Completion Notices

What is a Completion Notice (for Council Tax)?

A completion notice will be served on the owner of the property as soon as it is reasonably practical. We will serve a completion notice:

• where a property is complete, or
• where the work remaining to be done on a new building can reasonably be expected to be completed within 3 months

The completion notice is a document that specifies the completion day. This is the day on which a property becomes a dwelling for Council Tax purposes.  It is then given a band by the Valuation Office Agency so that we can start charging Council Tax.
 

What if a property is Complete but Unoccupied?

Council Tax is payable on a property once we consider it to be complete.

We make our decision with regard to Section 17 (as amended) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
 

What criteria do we use to decide a completion date?

A property will be considered to have reached a stage of substantial completion when it meets the following criteria:

• The basic structure is complete, for example all external walls and roof are in place;
• Internal walls are built (although not necessarily plastered);
• Floors laid (although the screed or top coat of concrete need not have been laid)

Many properties will be at an advanced level of completion. Examples of this may be where ceilings are in place, walls have been plastered and second fixing may have commenced. In these circumstances, the time allowed in the notice for full completion of the property may be short.

In order to be considered ready for banding, the following work does not need to have been carried out:

• Internal decoration of the property
• Final fitting of sanitary ware and kitchen units
• Final fitting of electrical plug points and switches
• Final connection of water, gas and electricity (although services should be laid on to the site)
• The criteria for deciding completion for Council Tax purposes, are very different to that for deciding completion for Building Control certificates

A completion notice for Council Tax may be served up to 3 months in advance of the day that a property will be complete.

It is possible the property may not be completed by the completion date. This will not change the date on the completion notice. This is because at the time the notice is served, it is reasonable to expect the property could have been completed by the date specified. 

What if I disagree with the Completion Notice?

For further information please contact us. We can look at your case and consider the facts.

Please contact us in the first instance, setting out the reasons why you disagree with the date of completion. We may ask for further information and we will advise you of our decision as soon as possible. This will allow you sufficient time to appeal further if you wish.  

If you disagree with a completion notice you should appeal within 28 days of the date of service of the notice. The appeal should be made to the Valuation Tribunal Service who are an independent body.