Urgent help needed - Housemate not paid our council tax

purpleroseofcairo

What I have are emails from the housemate each month with a breakdown of that months bills (including council tax) - and my bank statements showing that I have paid the requested amount into her bank account. So that's by bank transfer.

I'm not sure exactly where she is going when she moves out, but it is the same council area.

pmlindyloo

purpleroseofcairo wrote: »

The lead tenant on the contract and the person with responsibility for the deposit is the housemate who is leaving the country.

Just a tip for the future as landlords are apt not to do this.

Make sure that the landlord refunds the total deposit to the lead tenant and then she gives your share.

landlord often ask the new tenant(s) to give their deposit to the out going tenant(s) which leads to one almighty mess for you.

RAS

purpleroseofcairo wrote: »

The lead tenant on the contract and the person with responsibility for the deposit is the housemate who is leaving the country.

So you need to start talking to that person urgently. Otherwise it is quite possible that they will get the money paid into their account and burger off with the lot.

What you have not explained is whether either of the tenants leaving has given the LL notice?

How is it that two new tentnats are moving in and you are staying?

RAS

purpleroseofcairo wrote: »

What I have are emails from the housemate each month with a breakdown of that months bills (including council tax) - and my bank statements showing that I have paid the requested amount into her bank account. So that's by bank transfer.

I'm not sure exactly where she is going when she moves out, but it is the same council area.

The first bit is good. The second bit a little bit harder.

Does she work? Where?

Voyager2002

purpleroseofcairo wrote: »

The lead tenant on the contract and the person with responsibility for the deposit is the housemate who is leaving the country.

Make sure that the landlord knows about the Council Tax problem.

Voyager2002

FBaby wrote: »

The key issue is whether you can prove that you've paid her your share specifically for council tax. Was it a standing order/DD that clearly says for bills and CC? If it just say bills, it could be argued that it didn't include CC. If it just regular amount of cash withdrawn, same thing, unless you can show a piece of paper signed by her that clearly states the breakdown of what you gave her and this amounts to what you paid her every month.

Doesn't make much difference: the Council can still pursue the OP for the full amount of CT outstanding, and really has no interest in the arrangement that the tenants made among themselves.

Voyager2002

purpleroseofcairo wrote: »

What I have are emails from the housemate each month with a breakdown of that months bills (including council tax) - and my bank statements showing that I have paid the requested amount into her bank account. So that's by bank transfer.

I'm not sure exactly where she is going when she moves out, but it is the same council area.

OK, so if you took her to court you could prove that you gave her the money to pay the council tax and so could obtain judgment in your favour. Not much use unless you know where she is going to be living, and more importantly who is going to employ her.

Voyager2002

She cannot put the utility bills into your name unless you agree, so that could be a way forward.

purpleroseofcairo

RAS wrote: »

So you need to start talking to that person urgently. Otherwise it is quite possible that they will get the money paid into their account and burger off with the lot.

What you have not explained is whether either of the tenants leaving has given the LL notice?

How is it that two new tenaats are moving in and you are staying?

Its a 12 month tenancy. We're about 8 months in I think. The other two housemates gave notice to quit. I'm quite happy staying where I am so we've just advertised the rooms for new tenants to move in take over the tenancy from those two housemates. The landlord is aware of all of that.

I'm not sure how the new people are paying the deposits - whether that's to the landlord or to the exiting housemates. I do know that my deposit is safe - at least until I decide to move out I suppose.

purpleroseofcairo

Voyager2002 wrote: »

She cannot put the utility bills into your name unless you agree, so that could be a way forward.

Thanks. That's what I thought too - what I'm more worried about (and what didn't occur to me at first) is if my name is already on the bills and she just decides to remove herself.

I might have to resort to asking our landlord if they know. I don't see the housemate I'm having the dispute with being willing to tell me - and the other one (who is leaving the country) I'm honestly not sure if she knows either.