Empty property, can I claim for bills?

Landlord Discussion
1

Hello folks is it possible to claim tax relief for council tax and household bills while my property is empty as I wait for it to sell?

Also do I need to change the landlord’s insurance?
Many thanks

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2

Being charged C T Yes a business expense

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3

Notify the insurers the property is empty . The premium goes up but at least if there is a claim not notifying them will not invalidate it

4

If you register your property as empty with your water provider that will void the bills
Speak to your utility provider to see how it’s done

5

If this is your only rental property, then your rental business ceases once the last tenant has left and you put it up for sale. My understanding is that you cant claim tax relief on revenue expenses from that point.

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6

I think David122 is correct.

Ultimately we need more details (i.e. whether they’re a bona-fide portfolio landlord running a multi-property business or not)

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7

Thanks for the input. It’s my only property. It was rented out while I lived in London. Put it on the market, tenant moved out, sale fell thru. Now it’s empty while I wait for it to sell

8

I have several places When one becomes empty I still set standing charges and council tax as expenses. Only one ? May well be different

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9

Thanks folks. Where’s the right place to check, putting in a call to HMRC?

10

Youll wait forever for them to answer and they often get the answer wrong.

I just did a google search and the HMRC advice came up. Probably easier.

11

ask an accountant? I have one but you may not

12

David122 is correct. As it was your only rental, your business has ceased so you can’t claim costs.

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13

So if the landord still had one rental left do the bills on the selling/ sold property qualify for relief. I’m in this position and was wondering ?

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14

Yes. I’m also in that position of still having one active rental and claiming all the revenue expenses this year on the two I’ve recently sold.

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15

Yes. You can cross charge the expenses to the remaining property. It’s because you don’t (have to) allocate income and costs to each property on your tax return. Likewise when taking on second and subsequent properties, you can cross charge pre-letting expenses, which you can’t claim for on your first one.

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16

Would it not be chargeable against your future
capital gains tax bill? A good accountant would tell you.

For top tax advice, I highly recommend Arthur Weller, who used to write a problem page for the Independent Newspaper and gives telephone advice from £97 and about £250/hour. He can be contacted via Amer Siddiq’s Property Tax Portal. The only downside is that he often speaks so quickly you can’t keep up, but he will summarise the points and put them in writing, for extra. Money, definitely well spent. He also thinks up amazing ideas.

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17

No. Capital expenses are diffetent are different and you cant claim revenue costs against CGT

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18

I think your local authority would provide an exemption from council tax if you are in the process of selling.
Check on your LA website regarding exemption fir council tax

19

dream on for a council tax exemption

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20

Of course you can claim for the council tax paid, it’s a legitimate expense whic I have verified previously with HMRC, too many people on here guess their way through it

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