Council tax liability after separation?

Gazz_3

A mate of mine left her husband around a year ago after a violent relationship.

As far as I know, the council tax bill was in both their names, though the hubby took care of paying the bills and the wife did not get involved with their finances.

It now turns out that hubby had not been paying the arrears for some time before the separation.

Well, the council is demanding a couple of thousand pounds in arrears to be paid. I'm not certain what the arrangement was, but apparently the hubby has since discreetly paid back "his share" directly. The hubby somehow tracked down his wife and pointed the council in her direction.


Should the joint liability have been terminated at some point? My mate can prove she moved out into a rented house.

She's now been told to pay up immediately or get a summons (for at least some of HIS debt)....


Is there anything else that can be done to stall things whilst she tries to find enough money to pay up??

Thanks

Morglin

I thiink the liability would be joint if in both names, but you can check it out:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/tax/council_tax.htm

They will also advise on delaying payments.

Lin

back2square1

When the wife left and can prove this date then she may not have to pay. Especially when the husband should have claimed 25% discount on council tax when she left (single occupier discount).

My circumstances were slightly different but I had to leave my matrimonial home urgently 1year ago. I went and seen the Manager of Council Tax regarding the situation about being liable for paying and when I explained to her my circumstances and reasons for leaving they helped me out no end. I suppose it was at her own discretion.

Tell your friend to go along to the Council Office with all documentary proof that she left on such a such date. Surely with the upset for the reasons she had to leave the house they must appreciate why she did not inform them immediately. In fact the Council employ Domestic Violence Support officers, obviously I do not know whether your friend had the help of one of these when she left her husband. But if she did they might be able to help too, especially when they both work for the Council.

Failing that, she could tell Council Tax dept that her ex husband told her he had removed her off the council tax bill (well why wouldn't he have done, especially when he would have been entitled to a 25% discount after she had left!!!) I know this is a lie, but if it helps her not to be liable for paying arrears then you have to try.

bigburd

Hi, your friend is joint and severally liable for the full balance of Council Tax while she was living in the property. She should inform the Council in writing ASAP of the date she moved out and where she was living after this date. Her liability ends on the date she moved out but her ex may have lied about this date to the Council in order to try to get her to pay some of his arrears. If she phones the Council and indicates that a letter is on it's way with all the info and is willing to make an arrangement for the arrears they will probably put a hold on further recovery action to allow time to recieve this. Any personal arrangement between liable parties regarding who pays what is irrelevant - if both are named on the Council Tax account they will both be pursued to pay the debt until it is fully paid regardless of who is making the payment. Her ex cannot therefore "pay his share". Sorry. x