ridiculous council tax charge

[Sandra6]

We have a property that's been up for sale for 2 years, we moved out just over a year ago thinking it would sell before much longer. Fools that we were.
I've been paying a reduced council tax rate of 50%, I wasn't happy to pay it, but I accepted it had to be paid.
I got a letter yesterday saying this year they are scrapping the discounts and in future I will have to pay 150% of the charge. If it had gone up to the full price I might have understood, but an extra 50% over and above what everyone else charges because my house is empty?! WTF?!!
I'm trying to find somebody who can explain the decision but so far they just keep passing the buck.
I can't afford to pay it.
Just one more thing in an otherwise crappy week.
Thank you for listening.

 

[brodiej]

Sounds a bit dodgy.

Any explanation as to why you have to pay more.

I can understand them demanding 100% in these austere times (although it seems harsh) but not more than if you were living there.

Sounds like you need to get in touch and get their reasoning in writing

 

[chqshaitan]

i was in a similar situation with a flat in Liverpool which I was struggling to rent out, the council initially gave me 6 months 100% discount but after that it went up to the 100% normal charge.

I couldn't even claim single persons discount, even though no one was living there.mad or what.

Cant understand why they would be charging you more than the 100%, i suspect they have got their calculations wrong.

 

[coffeejo]

No, it's correct (note: 'correct' not 'right'!!). There have been massive changes to the way councils are funded - they're getting less from national government as of April 1st, but the law has been changed so they can make up the difference and the empty property exemption is going to be a popular one with many councils.

 

[Arch]

And in a way, I agree with it - I'm generally opposed to people having second homes, which lie empty for long periods when others are homeless. Of course in this case, it's not a second home, it's just not selling. That's the trouble with grand ideas, there's always a case that doesn't fit...

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Can't you just tell them you live there?

 

[Brandane]

A ridiculous situation, but unfortunately not surprising. Nothing surprises me any more when it comes to the running of this country. It's broken with a capital "F".

 

[threebikesmcginty]

It's broken with a capital "F".

Frocken!?

 

[Lee_M]

surely you live there occasionally :-)

I am lucky and have a second weekend property (although it currently has friends living in it while they find a house of their own), we used to get a massive 10% reduction for it not being fully occupied (and therefore not using services etc) - that has also now disappeared. so now 100% even if I use nothing.

Time to get some pikeys moved in I think

 

[Sandra6]

If I tell them I live there I'll have to pay 100% council tax, which would be a struggle, but also water rates on top.
And if they find out I'm lying, well to be honest I don't know what they can do - won't be worse than going to jail for not paying in the first place though will it?!
I've tried getting an answer from them but they keep passing the buck. From one very nice PA telling me there are exemptions, to the less nice council tax officer telling me there isn't. I tried local council - who got the blame for the decision - and the councillor was fully on my side and thinks it's disgusting but there's nothing he can do.
I tried CAB - but they only work on a thursday morning!!
I've emailed my MP. I have no idea what good I think that will do, but there you go.
Paying the mortgage and the reduced rates is a struggle enough at the moment.
I'm a blubbering wreck this morning, need to pull myself together and get ready to go to work but I just want to curl up somewhere warm and dark.

 

[coffeejo]

Make an appointment with the CAB to ask about your options and find out if there's any assistance you may be entitled to. I know it's a week away now but it will give you a chance to recover from the immediate shock and get all your paperwork together. The changes aren't coming in for a month so you have got some breathing room.

 

[chqshaitan]

i have just done a quick search on the net and came across the following, hopefully it will help

 

[fossala]

surely you live there occasionally :-)

I am lucky and have a second weekend property (although it currently has friends living in it while they find a house of their own), we used to get a massive 10% reduction for it not being fully occupied (and therefore not using services etc) - that has also now disappeared. so now 100% even if I use nothing.

Time to get some pikeys moved in I think

What about police and ambulances if it gets set on fire. Or the bin service that has to go past there as it's a house.

 

[gb155]

Sadly, this is correct as of April this year

Funding changes have Brough in massive changes, this us just the tip of the iceberg I'm sorry to say.

 

[Sandra6]

Make an appointment with the CAB to ask about your options and find out if there's any assistance you may be entitled to. I know it's a week away now but it will give you a chance to recover from the immediate shock and get all your paperwork together. The changes aren't coming in for a month so you have got some breathing room.

I would, but they only answer the phones on a Thursday morning.

What about police and ambulances if it gets set on fire. Or the bin service that has to go past there as it's a house.

I would've thought if it set on fire then the fire service would be more likely to attend than anyone else, but there you go.
I wonder if setting it on fire is an option?!
I'm actually considering making my unemployed son live in it so he can claim council tax benefit. Might save me a small fortune!
Thanks for the support though people.
I'm having a generally crappy week as it is, this was the straw that broke the camel's back and all that.