Student let - liability of Landlord after end of academic year?

theartfullodger

Greetings & thanks in advance for all comments.

I'm landlord of a student let: just received letter from council asking me to complete form regarding council tax from end of the academic year (council knows where students study & term ends 10th June). I believe this is the students last year at the university.

Tenancy ends 12th August, is for 1 week short of 12 months & I expect there to be another student let starting within a week or so of 12th August 2011.

Government website here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/YourlocalcouncilandCouncilTax/CouncilTax/DG_10037383
states CT liability as...

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

So I conclude tenants, even if no longer living there, are responsible for paying CT to 12th August (or gaining exemption).

Can't see why I'd want to fill council's form in as I suspect that will simply involve me in a long-drawn-out paper-chase of who's living where etc etc etc.. and no doubt bills addressed to me when I'm not responsible.

Anyone know if the Council has a legal right to make me respond?? Any other comments??

When there is a gap in tenancies I will of course happily inform council & pay CT due from me.

Cheers!

Artful

G_M

If the tenant's contract ends on 12th August, the the tenant, not the LL, must be responsible for any council tax till then. Any discount will depend on their student (or other) status, but that is a matter for the tenant.

If there is a gap (of a week or whatever) between tenants, then the LL is responsible for that.

I should write to the council giving your tenants' name(s) and a copy of the contract highlighting the dates.

CIS

The tenants are liable until the contract ends.

What has likely happened is that the tenants have informed the council they'll be moving and not actually confirmed that the tenancy has not yet ended - this is probably one of the most common queries we come across. Something must have brought it to the councils attention that it isn't quite right as otherwise you would have just received a new demand rather than a form querying the liability, they probably just want confirmation that the tenants should be liable for the period.

The council have a legal right for details to determine the liability of a person under regs 3 & 4 of the Council Tax (administration & enforcement) regs 1992.

theartfullodger

Thanks CIS: I'd never understood where this all fitted in, perfect!

That makes 42 laws or regulation I reckon Landlords are subject to (England only..). & I know there'll be more...

Cheers!