Flats listed as house??

rockingal31

Hi all,

I've been living in a flat for the last two years and I'm moving out in a weeks time. The flat is one of three that have been converted in a three storey Victorian house. My question surrounds the fact that as long as I've lived there the landlord has had it listed as one property, therefore all bills; council tax, water, gas etc are for the whole house rather than each individual flat. Is that ok or are they supposed to be listed as seperate properties? Thanks.

BitterAndTwisted

Why does it matter if you're leaving in a week's time? It sounds to me like the landlord does not have planning permission for the conversions. If the Local Authority find out the LL is going to have problems and so are the tenants especially with the Council Tax.

LAEllis

pretty sure that's illegal, utilities are fine combined but CT is another issue and i think the axe falls on you if you dont declare you're living there. who knows if your name gets mentioned they council might bill you for backdated CT.

anniecave

Does your tenancy agreement say that council tax etc is included in the rent?

rockingal31

I know I'm moving but I'm worried that the issues with council tax may make things difficult for me in the future. How do I go about resolving this?

BitterAndTwisted

What would I do? I'd get the hell out of there and say and do nothing.

anniecave

If your tenancy agreement states that bills are included, I can't see what the problem can be for you if you have paid as agreed. If your tenancy agreement doesn't say that bils are included then you MAY have a problem.....

rockingal31

thanks everyone, I will check my tenancy agreement when I get home from work this afternoon.

debrag

Our flat is like that.
There are 2 flats, the LL & LA have the property as 30b as well as EDF (electric), council tax has the property as 30a 2nd floor flat, some have 30a, 1st floor flat & flat over shop (we are 2nd floor). Thames water & TV only has the 2 flats as 1 property.

lincroft1710

If the house was converted to flats some years ago and for whatever reason, the council were not informed or did not inform the Valuation Office Agency then when this comes to light the date of change from house to flats can be backdated. Despite any "agreement" with your landlord, as the tenant the payment of Council Tax is your responsibility and at some point in the future you may well receive a bill from the council for CT for the period of your tenancy.

rockingal31

Have just read through the tenancy agreement. It states that the rent is to be paid one month in advance and then further down that the utility bills are to be paid. No mention that the bills are included in the rent.
Every month the landlord gave us a written (well, typed) breakdown of everything - the rent, then the council tax, then the bills. Then the total at the bottom.