2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Laycie Beck)
A Nottinghamshire man will have to pay an extra £1,000 in council tax because his property has been empty for two years - even though he only bought it at the start of November. Ian Price bought the property in the Arboretum area of Nottingham on November 6. He was not sure how long the property had been vacant for but hopes to restore it back "to its former Victorian elegance" and use it as his family home.
The 50-year-old said: "We purchased this house in the Arboretum area of Nottingham on November 6. "Since then we have been living in expensive Airbnbs and been moving around with our kids whilst we restore the property. On Friday 22 last week we checked that our registration for council tax had gone through.
"On Friday the estimated council tax from now until the end of the council tax year was £1,033." However, a few days later on Monday, November 25, Ian wanted to check the payment dates and was shocked to find that the price had doubled over the weekend because the house now showed as being empty for over two years. Ian explained: "It looks like it ticked over to being empty for two years over the weekend, between the 22 and 25.
There was no alert or warning about this. "We only bought the property on November 6, that's 19 days that we had owned it and we are being penalised for the house being empty for two years." He has tried to speak to Nottingham City Council about the issue but has been left frustrated.
The dad explained: "However I approach it with the council they are saying 'well that's just the way it is', they have no discretion with this and you have to pay an extra £1,000 council tax. I've even suggested 'I tell you what I'll move in with a sleeping bag and a tent, how's that? "They stated that I would need to prove I will be living there, including driving licence, doctor's letter, three utility bills etc before they would accept that. I find this incredulous as they are happy to take my money through right now but when I try to explain I will be moving in then all of this is suddenly required.
" He continued: "I have never had to provide this information in any house purchase to prove to the local authority that I was living there, has anyone? There is no heating, no kitchens, no bathrooms and no flooring. "We're having a couple of rooms knocked together this week and hopefully by the end of this week we will have some heating. We are trying to do all of the work in record time to move in in January.
" Ian added: "We are trying to restore this house to its former Victorian elegance as a family home in the centre of the Arboretum in town, and it seems I'm being penalised for the previous owner's neglect of the property. Effectively I believe the letter of the law is being followed, to ensure housing stock is not left empty, but the spirit of the law is completely being neglected." Nottingham City Council charges a premium of 100% on council tax, effectively doubling your bill, for homes that have been empty for one to five years before purchase.
That essentially means that if you buy a home that's been empty for more than a year you will face an increased bill when you move in. You will pay three times your bill for a home that's been empty for five to ten years and four times your bill for homes that have been empty for more than 10 years. From the first of April next year properties that are second homes, or which are unoccupied and "substantially furnished" will pay double council tax.
A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council has explained that empty property premiums have been in effect since April 1, 2013, giving local authorities greater flexibility in deciding the levels of council tax for empty properties. They explained: "From April 1, 2024 there has been an increase in the premium for unoccupied and unfurnished properties. As such properties that have been unoccupied and unfurnished properties for more than 1 year are subject to 100% premium.
"The key driver for this decision was to encourage vacant properties back into occupation as quickly as possible. The resident concerned purchased the property on 6 November 2024. "However the property has been unoccupied and unfurnished since December 13, 2022.
Had the resident contacted the council tax service, prior to his purchase, we would have advised him a premium would apply from the date of purchase until the property is occupied or furnished. "There are exceptions to the long term empty premium coming into effect on April 1, 2025 and the resident may qualify for one of the exceptions. At present the charge is being applied correctly at 200% from the date of purchase.
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