Three year Council Tax bill?
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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Member Since February 2011 - Comments: 3454 - Articles: 286
9:40 AM, 15th February 2019, About 7 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?
Member Since February 2016 - Comments: 17
10:08 AM, 15th February 2019, About 7 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
Member Since March 2015 - Comments: 1969 - Articles: 1
10:10 AM, 15th February 2019, About 7 years ago
Were the tenants in receipt of any benefits during that time?
Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 828
11:00 AM, 15th February 2019, About 7 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
Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 828
11:01 AM, 15th February 2019, About 7 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!!!
Member Since February 2016 - Comments: 17
12:08 PM, 15th February 2019, About 7 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 15/02/2019 – 10:10
Yes I think they received benefits.
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2204 - Articles: 2
1:35 PM, 15th February 2019, About 7 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).
Member Since April 2014 - Comments: 986 - Articles: 2
3:34 PM, 15th February 2019, About 7 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!
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 1266 - Articles: 1
3:41 PM, 15th February 2019, About 7 years ago
That is odd as there is no longer an exemption for empty property in most councils
Member Since April 2014 - Comments: 986 - Articles: 2
3:42 PM, 15th February 2019, About 7 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.