Durham County Council allows Dominic Cummings off £50000 council tax

[norfolkngood]

When Cummings went off to Durham in May the property he stayed in was a house that had been built from an old swimming pool without planning permission about 18 years earlier. When this became known DCC referred the matter to the Valuation Authority.

It has now been decided that Council Tax should be payable on this and another property similarly built without permission WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 4 2020!

 

[Lefty]

Have they justified this?

I know someone who is friends with a neighbour. Apparently it is a gorgeous property. I don't see it serving anyone ordering the property to be demolished - it doesn't impact anyone - but surely this is just more encouragement for people to flout the law, not to mention the loss of funds?

 

[newusername]

When Cummings went off to Durham in May the property he stayed in was a house that had been built from an old swimming pool without planning permission about 18 years earlier. When this became known DCC referred the matter to the Valuation Authority.

It has now been decided that Council Tax should be payable on this and another property similarly built without permission WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 4 2020!

His cottage is only Band A so that is going to be about £1000 a year, so DCC have let him off c.£18k.

I'm not sure about the valuation though, Band A is upto £40,000 in 1991, for a detached cottage with grounds & views over the Browney Valley.

 

[Lefty]

Cummings would no doubt have fought it and I have no doubt he would exact retribution - he has already touted swingeing reform of the planning system - so I can see why council officials might think it was better to let things drop, but that doesn't mean it is correct. I'd like to see the reasoning.

Plus, from what I'm told, the place is like a luxury spa. Doesn't sound like it should be in the lowest council tax band.

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

*moves to Durham*

 

[red_harrington]

If I'd built something without permission and subsequently had to have it knocked down, I'd be absolutely livid hearing this.

 

[Lefty]

If I'd built something without permission and subsequently had to have it knocked down, I'd be absolutely livid hearing this.

Edit: I now get your gist.

 

[newusername]

Have they justified this?

John Hewitt, corporate director of resources at Durham County Council, said: “I can confirm that the Valuation Office Agency have concluded their inspection and provided us with details of the required changes to the valuation list in respect of North Lodge, where the current single assessment will be replaced with three entries in the rating list going forward.

“These changes will be implemented with effect from October 4, 2020, which is the date we have been instructed to apply the changes from.

“The date from which the rating list is to be amended is a matter for the Valuation Office Agency.

“We are instructed that they have made their assessment in line with the relevant legislation and custom and practice in terms of such changes in accordance with Article 3 of the Council Tax (Chargeable Dwellings) Order 1993.”

I'm confused by the legislation reference. I can't find a 1993 version but 1992 one states:

Not grounds for not being charged 18 years worth of Council Tax.

 

[Lefty]

I'm confused by the legislation reference. I can't find a 1993 version but 1992 one states:
View attachment 7488
Not grounds for not being charged 18 years worth of Council Tax.

Hmmm, lots of questions remaining for me. I hope someone asks them.

 

[NYboro]

Hmmm, lots of questions remaining for me. I hope someone asks them.

Even if they do, you can be sure they won't be answered.

 

[xxlshirts_fit_all]

Is it DCs property or his parents or in-laws?

 

[newusername]

Is it DCs property or his parents or in-laws?

It is the Cummings family farm.

 

[norfolkngood]

It is owned by him and his father.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

Good to see that the monies saved from getting the north east child poverty figures up isn't wasted.

 

[Shaboro1986]

Don't knock it down. Make him sell it and use the money for child poverty

 

[coluka]

I think the council should buy the field next to it and turn it into a permanent travellers site

 

[bear66]

I think the council should buy the field next to it and turn it into a permanent travellers site

For lost souls wandering the country with poor eyesight.

 

[WeeGord]

I might be wrong but I think the Council have now decided to pursue him for historical Council Tax, at least according to an article in the Northern Echo.

 

[newusername]

I might be wrong but I think the Council have now decided to pursue him for historical Council Tax, at least according to an article in the Northern Echo.

It isn't in Durham County Council's hands. DCC can only bill from the date the property is added to the Council Tax list by the Valuation Office Agency.
The VOA have stated they have a policy of not backdating date of entry onto the list for single dwellings being converted to multiple dwellings and remaining in the same ownership. I understand this is because most of the time this happens is it is an 'innocent oversight', a family create a granny flat & don't realise it should be listed etc. and not a deliberate ploy to avoid council tax.

 

[FatCat]

I’m obviously not familiar with the property - thinking out loud I would say if the land has one entry gate and the properties on there are owned by the same person then should they really be charged two lots of council tax as they can’t be living in both at the same time. If you think about what council tax is used for then is it right that someone should be paying twice? assuming his Fafter owns it I would say he shouldn’t be paying council tax.

assuming Cummings owns it then the rules on second homes depend on each council but .govuk has the following to say:

You may pay less Council Tax for a property you own or rent that's not your main home. Councils can give furnished second homes or holiday homes a discount of up to 50%. Contact your council to find out if you can get a discount - it's up to them how much you can get.

Councils are changing the rules all the time - I owned two properties in the same council and previously when one one was empty for sometime I could claim total exemption on council tax for that property. That same council has now changed the rules meaning both properties are chargeable.