alcazar

iTrader: (2)

OK, my dad passed away last week, so me and my older sis are now sorting his estate, bills etc etc.

When my mum died 7 years ago, he put my sister on his house deeds as co-owner, and also as co-holder of all his accounts. Makes it easy to deal with financial affairs now he's gone.

Council tax though

HE was getting a 25% rebate as a single occupant.

NOW my sister owns the house free and clear, but CAN'T have a 25% rebate on council tax because she's married, so can't be a single occupant. And that's DISPITE the fact that she is co-owner of another property in the same town, and pays full council tax on that!

As the law stands, there is apparently nothing we can do, short of clear out all his furniture, then we pay NO council tax for 6 months to allow us to sell it.

What a fekked up system...........only in Britain, eh?

Alcazar

Brendan Hughes

Sorry, what's wrong? You get a rebate if you're a single occupant. She's not a single occupant. Where's the theft bit?

bobsabuilder

Not legal, but I know of someone who simply rang the council and gave them the name of the {ficticious} new tenant that was {NOT} now renting the property. Council then send the bill to this 'new' tenant.
Meanwhile you do whatever to the house and sell it. Then when its sold inform the council that the tenant has moved out with no forwarding address and you've sold it.
Council are so inept at doing anything that they never get it sorted before you've sold.
Got 2 years free of council tax doing that!

Bob

Brendan Hughes

Ah, there's the theft bit...

Dracoro

Is she living in the property? Council tax deduction is based on occupancy, not ownership. If one (or less) people are living in the property then you should get a discount.

Tidgy

which one is she living in? surley the other one becomes zero ocupancy???

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Have you READ the post? She's not occupying it AT ALL, it's empty, she lives, with her husband, at her own house of which she is co-owner.

Alcazar

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

You'd think so wouldn't you, but not according to North Lincs Council.

Alcazar

Dracoro

It's usually a 10% discount for 2nd homes.

SD

Surprising really. We had two properties up until present in different parts of the country, with my wife living in one and me living in the other (then meeting up on weekends). We both got the 25% on our respective residencies as we both lived there alone. Now we're moving into a larger house together and leaving the other unfurnished and unoccupied and it's pretty straight forward again - full CT on one property and 6 months exemption on the second.

AFAIK for our council it was not down to whether we were married or not, but simply on how many lived there!

Hope you get it sorted.

Simon

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Think thats unfair, wait until (if) she sells it, if its worth a bit the magic of IHT will kick in.

brumdaisy

And save a fortune on inheritance tax so what exactly are you complaining about?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Inheritance tax on a £100,000 property? Get real. We don't ALL live in the rich part of the country, you know

Alcazar

MattW

When my father passed away, the house was empty and the council gave six months grace while the house was sold without council tax charge. That was North Shropshire.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Apparently, we can have the 6 months grace too, but only when we've completely emptied the house.

Alcazar

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

Then tell them it's empty.

brumdaisy

Thats got to be a first - someone insinuating that Birmingham is a rich part of the country

davegtt

It is rich, rich in .....

No we shall not go there

Tidgy

might as well just pay, no point in arguing with dumb ****wits lol

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Exactly what my sis said.
We'll empty the place after we've got Christmas out of the way.

Alcazar