Bills during renovation

[Misbeehived]

We’ve due to complete on a property soon that needs a complete renovation. The work hasn’t started yet and we will be in rented accommodation throughout the whole build. I think that council tax is reduced when a property isn’t habitable? What about electricity, water, gas etc? Anyone know?

Really grateful if anyone can point me in the right direction for all the bills we need to factor in.

I think that you need to check with your council as there may be different policies fro what they consider uninhabitable. This is an extract from my council website:

Reasons that properties could be uninhabitable are:

roof work that's needed on safety grounds
removal of supporting walls or floor joists
subsidence
severe dry rot requiring extensive treatments or remedies

Works which will not be able to get a discount:

replacement kitchen or bathroom
replacement windows
general refurbishment
re-wiring, re-plumbing, plastering

The workmen will need electricity for their equipment so that can't really be cut off. The only tip I would have is taking regular meter readings to make sure that you aren't billed based on estimated usage from previous residents.

For water I would make sure you find out before completion where the stopcock to the property is, so that water can be turned off as needed. If a water meter is fitted then low usage during renovations will mean a lower bill.

Council discounts vary but to get one the house needs to be uninhabitable (no functioning kitchen or bathroom for example). They may inspect it, though some councils don’t offer any discount.
You won’t get a discount on utilities but do meter readings when you complete on the purchase to make sure your accounts start accurately.
Also I find builders not the greatest at turning lights off etc so always a good idea to drop in at the end of the day to monitor progress etc.

I have had a house which isn't habitable and I'm paying zero council tax and water (Scotland so it's one bill). I still have to pay for gas and electricity but I just set up on a standard tariff with the existing supplier till I can get moved in and switch to a cheaper one. I'm living with family at the moment till we at least have a safe, clean water supply and working boiler.

My council just ask where we are living and whether the house is furnished. I had to give the address and told them the sofa is there because there is no where else for it to go and there is a kettle and such like but nothing else and they were happy. Been 7 weeks now and still no sign of us moving in just been told to call up when we do move in.

Thanks so much everyone I’ll give the council a call on Monday and get on top of our utilities.

Won't water and electricity be needed by the workmen? Utilities would continue as normal, I guess you might not use any gas so you'd only pay the standing charge.

Been told as above first poster.

Our house is completely empty with no bathroom and no kitchen and we still have to pay the council tax

We are just coming to the end of a major demolition / double height back extension and side extension / renovation of the remaining house project, and this would be great to hear! Does anyone know if it would be retrospective?

We are also living on site in a static caravan, which obviously will be valued at rather less than a 5 bed detached... Will we still have to pay something?