Electoral Vote ? I havent registered, why I am there ?

sokol3k

Yorkie1

Thanks. I think I know where the issue is. There was a letter earlier, where was my name on it. It was from electoral vote etc. and somehow there was my name on it to confirm. The letter has been sent back.

My landlord live out side of the UK. I pay directly "his" council tax. He is a kind of a friend of my girlfriend etc. We both live in his flat. That's why I think he offered a good low rent for us. Only two people live in this household.

Ok I do consider that issue is with a letter which has been sent previously. However, how come there was my name on it from electoral register? suggesting if that particular person is living here.?

I am trying to find out a bit more details, because I know council will be reclaiming discount if I my landlord wont reply.

and the other problem is I have received a phone call before this letter and it was from council, they were claiming it was a "survey" how on earth they have my mobile number ???? who is sharing details with them ?

I appreciate your comments guys.

kingstreet

sokol3k wrote: »

I pay directly "his" council tax. He is a kind of a friend of my girlfriend etc. We both live in his flat. That's why I think he offered a good low rent for us. Only two people live in this household

So, a single occupant discount is actually being claimed fraudulently?

It is the occupier's responsibility to meet the Council Tax requirement, not the landlords, especially if the landlord isn't UK-based.

I suspect further advice will be rather thin from here onwards.

Angry_Bear

sokol3k wrote: »

I pay directly "his" council tax.

It's not "his" council tax, it's "yours". The person living in the house is liable except in specific circumstances: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/tax_e/tax_council_tax_ew/council_tax.htm#Whohastopaycounciltax

Only two people live in this household.

Then you are not eligible for the 25% single occupancy discount.

.... I know council will be reclaiming discount

Yes probably, and you will be liable to pay it for the period you and your girlfriend have been living there. I don't know if there will be a fine - imo you would be better to call them, fess up and plead ignorance and arrange a repayment plan to repay the discount.

sokol3k

Yes thats the point, he was trying to get cheaper council tax.

I do pay council tax on his name. His names are on all letters.

It used to be his flat and his wife ( landlord ) since they moved away, they start to rent this property out to my girlfriend, so all bills havent been changed even those for council. Thats why there is a big mess.

Thanks for all replies.

sokol3k

Angry_Bear wrote: »

It's not "his" council tax, it's "yours". The person living in the house is liable except in specific circumstances:

Then you are not eligible for the 25% single occupancy discount.

Yes , we should not have been receiving any discount. I wish i knew that earlier.

Thanks for this advice and link to this website.

paddedjohn

Is there a rental agreement set up properly? Do you have gas certs etc in place? How do you pay your rent? If your landlord lives outside the UK then you could be liable for the tax on the rent if he isn't declaring it.

PollyOnAMission

Are you or your girlfriend a full-time student, by any chance? If so they you could still be eligible for a council tax discount.

pauletruth

so your cheating the council and in the long run everyone. nice. the whole set up sounds dodgy is the house even owned by the landlord. think carefully and make sure everything is ok. if not the pile of poo your looking at will get bigger.

jazabelle

pauletruth wrote: »

so your cheating the council and in the long run everyone.

That's clearly not the case and not very fair. If everything said is correct - the landlord lived there previously, and set up the discount for himself. Whether that was correct or not, we don't know.

The OP's girlfriend then moves in - and takes over the bill, therefore still a single person. Then OP moves in, and says he didn't realise there was a single person discount on there, so just continued to pay.

OP has now found out, and will hopefully sort it with the council. That's not intentional fraud, either a misunderstanding, or ignorance of the system.

There was no post saying that the OP set up the 25% discount and will continue to do so, that I read.

I would imagine the biggest errors are going to have been made by the landlord - as it seems like a quick takeover.

It may help to answer whether you have a tenancy, is it fixed term, is there a gas safe register, did you pay a damage deposit and was it put into a registered scheme?

propertyman

But they also say that a number of bills are still in the landlords name and they are paying them.

Is the landlord seeking to maintain the appearance of residence there, perhaps he has not consent to let....

Its not correct to say Council tax is the responsibility of the person living there.

The advice lnk is incomplete as the landlord as the owner is the primarily liable person, unless they can show that a contract, the letting made it their responsibility to pay. He clearly intended to pay it and came to a verbal agreement that they would pay it in his name.

That arrangement can stay the same, in his name, but he loses the discount.

I'd fess up and apologise, make up the back payment, before someone fines you.