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Council taxCouncil tax discounts available for property circumstancesHelen Rodger - March 2011council.tax@kirklees.gov.uk
Do you own an unoccupied property?
If your property is unoccupied and unfurnished you can claim up to six months free from paying council tax. After six months, we will charge you for the property at the full council tax rate.
To claim, please write to us giving full details, for example when your property became unoccupied and unfurnished and when you expect the situation to change. We may ask one of our visiting officers to visit the property to confirm the circumstances. Alternatively, is your property unoccupied because it is:
Long term empty properties that are unoccupied and unfurnished for other reasons are subject to a full council tax bill once the initial six-month exemption has expired. Please contact us to discuss your circumstances so we can be sure you get the information you need. Do you own a second home?
If your property is furnished but unoccupied, the property may qualify for a 10% discount. Complete a
'second home' application form (PDF: 49kb) to claim
this discount.
A property let furnished by a landlord is classed a "second home" and will be liable for a 90% charge when it is unoccupied. Are you making major or structural repairs to your property?
You could claim up to a year free from paying council tax if your property is empty (both unoccupied and unfurnished) and it:
The exemption will end once the major or structural work is complete. You can claim up to a further six months if the property remains unoccupied and unfurnished. The maximum period you can claim is 12 months. Examples:
A property let furnished by a landlord is classed a "second home" and will be liable for a 90% charge when it is unoccupied. Does your property fall into one of these categories?
Is your property:
Are you responsible for paying council tax for a property you don't live in?
You may not have any council tax to pay if you no longer live in the property because you have:
If your property is unoccupied and unfurnished, you can claim up to six months free from paying council tax. After six months, we will charge you for the property at the full council tax rate. To claim, please write to us giving full details, for example when your property became unoccupied and unfurnished and when you expect the situation to change. We may ask one of our visiting officers to visit the property to confirm the circumstances. Does your property have a separate granny annexe occupied by a dependent relative?
You may not have to pay council tax for an annexe, or similar self contained part of a property which is occupied by a dependent relative who is:
Have you altered your property to meet the needs of a disabled person?
If yes, you can apply for your property banding to be reduced by one valuation band. For example, a property in valuation band D will pay
the council tax bill for a band C property. If your property falls into valuation band A the reduction will be 1/9th of the band D charge.
The reduction will not affect the valuation of your home or its banding on the valuation list.
Adaptations that could qualify for a discount can include having:
To qualify for the reduction, the extra room need not be specifically built, but can be an existing room used specifically for the person with the disability.  Download disabled reduction application form (PDF 60kb)
What happens if the circumstances of my property change whilst I receive a council tax discount?
You may not be entitled to receive the council tax discount you are claiming, depending on what the change is.
You must tell us straight away if your circumstances change so we can check your bill is right. The sooner you tell us about a change, the more time we have to spread your council tax payments for you. Depending on your property's circumstances, or your own, you may be able to claim a different reduction or council tax benefit. To tell us about a change of circumstances, or to ask about claiming other reductions, please contact us. Receiving a discount when you know you are not entitled to it could be considered an offence under the Theft Act 1978. |