Baliff advice help re visit this AM for non payment of council tax

katsu

My bother has just had a letter given to his flatmate from Jacobs certified bailiffs. It is headed removal of goods and is in reference to unpaid Council Tax for a previous address. He is contacting his old flatmate about this now. There were two letters with the same date, diff Jacobs ref no but same Council ref no. Slightly difference £20 ish in the balances. A total of around £500 if you add both letters togeher.

My brother is currently at university so has no income other than a student loan. He has a computer for his course - can they take that?

What do we do about transfer of ownership of goods (he is on a music course so has some musical instruments)?

I've told him I'm posting this here and will send him the link. Please can someone break down next steps and advice.

If his ex-flatmate refuses to pay will he have to go bankrupt as he has no proper income to make repayments?

I should know better what to do from reading here but you get flustered when it is family.

Thanks for all replies.

gazfocus

Was he a student when he had the previous address becuase if he was, he would be exempt from paying council tax.

RAS

The starting point has to be that brother and his flatmate have to ensure that neither of them open the door to the bailiff and let him in. As long as they do that, the most the bailiff can charge is £42.50 for two visits.

If he has delivered two letters and hopes to charge for two visits, he can forget it.

If your brother was a student when he lived at the previous flat, he was not liable for CT. Did he get an exemption certificate?

If he was laible for Ct, it would be a very good idea if he sold any instrumants to you this weekend and borrowed them. Bear in mind that you may have to sign a declaration that they are yours but if you give him £1 for them, and he pays it back later, at least you have it covered.

DarkConvict

Best place for advice -

As his equipment is specifically required for his course i do not think they can take it, so long as he does not let them in the flat they can't take goods anyway, ensure no one lets him in.

If it is shared accommodation i believe the bailiff may need access to his room not just the house but check with herbie21 - http://www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/counciltax.htm (0906 802 0273 60p a min)

RAS

Yes, pm Herbie21. Cap H

katsu

Thanks everyone.

He is a mature student now. Previously he lost his job and was struggling to make ends meet, then decided to return to education. The Council Tax comes from before he went to Uni.

Thanks for the reassurance re the two letters RAS - I was quite confused about why two letters were handed to the new flatmate today.

I sent him the link to Herbie's website - I know it comes recommended.

I'm not sure if being a student will entitle him to keep the PC, as they have computers in the libraries for students to use. It is a cheap PC, nothing flash or fancy. Anyone got any idea if full time students can automatically keep PCs?