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Original poster

Can I have post delivered to a derelict property?

20 replies

RuggyPeg · 19/10/2019 11:02

I have tried googling every which way but to no avail, so I thought I'd ask here......

We're about to own a derelict property. Can I register it as my address and have post delivered there? I might (big might!) be living on site for a while in a caravan 🙈

OP posts:
Kpo58 · 19/10/2019 11:25

As long as you own/rent the property, it has a postal address and an accessible and secure mailbox, I would have thought that it's possible.

BarbaraofSeville · 19/10/2019 11:51

I've known of a few derelict but occupied properties, so I presume so. If you're unsure if the postie will deliver because they think no-one lives there, maybe put a note near the letterbox saying that you indeed do live there?

misscockerspaniel · 19/10/2019 13:45

If there is somewhere to leave the mail and the postie knows it is the correct address, no problem.

LIZS · 19/10/2019 13:48

Can you put up an external secure letterbox?

KnittingSister · 19/10/2019 14:10

If you ask at the post office, they should be able to tell you what the rules are. Or at least how to find out.

Original poster
RuggyPeg · 19/10/2019 19:45

Yes, we can put a post box up. It won't be habitable for many, many months whilst renovation is done but thanks all for your comments.

OP posts:
DGRossetti · 19/10/2019 20:43

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Ariela · 19/10/2019 23:12

You could have it delivered to the local PO for collection: might be more secure.

Original poster
RuggyPeg · 20/10/2019 10:05

It's in a really safe place, so security isn't a problem. I just wondered whether it's possible to be officially registered at an inhabitable property.

OP posts:
Scrowy · 20/10/2019 10:10

Yes as long as it's got an address/ postcode they will deliver post to it. It's irrelevant to the post office whether its habitable or not.

Remember, they deliver to all kinds of non residential addresses too it's hardly that weird.

We have had the opposite problem trying to stop them delivering junk mail/ tv licence demands to a derelict property on our land.

Littlefish · 20/10/2019 10:11

We did this. At one stage, we had no doors or roof, but we had an external post box, fixed to a wall! It wasn't an issue at all.

Original poster
RuggyPeg · 20/10/2019 14:27

Fab. Thanks all so much. This is a new path for us, so there's lots of stuff I just don't know! I'm a pretty adept Googler but no combo of words came up with the answer to this question!

As an add on question.....if I'm (legally) living on site (tent/campervan/dog kennel.....), can I register as living there as per any other normal address?

OP posts:
Scrowy · 20/10/2019 14:45

As an add on question.....if I'm (legally) living on site (tent/campervan/dog kennel.....), can I register as living there as per any other normal address?

You can use the property's address as your address yes for e.g the purposes of being on the electoral register, the address you give your employer etc. Most councils will give you six months council tax rebate if the property is uninhabitable. After that you have to pay even if you aren't living in it.

Whatever you are planning on living in on the site may need planning permission if you are going to live in it for longer than 28 days.

Original poster
RuggyPeg · 20/10/2019 17:04

Scrowy, thanks for that 👍

OP posts:
Littlefish · 20/10/2019 18:42

If you are not living there, you will need uninhabited property insurance, which is not cheap!

Pindlesandneedles · 20/10/2019 18:47

Just to add that we bought a property that was uninhabitable and not registered as a postal address. We just had to go to the main post office with some documents and register the address, after that it was fine. I think the reason why people don’t like to say they’re living on a building site is that you then have to pay council tax, whereas if you’re not you don’t.

Original poster
RuggyPeg · 20/10/2019 19:18

Little fish - none of what we're about to do will be cheap 💰 💰

Pin - we need to register for other reasons......

OP posts:
Littlefish · 20/10/2019 21:44

@RuggyPeg - we bought a money pit too! It was definitely worth it in the long run though.

Littlefish · 20/10/2019 21:46

@RuggyPeg - I don't know if it still exists, but 10 years ago when we completely renovated an almost derelict house, there was an HMRC point which said that if a house had been empty for 2 years or more, a reduced rate of VAT could be paid (5% instead of 17.5% at the time).

Our builder had to agree to buy all the materials etc, and charge us at the lower VAT rate, even though he had paid full VAT. He was then able to re-claim the full amount when he did his VAT return (or something like that).

It saved us thousands!

Original poster
RuggyPeg · 20/10/2019 21:56

Yeah, I'm looking at the vat bit, amongst a thousand other things, including how to mix lime mortar YouTube videos 😆

OP posts:
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