Council tax on an empty property

Let's look into this properly.

Council tax is a way for the State as a whole to delegate the taxing of unpopular expensive type of taxes to other parties [local authorities] whilst seemingly avoiding the blame itself for the size of those taxes. Why on earth would Social Work, Education, Libraries, Street Repairs etc. not come out of the Central Government tax fund?

Indeed why do we have a system of Local Government taxation at all?

In the old days Local Government taxation used to be an extremely small percentage amount relative to the rentable value of a property, as aascertained by the market. Today that relation has been lost. Today Local taxes are significantly higher, much higher than Europe.

There is a principle that if you are not using a service you should have to pay for it.

But what are you not using when your property is empty.

Rubbish Collection - perhaps
Education - Oh but you received that years ago.
Social Work - maybe you will need this servcie in the future
Library - You should being charitable to the less fortunate in society.

I think everyone should have to pay their council tax, and then have to apply for proportional rebates based on the services they are not using, the benefit of the doubt going to the COuncil. More should be paid for by Central Government, local taxes across the country should be equalised and be far smaller, based on ability to pay.

Update:
I didn't burn the furniture. I lied and said it was empty. I got 100% off when I was happy to pay 25%. Sold in 5 months. Done. Nikki, I couldn't afford both houses hence the gripe. I now live in a house paying £2500/year council tax. They'll get your money in the end!

Slightly different perspective, in parts of the UK some villages were almost empty outside the holiday season. Second home owners killed the communities and were responsible for house prices being beyond what the locals could afford while "affordable" new homes were built all over green areas and local services closed. If you can afford 2 homes you can afford full council tax for both. If not, rent it out and let your tenant pay the council tax. Fingers crossed the downturn will force second home owners to sell.

Nikki - I CAN'T afford two houses (nor do I need two). That's the problem - and is why I'm trying to sell my old place. You may have heard something about a bit of a down-turn in the market? That's why I can't. You know - in the real world?

Where I live, it's full council tax on an empty house - furnished or unfurnished. Doesn't matter; the Council Mob wants its "piece of the action" every month (£94 on my waiting-for-sale unfurnished house). Don't pay & they'll send round the men in the shiny suits to steal, sorry, enforce a walking possession on, my goods. Resist them & get hurt. Carry on resisting & face jail - or an attachment order on my earnings. Meanwhile, the local drug dealer in his £300 tracksuit smiles on his way to sign on the "soash".

Funny old world.

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!