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Problems with being a 'lodger'?
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Hi
Speak to the Council now and see if you can put in a claimn for CTB; so that you do not get a back-dated bill.
Also ask the PO if you can set up mail-re-direct to a PO BOX to prevent your LL opening the mail.If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing0 -
star2sparkle wrote: »Mind you, BitterandTwisted...perhaps you mean they will make me pay in the other sense...help! Perhaps vanishing into thin air might be a good plan...
Yes, that is precisely what I meant.
Your landlord is likely to find himself in very deep doo-doo quite soon. Council Tax, undeclared income to HMRC, no planning permission for the conversion, and possibly no consent from his mortgage-lender. Plus any number of things I haven't thought of....
I would advise leaving asap if you can.0 -
s2s
What sort of lock is on your door?
It may be worth getting a new barrel and changing the lock. Costs £5-10 and you can change it back when you leave.If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing0 -
Lodgers do not normally pay council tax....only a weekly/monthly payment including all bills less maybe telephone.
If the part of the property they are resident in is banded as a separate property then regardless of whether a person is termed a lodger or a tenant will make no difference - they are resident in the property and liable for the council tax, unless they can show that the property falls as a council tax HMO.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
To be a "lodger" they must not solely occupy part of the property so cannot pay council tax.
It seems here that the "lodger" is in fact a "tenant". Unclear if the "lodger" knew they were a "tenant" or the LL told the "tenant" they are a "lodger" for the purposes of dodging paying tax and knowing that they are actually a "tenant".
LL is a crook and ignorance may not be a defense for the OP....good plan to leave now and look for a proper LL."Dream World" by The B Sharps....describes a lot of the posts in the Loans and Mortgage sections !!!0 -
star2sparkle wrote: »Pmlindyloo...why a lodger? own locked front door, and I share no facilities at all. Complete separate unit.
Sorry, typo - changed it as soon as I read it but not soon enough for you
I think you are a tenant.0 -
then you are a tenant not a lodger and your exposure to council tax depends wholly on whether the VOA (who set CT) have a record of the separate unit/dwelling. The fact you are now visible to the council increases the risk that the council will notify the VOA of its existence so its best you move on ...star2sparkle wrote: »Pmlindyloo...why a lodger? own locked front door, and I share no facilities at all. Complete separate unit.0 -
out of interest, how do you pay? Not cash by any chance?0
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star2sparkle wrote: »............. I pay cash every month, nothing even goes through an account. .............
OP pays cash...0 -
As somebody who rents out multiple rooms in his house I'm a little confussed by the notion this saves money.
I have to pay 40% tax on lodger income which is far more than council tax would be if i gave each one a seperate house instead of a room
I would be grateful you do not have to share a kitchen as a lodger rather than the other way around0
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