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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Council tax

46 replies

Housingcraze · 20/11/2018 13:25

My place is vacant empty and only 4/52 weeks free council tax

AIBU to think this is ridiculous
My DF gets 26/52 weeks

OP posts:
JurassicAdventure · 20/11/2018 13:41

So the local bin men should only be employed when you are there? What do you suggest they do while you're away?

dementedpixie · 20/11/2018 13:41

Where are you living? Is it for sale? I think it differs between councils

dancemom · 20/11/2018 13:43

Think yourself lucky, in my council they charge 100% premium on empty properties in some cases - so double Council Tax!

fizzicles · 20/11/2018 13:43

Why is it vacant?

gimmeadoughnut123 · 20/11/2018 13:44

Things still need doing and paying for in the local area even when you aren't there you yes YABU.

Sparklesocks · 20/11/2018 13:49

Is it a second home?
Unfortunately you still owe it so need to pay.

SumitosIsMyWall · 20/11/2018 14:02

Frankly I agree with council's charging a premium on empty properties over a certain normal "vacant" duration to financially penalise people who are keeping viable homes from those who need them.

My local council isn't going this far, but they are removing all discounts from empty properties. If you're wealthy enough to have an empty home you're wealthy enough to stump up for the privilege.

Unoccupied homes drives up the demand for new housing affecting the environment and property/rental prices. Basically shitty behaviour on both counts. YABVU!!!

ViserionTheDragon · 20/11/2018 14:04

We only get 2 weeks free where I am.

Houseonahill · 20/11/2018 14:05

My council charges 150% for second homes or holiday homes.

Surfskatefamily · 20/11/2018 14:09

Yes it should be paid. I live in a seaside town with huge amounts of holiday homea. I wish they wouldnt discount them in winter season as it drives our council tax up. Its so expensive

Bombardier25966 · 20/11/2018 14:11

I'd apply an additional premium on empty properties and allocate the funds raised to homelessness services.

LakieLady · 20/11/2018 14:20

Frankly I agree with council's charging a premium on empty properties over a certain normal "vacant" duration to financially penalise people who are keeping viable homes from those who need them.

Me too. I'd make it 10 x the "normal" council tax if I had my way. The council here only charges an extra 50%, and that only applies when a property has been empty for 2 years.

The other thing that people do is leave some repairs/refurbishments outstanding, so they can get a longer exemption on the grounds that the property is undergoing alteration/refurbishment. DP's old landlord had a massive 2-bed flat and a 3-bed house that he avoided paying council tax on by doing this.

He was a grumpy old fucker and had the hump with the council for refusing him permission to split the big flat into 2 or 3 smaller ones, so he thought he'd "get his own back" on them by leaving it empty. He left the house empty because he wanted his son and GCs to move into it, but the son can't stand his dad and never will.

KonekoBasu · 20/11/2018 14:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

seventhgonickname · 20/11/2018 14:25

It's 100%here,had to stump that up on empty martial home until ex would agree to sell it.!At 10x I wouldn't have been able to pay.

Talkinpeece · 20/11/2018 14:27

One of the biggest costs to district councils is housing benefit
empty houses are a cost to the whole community
and should be taxed heavily as such

SaucyJack · 20/11/2018 14:28

I guess the reasonableness of only paying 26/52 depends on if you’d like the fire brigade or police to attend to an emergency at your property for six months out of the year.

If you’re happy for them to leave it burn down or get burgled the rest of the time, then YANBU.

PrincessConsuelaBannanaHammock · 20/11/2018 14:30

My mil pays full council tax for a property that is uninhabitable. Yes it's totally ridiculous in some circumstances but you haven't really explained yours so we can't really say if yabu or not

BoredAtWork1000 · 20/11/2018 14:31

What about properties that are vacant but up for sale/on the market/under offer?
I am currently waiting for a completion date for my flat sale (been waiting since August ffs). Had to move out of the flat as it is top floor, no lift access and I was expecting a baby.
Have currently been paying more council tax to not live in the flat, as I was claiming single person discount before. Now it's vacant I'm paying more. And I'm also paying council tax for the property I'm living at.

Just seems very unfair! I understand not wanting lots of properties to be abandoned e.t.c, just wish there could be some form of discount for vacant ones that are actively on the market e.g.... somehow, someway.....I guess I'm living in a fantasy world (!)

Talkinpeece · 20/11/2018 14:34

There are 500,000 empty homes in the UK
and over 1,000,000 second and third homes in the UK
there is no shortage of housing
just a gross mismatch in supply
Council tax is seeking to deal with it to save on Housing Benefit costs

LakieLady · 20/11/2018 14:37

@Koneko Can you rent it out? I get that you wouldn't be able to convert the mortgage to a BTL, but in many areas the councils are so desperate for properties that they will lease them for 3 years or so at a time to use for housing families in need.

Some mortgage lenders will accept that, as no tenancy is created, and the council guarantee to hand the property back in the condition they got it in at the end of the term.

And it would defray some of the costs of the mortgage, which must still be a fair bit, even at the low interest rates we have atm.

It's an awful position to be in. I knew prices had fallen in some areas, but I had no idea it was by that much already.

mostdays · 20/11/2018 14:42

I don't see why you should get any free weeks, tbh. There should definitely be scope for the council to excuse council tax in certain situations, but it should not be the norm that you don't have to pay.

LakieLady · 20/11/2018 14:43

just wish there could be some form of discount for vacant ones that are actively on the market

There could. Benefit regulations have provision for disregarding the capital tied up in a property where the claimant is actively trying to sell, no reason why council tax regs couldn't mirror that.

And in cases like Seventh's, it should have been the party refusing to sell that had to pay the c/tax!

LakieLady · 20/11/2018 14:48

Council tax is seeking to deal with it to save on Housing Benefit costs

It costs around £400 pw in housing benefit to keep a homeless person in b&b here. For a one-bed flat, it would be £158 a week. Multiply that by hundreds of people at any one time, and the cost to the council is massive.

KonekoBasu · 20/11/2018 14:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KatieMM · 20/11/2018 15:06

Would it be worth cutting your losses and selling it - can you afford to get a loan for the short fall? With the money you're paying out atm I would seriously consider it, as well as the stress. Either that or can you "rent" it cheaply to some-one who could do the work - some people like to work on a project if they can live there cheaply. Ask friends and colleagues - you might be surprised. Good luck, I do feel for you.

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