Council tax on an empty property

I paid council tax heavily for leaving good quality furniture behind in the beleif it might help a first time buyer.

My partner has a similar problem in Kirklees as she's trying to sell her house after moving in with me. They allowed 6 months at no tax but now they want FULL pay with no exceptions. She can't afford this so rang to try to get help but was flatly refused as they took Nikki's opinion below... Nice! We'll be sueing for harrasment...

Even if you are absen from your property there are still responsibilities to be dealt with. Who would come to put out a fire if your house caught light? Who would inform you if the place was broken into and had to be boarded up? These all cost money so why should the rest of the citizens who pay Council tax have to bear the burden of paying for something that affects someone else.
However having said that I don't agree with council tax. It is unfair and unjust. I am retired and my wife and I have generally fixed incomes and pay approx £1200 per year. The proerty next door whilst diffrent is about the same value and indeed in the same tax band has 2 working people residing with at least a £%%k incom 2.5 times ours.

It is always worthwhile checking out the situation as it varies from county to county. Having recently moved to the South Hams District Council area in Devon I was allowed up to six months of paying no council tax whatsoever on my property whilst it was empty of furniture. I was rather surprised at this generous concession but it was correct - I did however get someone around to inspect (at about month 5 I think) that there wasn't anyone living in the property.

This has just happened to me as well - absolutely incredible! I pay council tax in London where I now live and the property has been empty (except for some lonely furniture!) for about three months. When I got the council tax bill I phoned up to tell them no-one was living there and therefore no-one was using council services and I assumed they would at least give me a pretty hefty discount - no, as you say, 10%!! That's outrageous!

Always tell them its empty, close the curtains etc. they say it will need to be inspected which you say is fine and ensure you are not there when they send the blose round....which they hardly ever do anyway. Zero council tax for 3 months...bosh

Yeah, I got caught in exactly the same way. My property was being sold and I'd moved out to live at my girlfriend's place. I just assumed that I'd receive a much higher discount for not actually living in the property / borough. Never in a million years would I have expected the discount to be LESS than a sole occupier!! Should have kept my mouth shut. Astonishing that the legislation was actually passed to allow the councils to do this. Scandalous!

Ummm nikki, council tax is payable for the use of public services, if you do not use those public services, as you live 600 miles away, and your house is on the market, then you shouldnt have to pay it. People are entitled to move to another area, and SHOULD pay council tax in their new home, but please tell me why they should pay council tax on an empty property when they ARENT using ANY services, you stupid cow. Stick to being a bad mother and the subject of ADHD, it seems its all you know about

OH just pay up,if you can afford two houses, you can afford two taxes.

There is a clause which states that if your house which is no longer your primary residence, has NOT enough furniture for it to be deemed 'liveable' then you will pay peanuts, myself and my partner have been through this, and ironically, we moved from Kent to Scotland. Bottom line is, dont take the first opinion, persistence pays off and ask to speak with the monkey not the organ grinder, as the organ grinder will not offer the partially furnished info.

I have a similar problem only with business rates I live in a pub which I was running up till christmas,I have now ceased trading and advised the local council that I'm leaving and that the pub has NOT been open since january and woe they told me I'm still responsible to pay business rates on a business that no longer exists and charging me £275 business rates p/m plus £90 council tax! and apparently they can/ until I move. so after many arguments and a liability order against me I got the local MP onto it and suddenly Ive got a 70% reduction and now only have to pay empty property allowence.which for the record is still business related and still stinks but its much better. it just makes me wonder whats is this country coming to