I received a 200% council tax bill for a longstanding student rental that was vacated .
Does the new second home council tax apply to longstanding rentals or just people with second homes that are not in fact rentals ?
Where was this? Different councils do things differently. IIRC, it’s second homes in particular authorities whether rentals or not.
If it’s empty, then the extra charge might apply, but it is up to individual councils, so I think you’d be better looking on your councils website for their policy.
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It applies to any property you own that is not your principal private residence. Disgraceful bit of legislation.
How do they expect us not to put up rents if they keep increasing our outgoings ?
In the end we pass our costs to the customer
It’s a business
How long was it empty? We have never been charged double council tax between tenancies even if a couple of months. We do have a second home which is not let and pay double there.
Read this
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/why-am-i-paying-a-council-tax-premium-on-my-second-home/
I think 200% only kicks in after a year
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It was only empty a week between tenancies
There’s a delay on their system ( so they didn’t get my email registering new students ) and I got a bill for 200% tax for the rest of the financial year
It’s made me realise I’m going to have to factor this in
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The guidance I quoted states:
- properties being actively marketed for sale or let (this exemption cannot apply to a property for a second time until it has been sold, or let for at least six months)
Assuming it is listed for rent I don’t think they are entitled to charge double council tax.
Might be worth making a complaint
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Thank you
This borough tried to chase bills older than 6 years after the 2008 collapse
They lost all their money in Iceland banks
The solicitor told me to complain about that too as I had shredded records
I always say either I or my wife is staying there and pay CT minus single person discount!
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Council cannot claim any bills after 6years nor anyone.
Councils automatically send full-year bills. It doesnt mean that the full amount is due as once the tenancy begins, you ask them to re-calculate based on that date.
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I came here to say this. We often would get a bill for the whole year if the flat was empty, but then would get it credited when it was occupied again.
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I wrote to the council and asked for their response
They’ve replied to the 28 day rule after vacancy but not to that part of the query
So I’ve written again ….
They’ve only responded to the 28 day exemption not to the second homes thing ….
Maybe your students did not register for council tax and the council assume it was empty. Perhaps send a copy of your tenancy agreement to show it was let.
If it’s more than 6 years the statute of limitation may kick in too
My apologies the council are not clarifying their position on second homes and council tax leaving me to assume that they are trying it on in rentals
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