Cllr Allen Gage is seeking assurance that grieving residents will not be charged extra council tax on second homes acquired following a death in the family whilst legal processes are completed. Cheshire East Council is proposing to apply the premium council tax rates on all properties classed as second homes from April next year. (These are furnished properties that are unoccupied).
At the last meeting of Full Council, Cllr Gage explained:
”I understand why the extra charge is being introduced but it could have a detrimental impact on some families
"If there's been a death in the family it can take sometimes up to 12 months for a property to be released, then, with market conditions, it could, say, take nine to 12 months to sell a property.”
"This could leave a family with no disposable income, in a situation where they pay double council tax on a house that they do not wish to use themselves, one that they wish to sell.”
"But in that momentary period, due to a death in the family, they could be paying double for up to two years on a property. I'm just looking for an assurance from the administration that that's an anomaly that we will not look to charge on."
Cllr Mark Goldsmith (Wilmslow, Ind) responded saying that his family had recent experience of this situation, following a relative's death in another part of the country.
"In that case, I think all council tax was exempt until nine months after probate had taken place, so I don't see why we wouldn't adopt a similar sort of process to that as well," he said.
Unfortunately, this was not the venue where financial policy can be altered, but it is to be hoped that this request is included for discussion at Corporate Policy Committee at the earliest opportunity.
https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2024/07/22/willaston-councillor-plea-over…
