looking for some advice please - council tax, vol repo and br

tickled_pink

Hi not sure if this is the right place or not but its the only board I use so I was wondering if anyone can help.

As some may be aware we left our home last week and moved into rented accom in a completly different county to where the mortgaged house was. We handed the keys back on tuesday and yesterday I informed the council where the property was that we have moved out and it is empty. He asked loads of questions about why we moved, did we hand the keys back etc and I said yes.

The guy at the council tax dept said we needed to give thema forwarding address (which I don't want to disclose to them) in order to be exempt council tax on the property. I explained that I couldn't provide a forwarding address and I also couldn't pay this months council tax in one go as I'm now on benefits.

Do I have to provide them a forwarding address? I'm worried they may send balifs round as this months tax will not be paid. I am currently waiting to hear about council tax benefit for this house will all this effect it?

Sorry if this is a bit jumbled up, I'm using a mobile so its difficult to see what I have already written.

Any help is appreciated
Pink x

IF

Hi Pink, I would of thought you would have to tell them......but I'm not a 100% sure so just bumping you up the board.

Best wishes
If...x

Worcsman

tickled_pink wrote: »

Hi not sure if this is the right place or not but its the only board I use so I was wondering if anyone can help.

As some may be aware we left our home last week and moved into rented accom in a completly different county to where the mortgaged house was. We handed the keys back on tuesday and yesterday I informed the council where the property was that we have moved out and it is empty. He asked loads of questions about why we moved, did we hand the keys back etc and I said yes.

The guy at the council tax dept said we needed to give thema forwarding address (which I don't want to disclose to them) in order to be exempt council tax on the property. I explained that I couldn't provide a forwarding address and I also couldn't pay this months council tax in one go as I'm now on benefits.

Do I have to provide them a forwarding address? I'm worried they may send balifs round as this months tax will not be paid. I am currently waiting to hear about council tax benefit for this house will all this effect it?

Sorry if this is a bit jumbled up, I'm using a mobile so its difficult to see what I have already written.

Any help is appreciated
Pink x

We did exactly as you have, voluntry repo, went on benifits, moved house to different district council, stopped paying the council tax.. we had no problems, didnt have to ay the council tax on the old house and got it payed for us on the new one we rented. it matters not if you give them an address or not, they have your NI number and so do your new council. Just tell them, they cant and wont try and make you pay twice. We still get our council tax letter from the old place. It's all zero owed with the exemption reason of repo. Hope that helped.

tickled_pink

Hi IF and Worcsman, thanks for replying that is reasuring to know. I don't want to forward my new address at all to them so will stand firm and not disclose it. I'll give them another call today and see if I can get someone else on the line.

Thanks again
Pink x

kepar

I think that they will keep billing you, as you have no proof that you have moved.
When we moved out of our house(vol repo) we moved into a rental property in the same council area. That way they could see that had moved.
If they keep billing you, you would be liable for the debt, I feel that it would be in your best interest to tell them your new address. These debts would not be able to go into your br (if you are br already).
At least if you tell them you will only owe 1 month and maybe able to pay it over the next few months.

I feel with holding your address could cause more problems in the long term.

But only you can decide.

confused76

i think i would give them your new address if i was in your situation. as kepar says, they may continue billing you but you would be none the wiser. at least if they bill you at the new address you can ask the OR to step in and sort them out...

it's a personal choice though

CIS

The council need to be sufficently happy that you have moved in order to award any exemption (Class L for a repossession).

Not providing an address will mean that they will take any action to the address you have vacated (quite legally) and you could find that a summons has been granted and a bailiff instructed without any notification to you.

Unless you are trying to hide from any arrears then there is no reason why you cannot supply at least a contact address. They can trace you via experian or similar in any case and if a bailiff is instructed they will also use similar methods to find you.