Building your dream home should be an exciting journey, but for one couple, a simple email oversight led to a shocking financial demand and threats of jail time.

Ruth Pitt from Horsham, West Sussex, was excited about constructing her self-build home, having secured planning permission in late 2020.

However, an unnoticed email from her local council turned their dream into a nightmare.

The Costly Email Mishap

The email in question required Ruth to notify the council when construction began.

Unfortunately, she missed it, and as a result, the council slapped her with a hefty £38,000 fine under the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

To make matters worse, this happened in the same week her husband was diagnosed with dementia.

Instead of leniency, she was threatened with jail if she failed to pay the fine.

What Is the Community Infrastructure Levy?

The CIL was introduced in 2010 to help local councils fund public services for new developments.

Typically, it applies to large-scale housing projects, but smaller developments—including self-builds—can also be liable.

Homeowners must apply for exemptions during the planning process, and if they miss any procedural steps, the council can demand full payment, as Ruth Pitt experienced.

No Room for Appeals

Ruth expressed her disbelief when she received the email, telling the BBC, “I actually couldn’t believe it. It made me feel physically sick.”

The unexpected demand put additional strain on an already tight budget, and she was frustrated by the lack of an appeal process.

Unlike criminal fines or penalties, CIL charges cannot be contested once issued.

Despite her pleas, Horsham District Council refused to refund her, stating they were simply following national regulations.

Other Homeowners Facing Similar Struggles

Ruth Pitt’s story is not unique.

Another couple, Steve and Caroline Dally from Godalming, Surrey, faced a similar nightmare.

After failing to submit one required form when modifying their home extension plans, they were hit with a £70,000 CIL bill by Waverley Borough Council.

Despite a five-year battle to overturn the charge, they have been left feeling “traumatised” and may have to sell their home to cover the cost.

Steve Dally, 65, shared the emotional toll of the ordeal, saying, “There’s no way that a retired person trying to do a small home improvement can find seventy grand.

It’s traumatic. You lose sleep and end up crying your eyes out.”

A Call for Reform

While some councils, like West Berkshire, have shown a willingness to reimburse wrongly charged homeowners, others remain firm in enforcing the charges.

Jeff Brooks, West Berkshire’s council leader, even offered to advise Horsham District Council on how to handle cases more fairly.

However, Horsham has maintained that they have no discretion in cases where homeowners failed to follow due process.

What’s Next?

With more homeowners falling victim to strict CIL regulations, the situation has sparked discussions on whether the system needs reform.

Should councils have more flexibility in waiving charges for genuine mistakes?

Should there be an appeal process for unfair fines?

For now, self-builders and homeowners need to be extra vigilant in following every administrative step—or risk facing a life-altering financial burden.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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