Should I take on the council?

absolutely_skint

Hi-not sure if this is the right place to put this so here goes.
When I bought my house there was an annual Licence fee payable to the council for maintenance and up keep of a private driveway/roadway that runs up the back of our houses (22 houses in total).
I have been paying this fee every year £56.32 but I have recently found out that at least 4 of my neighbours are not paying it as they are not being asked for the money by the council.
They have told me not to say anything and keep paying it so they don't run the risk of having to pay it. Unfortunately I don't see why I should be the only house paying for the service. If I have also been the only person paying for the last few years then I think I should be entitled to a refund.
I know it's only about £56-but it appears like I'm the only one paying it-I tried a few years ago to not pay it but the council chased me for the money and I don't want to risk getting a strike on my credit report for non payment.
Has anyone got any advice on the best route to take please?

kingstreet

If they try to sell, it will come to light they are not paying and they will have to pay all the back charges to provide satisfactory evidence to their and their purchaser's solicitor.

They will get theirs. It may take time, but they won't get away with it and you'll have the satisfaction of not having that problem.

poppysarah

Has it been adopted as a road by the council since you bought your house, or maybe not recorded right?

absolutely_skint

I'm not sure if it has been adopted or not-as far as I am aware there has been no change in status at all with the roadway.
When I ring the council to try and discuss it with them they have no idea what I'm talking about!

theartfullodger

Well, there's those that only have to pay tax under a voluntary agreement.

Life ain't fair..

absolutely_skint

If life isn't fair then you do your best to make it so, at least that's the way I was raised.

ACG

If you take on the council theyre not going to refund you the charges, theyre going to backdate everyone elses.

You agreed to pay it when you bought the house, so i dont understand why you are complaining.

greenface

A tenner off each neighbour i think . Do the council do their job thats worth £56 per year . If so then you have lost nowt really (i know you can go into services provided by the council and council tax etc )

Lord_Baltimore

I wouldn't put up with it. Either you all pay or no-one pays. If your neighbours start paying you may get a reduction in your charges.

Take the Council on. What have you got to lose except the 'caring' neighbours who are happy to see only you pay for something they benefit from?

ethank

I think the neighbours asking you to keep quiet, so they can get out of paying a little more than £1 a week is disgusting

cattie

Is it possible that some of the houses are council owned & that's why they don't have to pay this charge? Only not all council houses are on estates. I have a friend who was given a 1930's semi by the council.

My friends house & the neighbouring adjoining house are properties bought by the council years ago for tenants on their list & all the other houses in the road are completely privately owned. My friend consequently bought her house through RTB but the neighbouring house is still fully owned by the council.

As you have been fully aware of this charge by the council from when you bought your house you will need to keep paying it, regardless of whether some neighbours might have slipped through the net. It's no good letting that annoy you, it would be different if you were the only neighbour in the road having to pay, but from what you say, only 4 houses are not being charged.