year extended allowance. They now pay full council tax on an uninhabitable property but bizarrely would get a reduction if they could instal one person with a camp bed a portaloo and a primus stove and prove they were living there.

There is apparently a difference between a house that is uninhabitable but weather tight (With doors, roof and windows) and a house that is derelict i.e. uninhabitable and not weather tight.

[Gareth79]

rfisher said:

6 days a week - empty
1 day a week - occupied.

House is unfurnished and will be rented out shortly.

As far as furnishings - most councils allow up to three items of movable furniture, plus a cooker and white goods before it is regarded as furnished.

I don't know the specifics of what is regarded as "occupied", but if somebody stays overnight then I imagine that definitely makes it liable. As for just using it during the day, I have no idea!

[Merlot]

Wings said:

Zingari said:

Councils vary - but normally 6 months grace if unfurnished/unoccupied thereafter reduction.

I recall a chap in Bristol who met a girl in Scotland and went to live with her whilst keeping on his flat. Out of courtesy he told the council - they gave him a 10% on his full council tax. If he lived in it he would have got 25% as a single occupant.

Go figure the logic here.............

One student in the property makes the property Zero Council Tax.

The property has to be entirely occupied by students for the council tax to be zero rated.

Just one student occupier out of 2 or more occupiers won't attract zero rating.

[Wings]

Merlot said:

Wings said:

Zingari said:

Councils vary - but normally 6 months grace if unfurnished/unoccupied thereafter reduction.

I recall a chap in Bristol who met a girl in Scotland and went to live with her whilst keeping on his flat. Out of courtesy he told the council - they gave him a 10% on his full council tax. If he lived in it he would have got 25% as a single occupant.

Go figure the logic here.............

One student in the property makes the property Zero Council Tax.

The property has to be entirely occupied by students for the council tax to be zero rated.

Just one student occupier out of 2 or more occupiers won't attract zero rating.

Agree, the point I was making is that a property empty for longer than 6 months attracts a reduce level of Council Tax, whereas the same property with just one occupant, a student, attracts NO Council Tax.