What I can't understand is this; if a single occupancy is entitled to 25% discount on council tax and can use the services, what sense does it make that when a property is vacant, thus no services being used at all, the landlord has to pay 100% of council tax?!
When councils were given the choice about charging a premium I understand that it was because in some places there was a high level of second homes, so this was having a serious impact on the revenue for those councils.
Unfortunately, the majority of councils jumped on the band waggon to increase their revenue.
Councils weren't so much given a choice as they had to do it to balance the books. That said I agree that if a single occupant gets 25% discount then an empty property should at least be treated the same. Cotswold initially removed the discount entirely but at least reinstated a 1 month free and 25% discount for 2 further months after representations from us and other landlords. Aside from the occupancy argument above it was also highlighted that a void period is a good time to get works undertaken without disturbing tenants and therefore getting works done benefited tenants and also local tradesmen with the work.
For a while now in South Tyneside, when I have a rental void I am charged 100% immediately the day after the person moves out. I just hope the 'empty houses' clause does not relate to void periods in rental and we will get charged 200% council tax for these periods, please tell me I'm reading that wrong?
i dont understand the way of thinking...... They want to lower the cost of rental prices, however all the changes they a wanting to make will just be passed on to the potential tennants.
What I can't understand is this; if a single occupancy is entitled to 25% discount on council tax and can use the services, what sense does it make that when a property is vacant, thus no services being used at all, the landlord has to pay 100% of council tax?!
ReplyDeleteWhen councils were given the choice about charging a premium I understand that it was because in some places there was a high level of second homes, so this was having a serious impact on the revenue for those councils.
DeleteUnfortunately, the majority of councils jumped on the band waggon to increase their revenue.
Councils weren't so much given a choice as they had to do it to balance the books.
ReplyDeleteThat said I agree that if a single occupant gets 25% discount then an empty property should at least be treated the same.
Cotswold initially removed the discount entirely but at least reinstated a 1 month free and 25% discount for 2 further months after representations from us and other landlords.
Aside from the occupancy argument above it was also highlighted that a void period is a good time to get works undertaken without disturbing tenants and therefore getting works done benefited tenants and also local tradesmen with the work.
For a while now in South Tyneside, when I have a rental void I am charged 100% immediately the day after the person moves out. I just hope the 'empty houses' clause does not relate to void periods in rental and we will get charged 200% council tax for these periods, please tell me I'm reading that wrong?
ReplyDeletei dont understand the way of thinking......
ReplyDeleteThey want to lower the cost of rental prices, however all the changes they a wanting to make will just be passed on to the potential tennants.