landlord not paying council tax for me

empage

Hi all,

I am living in a 3 bedroom house with the person that owns it. It is an informal verbal agreement that I pay £375 a month for all bills included. I did this initially think I would probobly only stay here a few months but we actually get on really well and are both happy for it to continue indefinately. However, I just found out that he is getting a single person occupancy discount on the council tax. What would happen if the council find out I am here? Would I be libel for money since I have no proof that the agreement is that I pay him a set amount and he pays all bills??

Em

Emmzi

googlefu is strong tonight

Who is responsible for paying the bill?

There's one Council Tax bill for each home. Usually the person living in the property has to pay the bill. Spouses and partners who live together are both responsible for paying the bill.
The person at the top or nearest to the top of the following list has to pay the bill:
• lives in the property and owns it
• lives in the property and has a lease (this includes 'assured tenants' under the Housing Act 1988)
• lives in the property and is a 'statutory' or 'secure' tenant
• lives in the property and isn't a tenant but has permission to live there
• lives in the property (for example a squatter)
• has a lease of six months or more on the property, but doesn't live there
• owns the property but doesn't live there
You can't be responsible for paying the bill if you're under age 18.


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/YourlocalcouncilandCouncilTax/CouncilTax/DG_10037383


So, sounds like he is at the top of the list, so it's him.

lellow_lorry

If they are the home owner and have not declared a second person then it is them that would be commiting fraud. It is not your problem ....you pay rent and been told(even verbal) all bills included. Besides your LL pays the council tax so their responsibilty....relax, but as the LL they may get away with it for a while but the councils are quite smart with their checks. Annoying thing is the fact they dodge it for a while puts everybody elses bills up!!

DVardysShadow

Just make sure you have not been excluded from the voting register in order for the owner to try and get away with it.

empage

yeah I only found out about this because we were talking about voting. I am on the electoral role at my parents house (which of course he was happy about) as I expected to move quite a few times and I didnt want to miss out on my vote by forgetting to register etc.

Thank you Emzzi and Lellow Lorry that makes me feel better. I dont think I really agree with it either but hey ho I am not going to tell on him. I may tell him in a few month I want on the electoral role here though...

Fire_Fox

So you condone tax evasion then?

CIS

The posts above are correct, as the resident owner he has the higherst legal interest in the property and is responsbile for paying any Council Tax due, even if it comes about because you have moved in with him.

roses

You might have problems voting since if you register with the council then it will flag up that only one person is supposed to live in the house. That happened to me when I was a lodger about 5 years ago.

G_M

The correct and honourable thing to do would be to discuss this with your LL, offer to pay the extra amount he'll have to pay due to you being there (ie the discount he loses) and ensure he complies with the law by declaring your presence. You can then also register to vote without dropping your LL in the sh*t and ruining your friendship.

However as has been pointed out, it is he who is liable, though it could be argued (though highly unlikely) that there is a conspiracy to defraud since you clearly know about it and are going along with it.