Lodger's Privacy re Council Tax

madshopper32

Hi

I have a new lodger, and I was going to ring the council to remove the previous lodger from their records. The new lodger doesn't want the council to know he lives with me. He requests I carry on paying dual occupancy, but say I only live there and may wish to have a lodger in future

Can anyone tell me if I can respect his request? Can I just pay the council tax on the building as a dual occupancy, and still have him living with me?

Guest101

I don't believe he has to be named on the account. Just that the council is aware two adults live there.

Not uncommon if you are responsible for the c tax.

- lived in a HMO, not named on council tax. So not 100% on lodgers.

madshopper32

Thanks for the reply. I own the home, so it's not about discounts or tenancy. I just wanted to find out if I'm ok to go ahead with removing the old name and keeping the privacy of the new one

tomtontom

Given that this person is sharing your home, I would be concerned why he doesn't want them knowing he is there ... and what else he is hiding!

G_M

No need to tell council tax who is in occupation. They don't ask.

You may be thinking of the electoral register, for which you need to name all adult occupants so they can vote.

jjlandlord

The situation has obviously nothing to do with an HMO where the landlord is the sole person liable by law.

If occupiers are jointly liable it might make sense to tell the council that there is someone else to go after by giving them the details
(and that's perhaps your lodger's worry).

However, in practice the council won't bother tracing a lodger who's left when the homeowner is right in front of them, so it doesn't matter.

madshopper32

Appreciate the replies. Thank you people !

CIS

You don't have to tell - unless it's impacting on a discount or reduction. I usually find that people don't want the council to know they are living in a property as they know the council are looking for them.

The council can make a formal request though and you would then have to tell them.

princeofpounds

He probably has council tax arrears from elsewhere!

Unless it was a relative or close friend, I would never accept under-the-counter behaviour from a lodger in my own home.

madshopper32

My new lodger was previously in a place for 4-5 years arranged by the housing association. I would guess they'd have taken care of or checked up on tax and charges

I don't think he's doing it to dodge anything, I think he is information sensitive. Although it doesn't bother me, I can't exactly blame him in the technology modern age

Living_proof

If he is a lodger he doesn't have any liability for council tax - it is down to you.