Council Tax Exemptions
Under many circumstances, one can claim a council tax exemption altogether instead of just claiming a discount. An exemption would mean 100% relief from council taxes.
Following are the conditions where it is usually considered that a dwelling can be exempt from any council taxes:
1. Unoccupied property:
i) For unoccupied and unfurnished properties which need or are undergoing major repair work to make them habitable, you can claim a Council Tax exemption for the first 12 months, provided the previous owner didn't. For any length of time after that, you may be entitled to up to a fifty percent discount off the normal rate, or no discount at all, depending on which council's area you're in. This is because each council is free to decide what "long term empty" rate it wishes to charge after the exemption has ended.
ii). If your property is unoccupied and unfurnished but not being renovated, the council may grant an exemption for up to six months.
iii) Property not occupied because of the people initially staying in the property has to be cared for due to old age or for any other illness and hence has started to stay somewhere else like hospital, old age homes or even with relatives.
iv) Property which is unoccupied since the people staying in it is away to take care for someone else.
2. Full time students don't pay council tax, thus two, three or ten students living together don't pay. Legally full time students do not need to contribute to council taxes at all.
3. Condemned property
4. Property which is under the possession of mortgages.
5. A holiday caravan or boat is exempt even if it is on a property where council taxes are paid
6. A property which is occupied by all minors (that is all who lives in the house are below 18 years of age)
7. A property which is only occupied by mentally ill people.
8. A property which is occupied only by dependant people who are actually incapable of paying council taxes. These dependant people are usually relatives of the owner of the property.
Other Council Tax Exemptions
Also, as discussed earlier, people on income support, jobseekers allowance (income based) or pension credit (guarantee) will receive 100% council tax benefit which is equivalent to an exemption.
There are various Citizens advice bureau (CAB) who provide expert advice on rules and regulations of exemption of council taxes for a certain property. Citizens Advice Bureau provide free, classified and autonomous advice from various locations including in bureaux, GP surgeries, hospitals, colleges, prisons and courts.
Their services are accessible over the telephone or online via emails. Home visits can also be arranged for face to face interactions.
If one feels that as per the above mentioned conditions, one is eligible for any council tax discount or wants to apply for exemption, one can do the application online through directgov website. One can apply for discounts or exemptions based on the area where he lives or based on the local council.
ADVERTISE IN OUR NEW DIRECTORY
Please feel free to leave a comment about this page
Was this page useful? Do you have something to add? Do you disagree?
If your comments meet our
guidelines then we will publish them (you do not need to register!)
Or why not tell a friend and email
this
page to someone