Council Tax for absconding LHA tenant?

Council Tax for absconding LHA tenant?

22:55 PM, 16th February 2015, About 9 years ago 7

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Since council tax for empty properties became a landlord’s responsibility in April 2013 councils are trying every which way they can to get money in from the easiest target when a tenant absconds, the landlord. In fact if the tenant is on Benefits a demand for council tax is often the first a landlord knows that the property is empty.  Council Tax for absconding LHA tenant

As I understand it, the Housing Act 1988 stipulates that a tenant, if on a periodic tenancy, is legally obliged to give a calendar month`s notice ending on a rent day. I assume therefore that with a tenant doing a runner, the notice period is from the 1st rent day after the landlord finds out till the day before the following rent day. Therefore the landlord’s council tax liability runs from the 2nd rent day after finding the tenant has left.

Comments anyone?

In the case of a fixed period tenancy, and a tenant doing a runner, I have successfully challenged a Council and am not paying tax till after the fixed period has expired.

Regards

Grahame


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Comments

Tom Jackman

10:26 AM, 17th February 2015, About 9 years ago

Please enlighten us how you avoided paying CTax for the fixed period tenancy.

Alan Loughlin

10:59 AM, 17th February 2015, About 9 years ago

to avoid this and potential problems with unpaid utilities I never ever let a tenancy go periodic, always insist on a new signed contract, i have had bills issued to me and always by proving tenancy with a current agreement have had the bills quashed.

Romain Garcin

11:18 AM, 17th February 2015, About 9 years ago

If the tenancy is period then the landlord's liability for council tax begins as soon as the tenant is no longer a resident at the property even if the tenancy continues.

This is not a major risk if the tenancy agreement is worded properly as the landlord is then entitled to deduct it from the deposit.

Jan Martin

11:52 AM, 17th February 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Romain " at "17/02/2015 - 11:18":

I am very lucky it seems as here in wales I have always been given an exemption for an empty property. I take it that you rent out furnished properties if you are paying council tax .

Tom Jackman

12:01 PM, 17th February 2015, About 9 years ago

Durham County Councils do not give any exemptions on empty properties.

Dr Rosalind Beck

12:51 PM, 17th February 2015, About 9 years ago

Our drug dealing cannabis farmers have 'absconded,' and the electricity company just asked me is the electricity contract to now go in my name or stay in the tenant's. I replied that it should remain in his name until the end of the fixed 1-year tenancy. So theoretically now I could use as much electricity as I wanted to and they would simply have to try and find the incredible, disappearing man.

Rob Crawford

20:57 PM, 18th February 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Rosalind ." at "17/02/2015 - 12:51":

...and the cannabis will be discounted as production costs will be less! (Joke)

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