Council Tax advice please!

ruthl1977

Hi
Just wondered if anyone could offer me any advice.

I lived in a particular Borough in 2003-2004 & received information last year (2010) that I owed Council Tax for 2003-2004 (I had mistakenly thought I was exempt). Anyway, I payed that in Feb 2010. However the same Borough are trying to say I also owe money for July 2004-July 2005. I did not live at the property for this entire period. I have sent them a Council Tax Bill for where I did live between Nov 2004-July 2009. (ie, from a different borough). There is an exemption Class C cited on this bill. When I enquired about this, I was told that an exemption Class C can be cited if the property was still being completed, ie, renovated, etc. Technically, it doesn't prove I was living there! But the fact is, I DID live there!

The Council who are demanding money are focusing on this Class C & nothing else. I can get a letter from my landlord at the time, but my landlord is also my partner, (we were co-habiting) so will this mean a conflict of interests?

There are no records from the landlords/estate agents for the period in question, so I don't know where else to get evidence from?

The Borough Council in question have made so many errors, sending letters to wrong addresses (for years apparently!) so the first I heard of this was through a bailiff's letter! They've also mixed up addresses on official legal letters, cited wrong dates, loads of things!

Somebody has mentioned sending a N224 form, but will this mean I'll end up in court? I know I'm telling the truth, but the thought of court still scares me!

Also, another thing I wanted to ask is how can a council just say somebody lived in a property during a certain time if there's no evidence of me being there?

Sorry, this is long! Any help appreciated, thanks.

krobins1982

Try your utility company for that period (if you can remember) - if you can prove utilities were being used at the property you lived at they should take this into account as the property was occupied. I can't guarantee it but this is what we used to ask for when I was in a similar role. However if Class C exemption states the property is unoccupied under renovation you could very well just end up with a bill from that property instead. Hope this helps x

CIS

The Council who are demanding money are focusing on this Class C & nothing else. I can get a letter from my landlord at the time, but my landlord is also my partner, (we were co-habiting) so will this mean a conflict of interests?

I can see where they are coming from - whilst a Class C exemption is being claimed the property has been declared as unoccupied.

Somebody has mentioned sending a N224 form, but will this mean I'll end up in court? I know I'm telling the truth, but the thought of court still scares me!

That form is to do with the County Court - council tax court cases use the magistrate court.

[Deleted User]

I had an appearance in magistrates for a liability hearing and was alarmed to find that the council had plenty of their own staff in there who asked everyone's name as they came in and then 'got someone to speak to them to sort things out'. They try and give the impression that they are from the court. In my case it was a woman who just stated that I was liable and started trying to agree a payment plan. I pointed out I was there for a hearing to determine whether I was liable or not, to which she replied I don't know if we can give you a hearing. I made sure I got a hearing by speaking to the clerk of the court but this struck me as very dodgy from the council. Fortunately once I got to speak in court they ruled in my favour.

Please do not fall for this trick or similar from the council.