Response 3868391

Response to request for information

Reference

3868391

Response date

12 January 2026

Request

I would like to request information regarding the treatment of new build dwellings that are unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold for council tax purposes. Specifically, I would be grateful if you could provide information for the past three financial years.

1. For the purposes of serving a Completion Notice for council tax, at what stage of construction does the authority consider a property to be “substantially complete” or “capable of being completed within three months”? For example, is this considered only when final fixtures/fittings are outstanding, or when the roof, windows, doors, and main structure are in place?
2. Are full council tax charges applied to new build dwellings that are unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold, or is a discount or exemption implemented?
3. How much council tax revenue has been raised from unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold new build dwellings in each of the past three financial years?
4. How many instances in each of the past three financial years has a developer challenged the completion date set out in a Completion Notice served on a new build dwelling that is unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold?
5. Of the instances in Question 4, in how many cases has the authority withdrawn the original Completion Notice and issued a new notice with a revised date?
6. How many instances in each of the past three financial years has a developer appealed the completion date set out in a Completion Notice served on a new build dwelling that is unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold to the Valuation Tribunal?
7. Of the instances in Question 6, in how many cases has the Valuation Tribunal upheld the appeal by a residential developer regarding the completion date set out in a Completion Notice for a new build dwelling that is unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold?

Response

I would like to request information regarding the treatment of new build dwellings that are unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold for council tax purposes. Specifically, I would be grateful if you could provide information for the past three financial years.

1. For the purposes of serving a Completion Notice for council tax, at what stage of construction does the authority consider a property to be “substantially complete” or “capable of being completed within three months”? For example, is this considered only when final fixtures/fittings are outstanding, or when the roof, windows, doors, and main structure are in place?
   • Answer - Unable to confirm as each case is considered based on its own merits.
2. Are full council tax charges applied to new build dwellings that are unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold, or is a discount or exemption implemented?
   • Answer - Unfurnished discount of 50% for first four weeks thereafter a full charge is payable
3. How much council tax revenue has been raised from unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold new build dwellings in each of the past three financial years?
   • Answer - Information unavailable
4. How many instances in each of the past three financial years has a developer challenged the completion date set out in a Completion Notice served on a new build dwelling that is unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold?
   • Answer - none
5. Of the instances in Question 4, in how many cases has the authority withdrawn the original Completion Notice and issued a new notice with a revised date?
   • Answer - not applicable
6. How many instances in each of the past three financial years has a developer appealed the completion date set out in a Completion Notice served on a new build dwelling that is unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold to the Valuation Tribunal?
   • Answer - none
7. Of the instances in Question 6, in how many cases has the Valuation Tribunal upheld the appeal by a residential developer regarding the completion date set out in a Completion Notice for a new build dwelling that is unoccupied, unfurnished, and unsold?
   • Answer - not applicable