Answer Man: Are appliances and furniture included in Buncombe County rental appraisals?

ASHEVILLE - A reader addresses a recent letter sent to property owners. Its contents indicate that they must declare whether or not they are leasing-out any property they own in the county. Do you need to start declaring your refrigerators and reclining chairs as a part of listing personal business property?

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Question: A recent letter from the property appraiser's office requires reporting of tangible property included in rental housing or a statement that no rentals are taking place. I would like to know if this is a new requirement, are all property owners in Buncombe County receiving it, what other counties are doing this and its applicability to properties occupied under an annual lease.

Answer: As we continue to hear about the county's proposed short-term rental regulations, many readers have asked how these new rules will impact property owners. This, actually, is not part of that slew of proposed ordinances. However, it is part of an educational effort from the Buncombe County Tax Assessors Office.

To answer the first of three questions: No, this is not a new requirement.

County spokesperson Kassi Day, speaking on behalf of the county tax assessor's office, noted the program has been in place for several years.

As for impact on appraisals for those who rent out their property, the county says they shouldn't expect this additional aspect to change anything in terms of appraisals, where rentals are included as "business personal property."

Additionally, listing business property is required under state law, where "owners of rental property are required to report, for purpose of taxation, the personal property assets provided in the rental" under North Carolina General Statutes.

"Residential single family rental property is not appraised differently," Day said on behalf of the Tax Assessors office.

An update on the property listing period for Buncombe County was posted in December, where rental property must be included alongside other business and personal property.

For rentals, personal business property includes appliances renters use (your favorite Mickey Mouse plate), housewares, indoor and outdoor furniture (the strange couch you never threw away) and entertainment items (all of those old vinyl records you got from your parents).

To answer another question: Not everyone received this letter when it was sent out in December. It was just sent to those who have property where the "mailing address is different than the situs," Day said. Situs is a legal term for where the property is located.

This information was included in a update post on the property listing period for Buncombe County. You can read that update at: buncombecounty.org/countycenter/news-detail.aspx?id=21140.

The update also clarifies: this goes for both long-term and short-term rentals.

Finally, to answer your question on whether all counties do this. While all counties require you to list business personal property, of which a rental property or leased property would qualify, not every county currently has a rental property listing form. Madison and Henderson counties just require you include that information on a personal business property form.

Buncombe County's rental form came from recommendations from the reappraisal committee where it's part of the county's effort to "grow property owners awareness and compliance with" North Carolina General Statute 105-304(f)(1), according to the letter from the tax assessor's office.

Day said that listing the appliances included in your rentals will not impact reappraisals.

"Listing of Business personal property has no connection to reappraisal. Reappraisal 2025 is only appraising real property," Day told the Citizen Times.

I should also note: you should have listed your property by Jan. 31, but extensions were available. So, reader, if you were waiting for me to circle around to this topic to list your property (please don't do this), I should note that extensions are not available past March 15, which is today. If you haven't done it, get on it!

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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Answer Man: Furniture in rental properties needs to be tax appraised?