Charged Council Tax For 2 Rented Properties At The

Hi...

Having problems with my local council regarding the Council Tax. Long and short of the situation is that we moved property last year, end of September, into our new property - both rented. I had thought that the letting agency had sorted out the change in address but was, much to my surprise, threatened with legal over unpaid bills from September through to February...

Due to paperless billing I had noticed council tax payments leaving my account but, apparently, this is for my old address...

My wife has paid the bill, afraid of any court proceeding and she has heard from others that it is our fault for the mix up and the money wouldn’t be able to be changed over for the bills owning on the new property....and the money paid recently, with fear of legal undertakings, is in effect lost.

Can the council get away with this? Are they ALLOWED to do this? Is there any way we can reclaim the money.....after all, £600 is a HUGE amount...

Thanks in advance...

Geoff x

Comments

  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260
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    A person can be liable for council tax on multiple properties at the same time, there is no limit in legislation on that so the council will continue billing a person until they are aware of any changes. Never rely on another party to tell the council for you, that goes wrong far too often.

    Any monies paid are not entirely lost - once the council tax account has been sorted out and corrected then any credit can be refunded / transferred over as required. You will, unless the council waive the costs, have lost any monies which were paid for any summons/liability order costs.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 17,545
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    Something else to remember is that if you vacate a rented property prior to the end of your tenancy you remain liable for the CT until the end of the tenancy period. However if the tenancy was surrendered to the landlord and he agreed to the surrender or another person occupied the property before your tenancy ended, then your liability would cease from the date of either event.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260
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    Yes, it would be helpful if you could clarify the terms of the tenancy at the first property as it makes a difference to the overall position when you do try and sort out the cross over in liability.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
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