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With flooding continuing to get worse across many parts of the UK the pain goes on for a significant number of landlords.

To allieviate some of this, the National Landlords Association wants the Government to widen its offer of 100 per cent Business Rate relief for those affected by the recent devastation caused by UK floods to private residential landlords.

Landlords continue to be liable for Council Tax even when a property is empty.

The NLA said it was only fair that the same 100 per cent relief should apply to Council Tax, if the property is flooded.

NLA Chief Executive Officer Richard Lambert said: "A huge number of homeowners and business have been affected by floods and it will take a substantial amount of time and expense for anyone to return their properties to use, let alone get their business back on track.

"Landlords' properties are their business. If flooding makes them uninhabitable, they will face loss of income on top of the costs of repair and renovation.

"In many areas, they may also face having to pay Council Tax as well, as councils have dropped the discounts and exemptions which used to apply to unoccupied property. The NLA is asking the Government to extend its assistance to all those hit by these devastating floods by providing a period of exemption from Council Tax.

"Many landlords are also quite rightly anxious at present after it emerged that their properties could be excluded from flood relief insurance measures included in the Water Bill. If this oversight is not corrected before the Bill becomes law landlords in areas already suffering the effects of flood damage are likely to find their businesses destroyed and mortgages invalidated by the lack of insurance cover, leading to repossessions, empty homes and blighted communities."

Comments

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    There is of course a massive difference between unoccupied and uninhabitable.

    Most discoiunts have been completely swept away since April 2013, but those apply to habitable properties.

    What do the CT Regs say about a property that is uninhabitable. For example doesn't have services connected

    • 18 February 2014 09:30 AM
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    Council tax on vacant properties from day one is now an extra burden landlords need like a hole in the head in addition to all the other expenses that have been heaped on over the years reducing the profitability. One aspect which keeps coming up in articles is the 'business' one. Many landlords across the country have large portfolios and now do nothing else but run their 'property business'. When, therefore is HMRC going to recognise that this is their 'trade' and treat the tax affairs like any other trade and not as unearned income. This is so long overdue an overhaul as the current system is completely out of date and treats modern landlords with antiquated tax laws best suited to the Rachman era. Come on Government, treat landlords with the same tax law as other 'businesses'!

    • 18 February 2014 09:29 AM
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