The amount of council tax you have to pay depends on:
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the valuation band in which your property has been placed and
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the number of people aged 18 or over living in your property
When we calculate your council tax we assume that two people, aged 18 or over, live in most properties.
Important changes affecting council tax exemptions and discounts
Council tax is administered under central government regulations. Under the Localism Act, new powers have been delegated to local authorities. In addition, The Local Government Finance 2012 changes legislation to some exemptions and discretionary discounts. This will come into effect from 1 April 2013. The main areas of change are:
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Abolish the exemption that is currently available for up to 12 months in respect of an empty property which requires, or is undergoing, major structural repair or alteration to render it habitable (Class A).
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Abolish the exemption that is currently available for up to six months after a dwelling becomes unoccupied and unfurnished (Class C).
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Allow councils to apply up to a 50% additional levy (called an Empty Homes Premium) to long-term empty properties which have been unoccupied for longer than two years. These properties will in future pay 150% council tax (the full charge plus 50%) until reoccupied.
Other discounts and exemptions are not affected by these proposals
Our policy
Our new policies with effect from 1 April 2013 for 2013/14 are:
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Award a discretionary discount of 50% for up to 12 months for former Exemption Class A properties
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Award a discretionary discount of 100% for up to two months for former Exemption Class C properties. Six week occupancy / furnished periods are ignored
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Apply the 50% additional levy to long-term empty properties which have been unoccupied for longer than two years
Why we need to make changes
We have made these changes for the following reasons:
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To support our housing policy, which is to encourage owners to bring under-occupied properties back into use in view of the housing shortage both in the borough and across the country
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To discourage property owners from leaving properties unoccupied for any length of time in view of the housing shortage and opportunity cost to the local economy
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To spread the costs of council services over a wider tax base so the council tax can be lower for residents for any given level of expenditure
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The affected exemptions and discounts are currently:
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Class A is a 100% exemption for up to 12 months followed by 100% of the full charge. Class A exemption is awarded for empty properties, requiring or undergoing major repair work to render them habitable, for a period of up to 12 months.
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Class C is a 100% exemption for up to six months followed by 100% of the full charge. Class C exemption is awarded for empty and unfurnished properties for a period of six months from the date the furniture is removed.
Current discounts (unaffected by the above)
Single person discount
If only one person, aged 18 or over, lives in your property, we can give you a single person discount of 25% (one quarter). Download an application form.
We may need to decide where your main home is for council tax purposes. For example, if you work away from home or if you have more than one home.
Second home discount
Council tax bill for a second home can be reduced by 10%. Apply for a Second Home Discount.
Disability
Your bill may be reduced if a permanently disabled person, adult or child, lives in the property. Your property must have certain features which are essential, or of major importance, to the well-being of the disabled person.
These features must include at least one of the following:
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a room (but not a bathroom, kitchen or toilet) which is used mainly by the disabled person: for example, an existing room or an extension used for storing dialysis equipment, or a bedroom provided downstairs in a property with two or more storeys.
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an additional (i.e. a second) bathroom or kitchen in the property for the use of the disabled person
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extra space inside the property for the use of a wheelchair
When considering whether a reduction should apply, we have to decide whether the person with the disability would find it impossible, or extremely difficult, to live in the property; or whether their health would suffer, or the disability become more severe, if the extra feature were not available.
To qualify for a reduction, the extra room need not be specially-built, but can be an existing room used specifically for the person with the disability.
If your home is eligible, your bill will be reduced to that of a property in the valuation band immediately below the band shown on the valuation list. For example, if your home is in band D, your bill will be reduced to that for a band C dwelling. This will not, however, affect the value of your home or its banding on the valuation list. In this example, it would still be shown as band D on the valuation list. If your home is in band A (the lowest council tax band) a reduction of 1/9 of the band D council tax would apply.
Contact us on 020 8207 7407 or email revenues@hertsmere.gov.uk to apply.
Other discounts
Some people are not counted when we decide how many people, aged 18 or over, live in your property. You may receive a council tax discount if someone in your home is:
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a carer
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a non-British husband/wife/dependant of a student, who is prevented by the terms of her / his leave to enter or remain in the UK, from working or claiming benefit.
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a student, student nurse, apprentice or youth training trainee
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under 20 and still at school or has just left school
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living in hospital
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living in a care home
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a member of a religious community
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a member (or dependant) of international headquarters and a defence organisation
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a member (or dependant) of a visiting force
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a person who still has child benefit paid for them
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a person who is a foreign language assistant
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a person who is severely mentally impaired
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in prison or held somewhere else by the authorities
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a person who lives in a hostel for the homeless or a night shelter
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a person with diplomatic immunity or privileges.
We can reduce your bill by 25% or 50%, depending on how many people we count.
If we count only one person as living in your property we can give you a discount of 25%.
If we disregard all residents within the property we can give you a discount of 50%.
Contact us on 020 8207 7407 or email revenues@hertsmere.gov.uk for further information and details of how to apply.