New properties and completion notices

A completion notices states the completion date for newly built properties.

From this date, the Valuation Office Agency will band the property and we will charge Council Tax.

The completion notice will be given to you when building work's finished, or if any remaining work can be completed within three months.

If the property's not finished, the completion notice can state a completion date up to three months away, allowing time for outstanding work to be completed.

The important date to bear in mind is the date we specify as the date of completion.

How we decide the completion date

Our inspectors may visit and review homes that are being built to collect evidence, like photos.

Properties are substantially complete if:

• the roof and external walls are in place
• internal walls are built
• floors are laid

Notices will be issued even if there's no:

• bathroom or kitchen units fitted
• electrical plug points fitted
• internal decoration
• connection to water, gas and electricity

If a building control certificate's been issued, we can still serve a completion notice for Council Tax purposes.

If your property is complete but unoccupied

If the property you own is complete, we'll serve you with a completion notice.

A completion notice can't be backdated, even if the property's been finished for some time.

If your property becomes occupied

A new or altered home does not require a Completion Notice when someone starts to live there. The date used to enter onto the Council Tax list will be the date the person moved in.

If you don't agree with the completion notice

If you don't agree with the notice, you can appeal online to the Valuation Tribunal Service within 28 days.

You can also contact them by:

• email: appeals@valuationtribunal.gov.uk
• telephone: 0303 4458100
• post: Valuation Tribunal, 2nd Floor, 120 Leman Street, London E1 8EU

You can contact us first to talk about why you don't agree with the completion date. We may ask you for more information. We'll let you know our final decisions as soon as possible, so you have time to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal Service.

If needed, we'll issue a revised completion notice.