Three year Council Tax bill?

Three year Council Tax bill?

8:00 AM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago 34

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My friend had tenants in a property for three years, but they did not pay any council tax during that time. The council said that he should have sent the Assured Tenancy Agreement to them and that they were not aware any tenants were living in the property. He ended up paying £8,000 in Council Tax!

I was very surprised by the council’s stance as I never thought the landlord was responsible for tenants bills, be it council tax or utilities.

I have a couple of properties and I do inform the council, gas, water and electricity providers, but I never get a confirmation so I am now a little concerned. Could the council do the same to me?

Many thanks

Sash


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Comments

Neil Patterson

9:40 AM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago

Hi Sash,

How on earth did the council not notice for 3 years?

Your friend surely had proof of who rented the property from the original signed AST and rental payments? Was it let through and agent?

Sash D

10:08 AM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago

I would have thought it was quite easy for the council not to know ? The tenant didn't pay the rent either for a long period of time

Yes friend had proof with the signed AST. The key question is does the landlord becomes liable for the tenant bills if he or she absconds or say goes overseas

Luke P

10:10 AM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago

Were the tenants in receipt of any benefits during that time?

terry sullivan

11:00 AM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago

council is wrong--it is their responsibility to chase ct

i sold a property--2 years later council chased me as no ct paid--i argued and council went away

terry sullivan

11:01 AM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Neil Patterson at 15/02/2019 - 09:40
how did council not notice? have you ever dealt with council morons? i have!!!

Sash D

12:08 PM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 15/02/2019 - 10:10
Yes I think they received benefits.

TheMaluka

13:35 PM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago

Start your argument with the council by quoting the "Local Authority Finance Act 1992", section 6 Persons liable to pay council tax.
In future keep evidence of all notifications preferably as documents attached to the AST (easy if you have Adobe writer - other pdf editors are available).

Rob Crawford

15:34 PM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago

Did your friend advise the council that he/she had vacated the property and was planning to let it? Did the friend pay council tax up to the move in date of the tenant? This would normally trigger the council to send a letter to the new occupiers with details of council tax. Assuming this was ignored, within a few months the council should have started to chase the debt (council tax being paid in advance). If they chose not to do that, it's a council issue and not the landlords!

Puzzler

15:41 PM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago

That is odd as there is no longer an exemption for empty property in most councils

Rob Crawford

15:42 PM, 15th February 2019, About 5 years ago

If on benefits they may have been entitled to the councils "Council Tax Reduction Scheme". But that's not really for the landlord to get involved with.

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