Leashold Berth - Rating Valuation

[swifty]

I own a leasehold berth within a Marina owned by Castle Marinas and have recently recieved the following communication.

"Our Rating advisors to Castle Marinas have advised recently that to comply with the rating law, all leasehold berths should have always been seperatly assessed for rating purposes.

In discussion with the Valuation Office (part of HMRC) it has been agreed to remove all these berths from within the overall rating assessnent of the marina.

And in due course all owners of long leases will recieve an assessment for their individual berth.

This will apply retrospectively back to July 2006 and not before."

Can any Forum members advise on this situation as I am unsure of my liability. I pay yearly ground rent. What rates are due on 30 foot of pontoon and for what sevices.

Thank you

 

[PaulGooch]

Are there any mentions about rates in the lease contract ?

 

[Nick_H]

In discussion with the Valuation Office (part of HMRC) it has been agreed to remove all these berths from within the overall rating assessnent of the marina.

That seems to suggest the marina will get a rebate and you'll have to cough up, so if that's correct, you could reasonably ask for a rebate on service charges paid since Jul 2006, and a reduction in future service charges equal to the rates.

Thinking out loud (and definitely not to be taken as fact), if you own the berth personally and don't use it for the purposes of trade, i'm not sure you can be charged rates, it may even come under council tax as a second property? Anyone know?

 

[moonraker 36]

the only comment i can make is that council tax is not payable if the boat can be moved,I.E USED AS A LIVE aboard but also used cursing..

 

[Anthony]

the only comment i can make is that council tax is not payable if the boat can be moved,I.E USED AS A LIVE aboard but also used cursing..

Is that a recent change? I knew someone quite a few years ago who lived in a marina on a yacht that could be moved, and was registered for council tax, but then he also claimed housing benefits too so maybe that put it into a different category.

Ants

 

[moonraker 36]

lived onboard a boat some years back(5or6yrs back),and paid my coucil tax.
came to light some live aboard on the tames appealed a won their claim as they were'nt
perminantly fixed to their moorings.so i appealed and so did my parent's(live aboard too but not with me!)and we got our council tax back !!!!