Houses

[JonnyBoy]

7 minutes ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Stop using cheap suburban high st solicitors 

I don't need one, it's from experience every time, and I have used ones that are more expensive. All seem the same 

[Free Falling Foxes]

2 hours ago, FoyleFox said:

I think your Son should be having a stern discussion with his Estate Agent and Solicitors.  And, although it's certainly worth floating the idea that he'll consider pulling out. That is a decision which needs careful consideration in my view, depending on his circumstances. Does he have a purchase lined up? How much is he going to pay in Solicitors fees for aborted sale? And, to bear in mind we're now in Nov -Dec soon, a traditionally quiet time for sales.

Understandably, he wants to get on with it but being ps'd off and impatient may cost him a lot of money and there is no guarantee of another buyer immediately or that starting from the beginning will be any quicker than proceeding with the current buyer.

Saying he is considering doing it to put a rocket up the relevant derrieres, I would suggest is his first step. Actually doing it, could be expensive and risky.

7 hours ago, RobHawk said:

Yeah, use the threat to put the pressure on everyone else to get things moving. 

 

 

He has made his feelings clear to the other parties in this farce. We'll see what happens.

Yes, @FoyleFox, the potential consequncies of aborting this sale are in his mind. Hence his reticence.

 

Thanks for the replies folks.

[grobyfox1990]

5 hours ago, JonnyBoy said:

I don't need one, it's from experience every time, and I have used ones that are more expensive. All seem the same 

Gone through a lot of bad ones but the ones I use now for every matter are first class 

[Tommy G]

How and when does a house get a council tax rebanding notice? I’ve agreed a price on a house that used to be a bungalow, and has now been renovated and extended. It’s a band C, the house is now 2,600 sqf post renovation - so more likely a band F or G. 
 

Are you relying on the neighbours dobbing you in, or are local councils hot on this when changes go through on land registry etc. 
 

Ideally I’d rather keep paying a band C rate for as long as poss for obvious reasons. 

[jgtuk]

9 hours ago, Tommy G said:

How and when does a house get a council tax rebanding notice? I’ve agreed a price on a house that used to be a bungalow, and has now been renovated and extended. It’s a band C, the house is now 2,600 sqf post renovation - so more likely a band F or G. 
 

Are you relying on the neighbours dobbing you in, or are local councils hot on this when changes go through on land registry etc. 
 

Ideally I’d rather keep paying a band C rate for as long as poss for obvious reasons. 

I would have thought that building control during renovations would have triggered a re-banding but if your solicitors local search didn’t flag anything I would keep quiet or if worried ask your solicitor for advice. Keep copies of sales particulars to prove refurb was done before purchase. 
Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much and just keep paying the band c. 
*not legal advice 

 

Edit - I’m a band G and resent paying an absurd amount every month when services are threadbare and constantly being cut. 

Edited 26 November 2024 by jgtuk

[kenny]

13 hours ago, Tommy G said:

How and when does a house get a council tax rebanding notice? I’ve agreed a price on a house that used to be a bungalow, and has now been renovated and extended. It’s a band C, the house is now 2,600 sqf post renovation - so more likely a band F or G. 
 

Are you relying on the neighbours dobbing you in, or are local councils hot on this when changes go through on land registry etc. 
 

Ideally I’d rather keep paying a band C rate for as long as poss for obvious reasons. 

There won't be any changes to banding unless its prompted by someone.

 

That being said, as soon as Rachel sniffs the opportunity then who knows. I wouldn't be surprised for her to announce that the bands will be re-assessed as this won't be a tax rise, just a fair adjustment. It will only be billionaires and wealthy pensioners that will be effected anyway.

[Tommy G]

1 hour ago, kenny said:

There won't be any changes to banding unless its prompted by someone.

 

That being said, as soon as Rachel sniffs the opportunity then who knows. I wouldn't be surprised for her to announce that the bands will be re-assessed as this won't be a tax rise, just a fair adjustment. It will only be billionaires and wealthy pensioners that will be effected anyway.

Even if its gone from a bungalow to a 2 storey house?

 

Prompted by someone, meaning a neighbour or something else?

 

Cheers

[kenny]

Just now, Tommy G said:

Even if its gone from a bungalow to a 2 storey house?

 

Prompted by someone, meaning a neighbour or something else?

 

Cheers

Correct.

 

Building Control, the Planning Authority and the Valuation Office have no way of talking to each other, so its all based upon its value in 1991. You can apply to have it re-assessed which you would only do if you thought it had come down in value (relatively) or you had made the house smaller in some way.

 

https://www.gov.uk/challenge-council-tax-band#:~:text=You can challenge your Council,Valuation Office Agency ( VOA ).

 

A bigger concern would be Reeves as 1991 is a long time to have buildings re-assessed, particularly in areas where the values have shot up relative to other areas. Think Oadby vs Wigston, or Kirby Muxloe vs Enderby. She could also claim its a reasonable re-valuation exercise not a tax rise.

 

[CosbehFox]

15 hours ago, Tommy G said:

How and when does a house get a council tax rebanding notice? I’ve agreed a price on a house that used to be a bungalow, and has now been renovated and extended. It’s a band C, the house is now 2,600 sqf post renovation - so more likely a band F or G. 
 

Are you relying on the neighbours dobbing you in, or are local councils hot on this when changes go through on land registry etc. 
 

Ideally I’d rather keep paying a band C rate for as long as poss for obvious reasons. 

Re-banding occurs because the land registry ownership notification will have changed. Council receives this report and then backed up planning application/buildign control. 

 

Happened to myself when I bought my last house. 

[CosbehFox]

2 hours ago, kenny said:

There won't be any changes to banding unless its prompted by someone.

 

That being said, as soon as Rachel sniffs the opportunity then who knows. I wouldn't be surprised for her to announce that the bands will be re-assessed as this won't be a tax rise, just a fair adjustment. It will only be billionaires and wealthy pensioners that will be effected anyway.

Smaller parish councils where the number of applications etc is smaller find it far easier to work it out. 

[jgtuk]

1 hour ago, CosbehFox said:

Re-banding occurs because the land registry ownership notification will have changed. Council receives this report and then backed up planning application/buildign control. 

 

Happened to myself when I bought my last house. 

I recently had planning approval for 2 barns/4 units. Council called me within 3 months to arrange a visit with a view to reassess council tax banding. I haven’t even started the work yet! I had to either provide photographic evidence of the work not being done or give them a date to come and inspect. 
They’re desperate for money. 

[kenny]

13 minutes ago, jgtuk said:

I recently had planning approval for 2 barns/4 units. Council called me within 3 months to arrange a visit with a view to reassess council tax banding. I haven’t even started the work yet! I had to either provide photographic evidence of the work not being done or give them a date to come and inspect. 
They’re desperate for money. 

That's for the new builds rather than the existing house though?

[jgtuk]

29 minutes ago, kenny said:

That's for the new builds rather than the existing house though?

No, they're all one property.

[Tommy G]

2 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Re-banding occurs because the land registry ownership notification will have changed. Council receives this report and then backed up planning application/buildign control. 

 

Happened to myself when I bought my last house. 

FFS I'm going to get shafted

[Robo61]

38 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

FFS I'm going to get shafted

You mean you are going to be paying the correct council tax

[Tommy G]

3 minutes ago, Robo61 said:

You mean you are going to be paying the correct council tax

I want to stay in the incorrect band like plenty of others do!

 

Hello fellow Burbage resident 

[kenny]

1 hour ago, jgtuk said:

No, they're all one property.

I think it's the council tax potential of the new build houses they will be chasing you for.

 

If you extended your existing house, I doubt they would be knocking on the door the way they have.

[jgtuk]

7 minutes ago, kenny said:

I think it's the council tax potential of the new build houses they will be chasing you for.

 

If you extended your existing house, I doubt they would be knocking on the door the way they have.

They’re not new build houses, they’re barn conversions. One domestic 2 bed (classed as an annexe to house even though it’s 40 metres away) and the other huge barn will become a 3 unit holiday let, business rateable. 
They’re reassessing for the annexe. 
Sorry, I didn’t make myself clear, been working outside all day and just about to pack for a trip to Berlin at 4am tomorrow 👍

[CosbehFox]

47 minutes ago, kenny said:

I think it's the council tax potential of the new build houses they will be chasing you for.

 

If you extended your existing house, I doubt they would be knocking on the door the way they have.

I had moved no more than two weeks to my new home with an extension plonked on and the letter was there from HMRC et al 

Edited 26 November 2024 by CosbehFox

[Robo61]

2 hours ago, Tommy G said:

I want to stay in the incorrect band like plenty of others do!

 

Hello fellow Burbage resident 

Hi

[kenny]

2 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

I had moved no more than two weeks to my new home with an extension plonked on and the letter was there from HMRC et al 

Ouch. Another reason on top of many not to move.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

Anyone had experience of getting viewings without their house on the market?

 

My situation is that I’m happy where I am but if the right house pops up I’d explore. I’ve kept an eye on the market for the last couple of years and seen about three houses in that time that I’d be interested in (one of which I got a viewing on but wasn’t quite right).

 

One of them has just come back on the market (assuming another sale fell through) and the estate agent is “prioritising viewings for people who are proceedable”.
 

I get the estate agent doesn’t want to waste time with lots of speculative viewings but this is also a house that is clearly vacant so there’s no issue around the seller having lots of people looking round being disruptive. My mortgage is up early next year so it provides a good opportunity to move if I find something worth moving for.
 

Am I supposed to just put my house on the market and/or sell it with nowhere to move to and on the off chance something pops up that makes me want to move?! Or do I just lie to get the viewing and then tell

them the real scenario once I’m wanting to do something?!

 

It all seems a bit broken to me as an industry. As an estate agent you’re there to sell the property and someone wanting to come along and view one that has stood empty for months is surely in the sellers interest regardless of how inconvenient it might be for the estate agent 

[Otis]

18 minutes ago, Freeman's Wharfer said:

Anyone had experience of getting viewings without their house on the market?

 

My situation is that I’m happy where I am but if the right house pops up I’d explore. I’ve kept an eye on the market for the last couple of years and seen about three houses in that time that I’d be interested in (one of which I got a viewing on but wasn’t quite right).

 

One of them has just come back on the market (assuming another sale fell through) and the estate agent is “prioritising viewings for people who are proceedable”.
 

I get the estate agent doesn’t want to waste time with lots of speculative viewings but this is also a house that is clearly vacant so there’s no issue around the seller having lots of people looking round being disruptive. My mortgage is up early next year so it provides a good opportunity to move if I find something worth moving for.
 

Am I supposed to just put my house on the market and/or sell it with nowhere to move to and on the off chance something pops up that makes me want to move?! Or do I just lie to get the viewing and then tell

them the real scenario once I’m wanting to do something?!

 

It all seems a bit broken to me as an industry. As an estate agent you’re there to sell the property and someone wanting to come along and view one that has stood empty for months is surely in the sellers interest regardless of how inconvenient it might be for the estate agent 

Just tell them you're not selling yours and you're in the market to buy a second home.

[Tommy G]

2 hours ago, Freeman's Wharfer said:

Anyone had experience of getting viewings without their house on the market?

 

My situation is that I’m happy where I am but if the right house pops up I’d explore. I’ve kept an eye on the market for the last couple of years and seen about three houses in that time that I’d be interested in (one of which I got a viewing on but wasn’t quite right).

 

One of them has just come back on the market (assuming another sale fell through) and the estate agent is “prioritising viewings for people who are proceedable”.
 

I get the estate agent doesn’t want to waste time with lots of speculative viewings but this is also a house that is clearly vacant so there’s no issue around the seller having lots of people looking round being disruptive. My mortgage is up early next year so it provides a good opportunity to move if I find something worth moving for.
 

Am I supposed to just put my house on the market and/or sell it with nowhere to move to and on the off chance something pops up that makes me want to move?! Or do I just lie to get the viewing and then tell

them the real scenario once I’m wanting to do something?!

 

It all seems a bit broken to me as an industry. As an estate agent you’re there to sell the property and someone wanting to come along and view one that has stood empty for months is surely in the sellers interest regardless of how inconvenient it might be for the estate agent 

We didn’t have anyone round unless they had sold - otherwise we were looking at 2/3 viewings a week which is a pain with a child and a dog. 
 

There are a lot of tyre kickers out there in a tricky market. 
 

you could sell and rent for a year or until you find something, money in the bank ready to go and you’d be very attractive to a seller. 

[Freeman's Wharfer]

26 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

We didn’t have anyone round unless they had sold - otherwise we were looking at 2/3 viewings a week which is a pain with a child and a dog. 
 

There are a lot of tyre kickers out there in a tricky market. 
 

you could sell and rent for a year or until you find something, money in the bank ready to go and you’d be very attractive to a seller. 

I get that in your scenario. This is a house that is quite clearly vacant from the photos however - so it’s literally just on the estate agent.

 

I’m also perfectly happy with my house as-is and only looking to move if I find something that I feel is an upgrade and worth the upheaval.

 

Compare to the car market where you couldn’t view a car if you hadn’t yet sold your current one. It seems like estate agents have it a bit too good if they can turn away potentially decent leads - which would lead to the question: why are they needed at all?!