Leaving before tenancy ends - council tax

newbian

We are leaving our rented property to move into one we have purchased.Our landlord is based abroad and would not give us a break clause, so therewill be a few months left on the tenancy when we leave. We agreed to pay rentuntil LL finds a new tenant or until the lease expires. The LL has an agentmarketing the flat, but I don’t think they are trying very hard as obviously LLis guaranteed our rent until the contract ends. It is an extremely non-idealsituation but we are now stuck. However we’d have lost this house had we notmoved on it quickly so it’s a cost we were willing to bear.

Question is, we are going to vacate the rented propertyentirely in a few weeks but we’re not sure if we will still be responsible forthe council tax. We will not be resident in the flat or the borough at all oncewe leave. If we take our names off does the council go after the LL, or isthere no tax due because no one is resident in the property?

topbargainhunter

The landlord will be liable for the full council tax when you leave. Unless there's something in your tenancy to say you're responsible for it til the tenancy ends.

newbian

Apologies - I typed my message normally, I have no idea why it mashed all the words together like that! I hate illiterate posts myself!

Fire_Fox

As tenants you are still liable for the council tax until the tenancy is formally ended. Landlord is not permitted to access or use the property so does not have to pay, it is the legal occupier's responsibility and you remain that whilst in contract even if you are not actually staying in the house. If the place is empty of furniture you may be able to pay a reduced rate.

[Deleted User]

You will be responsible for CTax as long as your tenancy is in place.

You will not be liable if another tenant is found in the meanwhile (as this would end the tenancy early).

ognum

Fire_Fox wrote: »

As tenants you are still liable for the council tax until the tenancy is formally ended. Landlord is not permitted to access or use the property so does not have to pay, it is the legal occupier's responsibility and you remain that whilst in contract even if you are not actually staying in the house. If the place is empty of furniture you may be able to pay a reduced rate.

However most reduced rates have this year been cut to one month at reduced rate it you are lucky.

Sadly for you as you signed the contract to pay the bills then you will have to pay them. You also need to maintain the property, garden etc also check your lease as you may have agreed to a non occupancy clause which only allows you to leave the property unoccupied for a few weeks not a few months as leaving the property unoccupied for longer may contravene the properties insurance.

You really need to read your agreement carefully to know what you can and can't do!

newbian

ognum wrote: »

However most reduced rates have this year been cut to one month at reduced rate it you are lucky.

Sadly for you as you signed the contract to pay the bills then you will have to pay them. You also need to maintain the property, garden etc also check your lease as you may have agreed to a non occupancy clause which only allows you to leave the property unoccupied for a few weeks not a few months as leaving the property unoccupied for longer may contravene the properties insurance.

You really need to read your agreement carefully to know what you can and can't do!

Yeah we understood that, council tax was the one we were unsure of because it seems like it should be paid by the owner and/or resident and we are neither.

We really want to move out entirely - do inventory, give the keys back, etc. Is this going to be impossible as long as we are still on as tenants? Aside from the required bills we will not be having any relationship with the property.

I don't understand why the LL doesn't market the flat at a more reasonable price - he is asking for £600 more per month than what we pay now and he raised it from our first year as well. There is a limit to what people will pay for a 1 bed flat which he doesn't seem to understand. And if he thinks at those prices he'll get in another person who will accept a no-break clause contract he's delusional. We only did it because we were kicked out of our previous place with 2 months notice.

Fire_Fox

newbian wrote: »

Yeah we understood that, council tax was the one we were unsure of because it seems like it should be paid by the owner and/or resident and we are neither.

We really want to move out entirely - do inventory, give the keys back, etc. Is this going to be impossible as long as we are still on as tenants? Aside from the required bills we will not be having any relationship with the property.

I don't understand why the LL doesn't market the flat at a more reasonable price - he is asking for £600 more per month than what we pay now and he raised it from our first year as well. There is a limit to what people will pay for a 1 bed flat which he doesn't seem to understand. And if he thinks at those prices he'll get in another person who will accept a no-break clause contract he's delusional. We only did it because we were kicked out of our previous place with 2 months notice.

You are the legal residents/ occupiers, your tenancy agreement gives you the sole rights to reside there. Owner/ landlord is only liable if there are no tenants, Google it or ask your council tax department.

You can vacate and hand back the keys voluntarily and do check out if the landlord agrees, doesn't stop you being the liable party for the bills and rent for the remainder of the contract, sorry.

newbian

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You are the legal residents/ occupiers, your tenancy agreement gives you the sole rights to reside there. Owner/ landlord is only liable if there are no tenants, Google it or ask your council tax department.

You can vacate and hand back the keys voluntarily and do check out if the landlord agrees, doesn't stop you being the liable party for the bills and rent for the remainder of the contract, sorry.

I'm not sure where your tone is coming from, I clearly said we understand we are responsible for rent/bills but were unsure only on council tax. Please do not act as though I am trying to get out of something. I am seeking information. Thanks.

Fire_Fox

newbian wrote: »

I'm not sure where your tone is coming from, I clearly said we understand we are responsible for rent/bills but were unsure only on council tax. Please do not act as though I am trying to get out of something. I am seeking information. Thanks.

What tone??? Please read what I post without any imaginary negative 'tone' and accept that different people have different posting styles. The information contained within was factual and accurate and therefore helpful in that it answered your question. I even expressed my sorrow there was not another way out of the situation!

poppysarah

The landlord has to make efforts to relet the tenancy. They can't just opt for an easy life of not trying.

Can you find someone?