A couple faces a staggering council tax increase after buying a fixer-upper, leaving neighbors astonished at the situation
Stafford: So, there’s this couple, Peter and Emma Shenton, who bought a house on Oxford Gardens. They inherited some money from Emma’s late dad and thought they’d turn the place around. But guess what? They got hit with a 200% council tax bill because the house had been empty for over a year.
They only found out the house had been sitting vacant for two years when they got the keys in September. Now, their annual council tax bill is a whopping £3,200! They’re working hard to fix it up, but it’s going to take until late January to get it livable.
Emma, who’s 50, shared how they’ve been hustling. They’ve been sorting out all the utilities and trying to get a council tax reduction. But instead, they got a letter saying they owe double the tax because the place was empty. Can you believe that?
She’s been juggling her job and working on the house until late at night. They’re putting in serious hours, like 10 to 12 hours on weekends, just to make it livable. Even though they’re not sleeping there yet, they’re there almost every day working on it.
Emma feels frustrated. She’s got all the essentials for the house, but because they’re not living there overnight, they’re being charged 200%. The neighbors can’t believe it either; they’re shocked at how much effort the couple is putting in.
It’s really taking a toll on Emma. She used to love the idea of fixing up the house, but now it’s become a source of stress. Stafford Borough Council, however, is sticking to its guns. They want to make sure empty homes are used, which is why they have this tax policy in place.
A council spokesman said they encourage people to reach out early if they buy a property to avoid these hefty charges. It’s a tough situation for the Shentons, and it’s hard to see how they’ll get through this without some support.
