Council charges becasue they feel like it?

eiamhere69

Hi, I would appreciate some advice if anyone could. Just came home from work and my partner has told me that her dad has just recieved a bill from Newcastle City Council to the sum of £900.

Her parents moved house about a month ago and the coucil claim the property is damaged. I know for a fact that he spent hundreds putting right the council property before he moved, something I disagreeed with. (as it wasn't due to neglect).

Prior to moving two inspectors called out and agreed everything was satisfactory. Now after moving they claim that there is alot of repairs to do and rubbish, etc. out the back.

I do know that he replaced a few doors (but stupidly paid a coucil joiner to do it on the side, would probably been better asking the coucil to do officially) out of his own pocket, due to the fact the others had fallen off over the 20 or more years they had been up.

My problem with the entire thing is that not one, but two inspectors checked everything over. Apparently his tenancy ran for a couple of days after he had moved, and they are stating that this is when they have inspected.

I have passed since they moved and the garage door is gone, and I mean completely. It is now boared over. Someone has clearly broken, whether they have also been inside the house? I am unsure.

My father in-law has asked for a copy of the damages, but was told he cannot have a copy without a solicitor requesting it. He can appeal, but must go to court, or so I was told.

So from the top.

Two inspectors on two separate occasions
In-laws move
Damage to garage occurs/ fly-tipping?
council take photographs and log so called damages
Council send out a bill to the sum of £900.

Can a council really wait until aperson has moved and then claim for dammages they perceive to have occured prior to the tenant moving., after two of their own inspectors have finalised everything. I will update the reply he got, when I have an accurate view of how it was received.

DVardysShadow

So what are we talking about here? You are assuming that everyone knows exactly what this is about, but it is not obvious.

CIS

I'm assuming they have moved from a Your Homes Newcastle property and are now being billed for damage which occurred after an inspector has Ok'd the property ?.

I would suggest that if the property was damaged whilst he held the tenancy but after vacating it that he report the vandalism to the police (which area of the city was it ?).

eiamhere69

Thanks for the replies and sorry about taking so long to respond, I've just put my son to bed. It was the Westend of Newcastle, Cowgate (say no more) to be more precise.

CIS

Technically the tenant is responsible for the property whilst holding a tenancy so its would be only fair for YHN to ask question regarding the damage however as the property was inspected (after YHN knew they had left ?) then surely YHN should have at least have enquired whether the property had been vandalised or not after the vacation before billing. They know from exeprience that many parts of the city have trouble with vandalism on any empty property.

eiamhere69

That was my understanding also. I Understand how is termed in the tenancy. But, simply because their rent was paid up to a couple of days later, I don't think the council have the right to inspect the property, then knowingly call around after the tenant has moved and re-inspect and contradict everything they had previously done.

If in the first instance something had been brought to his attention, he would have had it rectified prior to moving. Now as it stands, the council have produced an itemised bill to the sum of £900. They have refused to provide him with a copy to go through.

Any damages which have occured while the council workers, or whoever, have been in after they have moved out, as all inspections have been carried out, and the council were aware that they had moved.

notisis

I would suggest a visit to your local (your parents' local) CAB. I cannot see how someone can be expected to pay for something without seeing the itemised bill! But perhaps the tenancy terms say something different and the CAB will be better placed to advise. Good luck.