Reply to: Zimbabwe comes to Britain

[Paddy]

That's the probable route I'll go down

Had the same problems with an empty property. I found the property broken into at one time and the locks changed and a note from the council saying that they had entered the property under some ancient common law right that did not need a court order to do so. The pretence was to inspect a tree in the back garden which they could well have done by going through the rear gate. They also found no problem with the tree which apparently was reported by the neighbourhood warden on the grounds that it was producing slippery leaves on the pavement.

During a long conversation with the council it emerged that they had about six inspectors and two students on secondment on the emergency tree inspection they too the opportunity to photograph all the internal rooms in case they need to compulsory purchase the property in the future.

On checking up on the law it seems that the council had interpreted the law incorrectly but it would have cost me too much to take legal proceedings against them.

Empty properties can now attract up to 120% Council Tax so now I have rented the empty house to my cat who has to pay 75%. I have not put my cat on the electoral register but a council official in his wisdom has added him on.

[Troll]

Isn't the rebate 50% for unoccupied and 25% for single person?

At least that's what it is around here.

Yup... should be 100% un- occupied IMHO

[Troll]

Are you prepared to resign yourself to paying the council tax? If so then I'm sure you could get it officially occupied one way or another.

That's the probable route I'll go down

[Euro-commuter]

That is one of the options - they do the repairs and then withold rent until the cost of the repairs are paid for, trouble is their costing tend to be top dollar.
Also I know this is only the opening gambit.... they have been given much nastier powers to follow through with

Are you prepared to resign yourself to paying the council tax? If so then I'm sure you could get it officially occupied one way or another.

[Troll]

Send a letter back to the council detailing the work that would be required to make it habitable and say you would consider letting it out if they were prepared to do the said work, that should keep them off your back for a few years.

That is one of the options - they do the repairs and then withold rent until the cost of the repairs are paid for, trouble is their costing tend to be top dollar.
Also I know this is only the opening gambit.... they have been given much nastier powers to follow through with

[gingerjedi]

It needs a fair bit of work doing to it - some of which is structural - for some reason ( I think it's to do with the glut of Grand Design type TV programs) properties needing work seem to attract a premium.

Really it's appreciating so much just sitting there it's better than having shares or cash on deposit! and it's less hassle than dealing with letting agencies etc.

Send a letter back to the council detailing the work that would be required to make it habitable and say you would consider letting it out if they were prepared to do the said work, that should keep them off your back for a few years.

[Euro-commuter]

Received this in the post today:

It's empty because I am making more money on capital appreciation than letting it to some student/third world asylum seeker

Surely you would make even more on both?

I rather think the government reckon that, although your individual house belongs to you, the nation's housing stock is a national asset, and mere ownership does not confer an unalloyed right to do whatever you want with it.

Anyway, get used to the idea that everything belongs to society (as represented by the government), you just lease it. It's the same as the ID for taking photographs in the street. The very concept of being left alone by default has gone.

Gone for ever. In that respect the Conservatives have never once conserved what went before.

[wendigo100]

Aren't Police & Fire services centrally funded?

Not sure. I seem to remember them being listed every time the local council writes to me justifying their latest tax hike. Perhaps they are pretending to fund them.

[Troll]

Police and fire services on standby.

Plus the wages of all those inspectors going round looking for empty properties.

Aren't Police & Fire services centrally funded?

[wendigo100]

Indeed - .... but why should an empty property pay any council tax? What services is it using?

Police and fire services on standby.

Plus the wages of all those inspectors going round looking for empty properties.

[Troll]

Because its empty you aren't paying as much council tax.

Indeed - .... but why should an empty property pay any council tax? What services is it using?

[Troll]

Is it so tulipe that you can't let it to a normal person?

It needs a fair bit of work doing to it - some of which is structural - for some reason ( I think it's to do with the glut of Grand Design type TV programs) properties needing work seem to attract a premium.

Really it's appreciating so much just sitting there it's better than having shares or cash on deposit! and it's less hassle than dealing with letting agencies etc.

[vetran]

No more basic than that

Because its empty you aren't paying as much council tax.

[reformation]

Option 5: Get out of my country, you bloody wage-earner.


"All your houses are belong to us." - tony blair.

Make your time...

[mcquiggd]

Option 5: Get out of my country, you bloody wage-earner.


"All your houses are belong to us." - tony blair.