Council Tax Debt with Ex

Ozbert

I received a letter today stating I was due £750 in council tax arrears.

This is for an old address I shared with my ex over 2 years ago. Her name is on the letter but they are asking me to pay the full amount. Unfortunately my ex is unreachable, I don't know her new address or contact number.

I was liable for council tax at the property but I wasn't on the lease so it was my ex that was responsible for sorting out the council tax benefits but obviously she didn't.

I am currently on JSA and unable to pay the debt in full. I know I can spread the cost but feel it would be unfair for me to pay the full amount on my own. Is there anything I can do to maybe half the debt?

BitterAndTwisted

You were liable for the Council Tax even if you weren't on the lease. One has nothing to do with the other. If the ex is untraceable they will chase the money from the party they can find. There is no way of getting out of this one.

Ozbert

I know I was liable for council tax but because I wasn't on the lease all the claims for housing/council tax benefits had to be done through my ex. I just feel because she neglected to tell me she hadn't been keeping up with the necessary paperwork or whatever I am now have the sole responsibility for paying off the debt.

DUTR

Ozbert wrote: »

I know I was liable for council tax but because I wasn't on the lease all the claims for housing/council tax benefits had to be done through my ex. I just feel because she neglected to tell me she hadn't been keeping up with the necessary paperwork or whatever I am now have the sole responsibility for paying off the debt.

And that's why she's an ex.

ValHaller

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

You were liable for the Council Tax even if you weren't on the lease. One has nothing to do with the other. If the ex is untraceable they will chase the money from the party they can find. There is no way of getting out of this one.

I'm wondering about this. From http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/tax_e/tax_council_tax_ew/council_tax.htm

If only one person lives in a property they will be the liable person. If more than one person lives there, a system called the hierarchy of liability is used to work out who is the liable person. The person at the top, or nearest to the top, of the hierarchy is the liable person. Two people at the same point of the hierarchy will both be liable.


The hierarchy of liability is:

1. a resident owner-occupier who owns either the leasehold or freehold of all or part of the property
2. a resident tenant
3. a resident who lives in the property and who is a licensee. This means that they are not a tenant, but have permission to stay there
4. any resident living in the property, for example, a squatter
5. an owner of the property where no one is resident.

The ex was at 2, OP is at 4

Gigglepig

Have you tried to google the ex, or contact her family to ask for a forwarding address for her mail?