You will not be liable to pay Council Tax on an empty property if you're a trustee in bankruptcy (GOV.UK). This could be as the Official Receiver (OR) or as an insolvency practitioner.
The exemption will apply until the property is sold, or if you disclaim any interest in the property.
The exemption applies:
- whether the property is furnished or not
- until the property is sold or if you disclaim any interest in the property
The exemption will not apply where a trustee has been appointed before bankruptcy proceedings.
You'll need to apply for the exemption. You will not get it automatically.
You must pay Council Tax while you wait for us to decide if you're eligible for a discount. If you do not pay, we'll start the Council Tax recovery process.
Who can apply
A trustee or the bankrupt owner liable for Council Tax can apply.
What you need to apply
You'll need to fill in and send us the application form with proof that you're eligible for the exemption. You'll need to tell us the:
- Council Tax account number
- full address of the property
- names of the owners who are bankrupt
- preferred contact details for the owners
Proof we need
We need:
- a copy of the bankruptcy order
- the date the property became unoccupied
Apply
Download and fill in the application form:
Send your application by post or email to:
Royal Borough of Greenwich
Revenues Service
The Woolwich Centre
35 Wellington Street
London SE18 6HQ
Email: counciltax@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
What happens next
It can take up to 21 days for us to process your application and decide if you're eligible.
We may ask you for more proof.
If you're eligible for the exemption, we'll send you an updated bill.
You must tell us within 21 days about any change in your circumstances that may affect your entitlement to a discount or exemption. If you do not tell us, you could get a £70 fixed penalty.
If we decide you're not eligible, you can appeal our decision.