Question for anyone who actually works in council tax enforcement

katejo

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Because there is a large section of the population who are prepared to tell "porkies", especially when they find themselves facing a bill they can no longer afford to pay.
[They also probably hope to track the leaver, remember this is the tax that replaced poll tax].

Maybe but they shouldn't assume that everyone is the same. They should only pursue in this way if they have reason for suspicion. My lodger's registration for council tax at his new address is his responsibility not mine. Any new single resident could also lie about being solo in the flat.

RichardD1970

katejo wrote: »

just because I am respecting the privacy of my lodger?

Well, you have to weigh up which is of more value to you, the single person discount or your ex-lodgers privacy? Then make your decision based on that.

katejo

RichardD1970 wrote: »

Well, you have to weigh up which is of more value to you, the single person discount or your ex-lodgers privacy? Then make your decision based on that.

Sorry but i disagree. My lodger isn't one who has stayed here three months and been difficult throughout. He has been at my place for 3 years and we have maintained a good relationship and will probably stay in touch. In my view I don't have a choice. As it happens he has agreed to provide his address and has said that i can pass it on to the council but if he hadn't, i wouldn't have a choice. I would not pass it on without his permission.

RichardD1970

Of course you have a choice, you either give them his address and get the single person discount or don't give them the address and keep paying full amount.

The system is what it is and we all have to make choices and decisions within the system based on our own moral and ethical viewpoints.

If your ethical viewpoint is that you won't give his details then don't, but you have to take the consequences, in this case paying more council tax than you need to.

Like I said, which is worth more to you, your ethical viewpoint or the monetary saving you would make on the tax? Only you can decide.

ostrichnomore_2

I can see the Ops point though. It does seem unfair. Her ex-lodger's new arrangement is nothing at all to do with her.

I moved from a shared house into my own flat this year and just rang the council up to sort out the council tax. They asked me how many people were resident and I said one. They said I'll get the single person discount then. I did not have to fill in any forms or put anything in writing.

katejo

ostrichnomore wrote: »

I can see the Ops point though. It does seem unfair. Her ex-lodger's new arrangement is nothing at all to do with her.

I moved from a shared house into my own flat this year and just rang the council up to sort out the council tax. They asked me how many people were resident and I said one. They said I'll get the single person discount then. I did not have to fill in any forms or put anything in writing.

Which borough do you live in?

My local council is also clamping down on people who currently receive the discount. They have to sign a form to confirm that this is still correct. I should be able to do the same. The council completely ignores my point that the provision of my lodger's new address proves absolutely nothing and that it is an invasion of his privacy. My lodger has agreed to give me his address but that isn't the point. Once more local live in landlords find out about this new rule, it will probably discourage them from letting rooms any more despite a shortage of affordable accommodation.

CLAPTON

katejo wrote: »

Which borough do you live in?

My local council is also clamping down on people who currently receive the discount. They have to sign a form to confirm that this is still correct. I should be able to do the same. The council completely ignores my point that the provision of my lodger's new address proves absolutely nothing and that it is an invasion of his privacy. My lodger has agreed to give me his address but that isn't the point. Once more local live in landlords find out about this new rule, it will probably discourage them from letting rooms any more despite a shortage of affordable accommodation.

One could surmise the the most likely reason your ex lodger would not want their new address given to the council was because they wished to default the taxpayer.
There seems few good reasons why an honest person would wish to hide from the Council.

One would assume that an honest taxpayer would wish other people to be equally honest and would accept that tax collection does indeed make some intrusion on all our privacy.

katejo

CLAPTON wrote: »

One could surmise the the most likely reason your ex lodger would not want their new address given to the council was because they wished to default the taxpayer.
There seems few good reasons why an honest person would wish to hide from the Council.

One would assume that an honest taxpayer would wish other people to be equally honest and would accept that tax collection does indeed make some intrusion on all our privacy.

No! It would be my lodger's responsibility to register with his new council but that is NOT the business of my current council.
Why assume that everyone will evade payment if the authorities don't pass on the details?
Even if you were right, it would still NOT prove that I didn't have a new lodger myself.

CLAPTON

katejo wrote: »

No! It would be my lodger's responsibility to register with his new council but that is NOT the business of my current council.
Why assume that everyone will evade payment if the authorities don't pass on the details?
Even if you were right, it would still NOT prove that I didn't have a new lodger myself.

As I understood you, the council was asking you to say the new address of your lodger presumably in order to indicate that they had moved out and one would suppose so the council could verify they had registered elsewhere.

The fact that it doesn't 'prove' you don't have one or more other lodgers doesn't seem relevant.

To ensure that everyone pays the correct council tax seems a civic responsibility of all of us but especially the council.

katejo

CLAPTON wrote: »

As I understood you, the council was asking you to say the new address of your lodger presumably in order to indicate that they had moved out and one would suppose so the council could verify they had registered elsewhere.

The fact that it doesn't 'prove' you don't have one or more other lodgers doesn't seem relevant.

To ensure that everyone pays the correct council tax seems a civic responsibility of all of us but especially the council.

If my lodger were to simply rent a room elsewhere there would be no account in his name. I don't understand your 2nd statement. The council has said that his address counts as proof that I am solo but it does not.