ShEp
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Registered: 9th Aug 05
Location: Dingwall, Highland
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Moving out shortly, and I have been looking at properties, to rent for the short term till I decide If I will buy or build
Now I am looking at 2 bedroom places (me and my girlfriend) the reason for 2 bedroom's is we have family that lives in other areas,
Anyway, most 2 bedroom properties I have looked at are flats, with people above or below,
But tonight I have found a nice 3 bedroom, property in the older part of the town (fireplaces, hallway, patio, large garden)
HAs a lot of features a flat won't have,
The question I have is, when I called the owner told me I could put it down as a 2 bedroom with a study or a 3 bedroom house,
I would prefer the 1st as It would be cheaper council tax, What is the legality of it? or how would I go about it, as it would more than likely be used as a computer room or something anyway.
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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Does council tax go on number of bedrooms these days or the actual floor area of the property?
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ShEp
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Registered: 9th Aug 05
Location: Dingwall, Highland
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Number of bedroom's will affect it,
Or so I was told, I;m new to all this, still live with parents 
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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Only reason I ask is surely everyone would just say they have as few bedrooms as possible and lots of studies!
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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Looking on the VOA website it doesnt mention anything about the number of bedroom effecting things, it goes more on the general value of the dwelling (and therefore based on age, type, size, number of rooms, etc.). So even if you said it was a study, I cant see it effecting anything at all.
Plus if you are just renting and not buying, you'd surely (if you want to get the band changed) have to request a valuation and this could well increase the amount you are paying as well as decrease.
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dannymccann
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Registered: 9th Aug 06
Location: Doddington, Lincolnshire
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Yea AFAIK it doesnt go on the amount of bedrooms you have, so why the owner said that is 
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Location: Scotlandshire
Those guys like to do things differently 
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Laura
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Registered: 6th Oct 04
Location: Leven, Fife
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I assess Council Tax for Fife Council and it's nothing to do with the amount of bedrooms.
The property already has a banding and it can't be changed unless there are structural alterations, but even then you stay on same banding until the property is sold can can be re assessed for new owners.
Council Tax was introduced in 1993 and the bandings were all assessed on values of properties at that time.
There are many factors when taking this into consideration including location, style of property, size of property.
But remember, the bandings are all based on valuations of 1993!
See the link for values...
http://www.saa.gov.uk/ctbands.html
We have bought a 2 Bedroom Semi and it's only a band A.
But there are flats half a mile away in a Band B.
Nothing to do with bedrooms!
[Edited on 15-01-2009 by Laura]
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Laura
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Registered: 6th Oct 04
Location: Leven, Fife
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Another note...
Could your landlord be referring to Housing & Council Tax Benefit/Rebate?
If you are planning on seeking help with your rent and council tax payments due to low income or whatever, the number of bedrooms will have an affect on the amount of Local Housing Allowance you receive and how much rent you need to pay.
See link for details.
https://lha-direct.therentservice.gov.uk/Secure/Default.aspx
[Edited on 15-01-2009 by Laura]
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dannymccann
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Registered: 9th Aug 06
Location: Doddington, Lincolnshire
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How do you value a house on 1993 values, if it wasnt built then?
edit - Would it be on the price it sold for? That would make sense 
[Edited on 15-01-2009 by dannymccann]
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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I also thought it was based on 1991 prices, not 1993?
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Twiggy
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Registered: 15th Oct 04
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My Mrs claims back rent/tax back as we use our 4th bedroom as her office
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote:
Originally posted by Twiggy
My Mrs claims back rent/tax back as we use our 4th bedroom as her office
But does she pay business rates on that room?
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Kathryn W
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Registered: 12th Oct 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
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Council tax around here isn't effected by the number of bedrooms you have.
It depends on the area you live in...
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote:
Originally posted by Kathryn W
Council tax around here isn't effected by the number of bedrooms you have.
It depends on the area you live in...
Well it depends on the value of the house, which is partly down to the area you live in (plus a hell of a load of other factors!).
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stubbsy05
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Registered: 23rd Oct 02
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Council TAx goes by number of people living at property.
The band is determined by the size of the prooperty and grounds?
The only time I have heard people classing a 3rd bedroom as a study is when HIPS only applied to 3 bed houses and people got around it.
HIPS applies to all properties now though
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex.S
Council TAx goes by number of people living at property.
You sure?
As Im betting their would be no difference if you had 1 person living in a 10,000sq ft house or 6.
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Laura
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Registered: 6th Oct 04
Location: Leven, Fife
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quote:
Originally posted by dannymccann
How do you value a house on 1993 values, if it wasnt built then?
edit - Would it be on the price it sold for? That would make sense
[Edited on 15-01-2009 by dannymccann]
Newly built houses are all visited by an assessor, as are properties that have had extensions etc but only when there is a new purchaser and not for existing owner.
Also, 1993 typo was an error, as my link to the assessors site confirms.
Valuations are 1991, but Council Tax was introduced in 1993.
I don't know anything about Council Tax or Benefits in England but thats how it is up here.
If you have any questions contact your local council or visit your local office.
Point of the matter is, bedrooms mean jack shit in Scotland.
The answer to your original question 
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ShEp
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Registered: 9th Aug 05
Location: Dingwall, Highland
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Cheers Laura,
Called and I'm going to look at a 3 bed semi tonight, 
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K17STY
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Registered: 13th Dec 02
Location: West Lothian
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Single person discount  25% off
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ShEp
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 05
Location: Dingwall, Highland
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Maybe I should sack off the girlfriend then
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dannymccann
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Registered: 9th Aug 06
Location: Doddington, Lincolnshire
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Or leave her registered at her mums or something?
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