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Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
New Council Tax warning to people inheriting a home from bereaved relative
An inheritance disputes lawyer from Lime Solicitors has warned bereaved families to be on high alert over unexpected Council Tax charges on inherited properties, particularly the so-called 'second home' premium, which some councils are applying immediately after a death. Under current rules, most local authorities offer a grace period of up to six months during which Council Tax is not payable on a property that has been left empty due to the death of its owner. However, the process of obtaining probate, selling the property and completing conveyancing often exceeds this timeframe, which can leave families vulnerable to unexpected charges. The warning comes after one council in England reportedly imposed a second home levy on an estate property, even though it was not used as a second home. The six-month exemption did not apply in this case because the property was legally in the son's name at the time of the owner's death, meaning the council considered it a second home from a technical perspective. Andrew Wilkinson, head of inheritance disputes at Lime Solicitors, described the decision as 'incredibly harsh'. He said: 'It's deeply concerning to see councils imposing hefty council tax bills on grieving families who are already navigating the complex probate process. In all my years of practice, this isn't something I have seen before, and it feels extremely unfair, especially when executors are actively trying to deal with the estate. 'In most cases, it takes many months, often over a year, to obtain a grant of probate, arrange a sale and complete conveyancing. That means most families are already struggling with delays before they even get the chance to put the property on the market. If councils start piling on charges prematurely, it only adds to the emotional and financial stress. 'Families dealing with estate properties should proactively communicate with their local council to explain the situation and timelines. This can help in negotiating any available exemptions or reliefs. Additionally, if a property is expected to remain vacant for an extended period, renting it out might be a viable option to offset council tax liabilities, though this comes with its own set of responsibilities and considerations.' The warning comes amid a nationwide crackdown on second homes - part of a UK Government-led effort to tackle the housing shortage in popular towns and rural communities. On April 1, 2025, more than 200 local authorities across England implemented new powers allowing them to levy a 100 per cent Council Tax premium on properties that are furnished but not the owner's main residence. The policy, introduced by Michael Gove in 2023, was originally aimed at curbing the 'scourge' of second homes in coastal towns where housing supply is under pressure. However, its rollout is now affecting a far broader range of properties. Andrew said: 'This policy was designed to free-up housing, not penalise bereaved families. The loss of a loved one is already a challenging time. Families shouldn't be further burdened by unexpected financial pressures due to administrative oversights or rigid policies. 'It's imperative councils handle such situations with the sensitivity and understanding they deserve. Probate is complex enough without councils jumping the gun on tax.' Most councils in Scotland have information on inherited homes after someone dies on their website. Guidance on the South Lanarkshire council website states: 'If a property is unoccupied because the occupier has died, as long as it is unoccupied, and liability for Council Tax falls solely to the estate of that person, it could be exempt from Council Tax. 'If the property was owned jointly with someone else, is owned by someone else, or is held in a Trust, liability for Council Tax will fall to that owner, or Trust, and this exemption category won't apply.'
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Grant will allow more tree-planting for town
A town will be able to enact the next phase of a project after it was awarded a grant for planting more trees. The grant from the Trees for Climate programme will go towards the Trowbridge Green Thread project, named to the reflect Trowbridge's weaving history. Since spring 2024, about 400 trees have been planted in the town as well as thousands of whips, which are smaller tree seedlings. The town council said this time it will invest in some bigger tree guards after some trees were damaged during the first phase. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire Part of the national Government-led Nature for Climate fund, Trees for Climate is a woodland creation programme which is taking place across England's Community Forests. Planting has happened in parks, allotments and green spaces like Biss Meadows, Paxcroft Brook Open Space and the Sensory Garden as well as fruit trees for The Mead School and Castle Mead School. The council added it had wanted to plant more trees in urban areas, but could not get permission from landowners for all the places suggested by residents. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. New national forest to see 20m trees planted Thousands of arboretum trees planted after disease Work under way to plant 20 community orchards
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Grant will allow more tree-planting for town
A town will be able to enact the next phase of a project after it was awarded a grant for planting more trees. The grant from the Trees for Climate programme will go towards the Trowbridge Green Thread project, named to the reflect Trowbridge's weaving history. Since spring 2024, about 400 trees have been planted in the town as well as thousands of whips, which are smaller tree seedlings. The town council said this time it will invest in some bigger tree guards after some trees were damaged during the first phase. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire Part of the national Government-led Nature for Climate fund, Trees for Climate is a woodland creation programme which is taking place across England's Community Forests. Planting has happened in parks, allotments and green spaces like Biss Meadows, Paxcroft Brook Open Space and the Sensory Garden as well as fruit trees for The Mead School and Castle Mead School. The council added it had wanted to plant more trees in urban areas, but could not get permission from landowners for all the places suggested by residents. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. New national forest to see 20m trees planted Thousands of arboretum trees planted after disease Work under way to plant 20 community orchards
BBC News
06-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Trowbridge can start phase two tree planting after grant
A town will be able to enact the next phase of a project after it was awarded a grant for planting more grant from the Trees for Climate programme will go towards the Trowbridge Green Thread project, named to the reflect Trowbridge's weaving spring 2024, about 400 trees have been planted in the town as well as thousands of whips, which are smaller tree town council said this time it will invest in some bigger tree guards after some trees were damaged during the first phase. Part of the national Government-led Nature for Climate fund, Trees for Climate is a woodland creation programme which is taking place across England's Community has happened in parks, allotments and green spaces like Biss Meadows, Paxcroft Brook Open Space and the Sensory Garden as well as fruit trees for The Mead School and Castle Mead council added it had wanted to plant more trees in urban areas, but could not get permission from landowners for all the places suggested by residents.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bank of England chief cautions over cutting regulation post-financial crisis
The Governor of the Bank of England has cautioned against unravelling regulation introduced after the global financial crisis amid Government-led efforts to cut red tape. Andrew Bailey insisted there was 'no trade-off between economic growth and financial stability' in a speech delivered in London on Tuesday. Speaking at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, he said there was a 'reaction taking place against regulation, and the responses to the GFC (global financial crisis).' 'We must not forget the lasting damage done by the GFC. There is no trade-off between economic growth and financial stability.' The comments come weeks after the Prime Minister vowed to 'clear out the regulatory weeds' to spur on economic growth. Sir Keir Starmer criticised the 'morass of regulation that effectively bans billions of pounds' of investment in the UK, describing 'thickets of red tape' that he said have spread through the economy. Government plans to cut red tape in the financial sector have included sending 'growth-focused remit letters' to regulators and urging them to 'tear down regulatory barriers'. Mr Bailey said the last 15 years had seen the 'emergence of risks to financial stability originating in the non-bank system', incorporating any financial institution that is not a bank. These businesses must 'manage the risks they face, and in some parts of the system it is appropriate that regulations are in place to provide more assurance of this management taking place', the Bank chief said. Nonetheless, he said there were typically choices for the country about how it deals with potential vulnerabilities in the system. 'It is critical that we have and develop tools of assessment and intervention. But these interventions may not always need to be more regulation,' he said. Sign in to access your portfolio
