Taken to Court for “unauthorized occupation”… but I don’t even live there ?! Help !

maninthestreet

karakus wrote: »

I emailed Linda but looks like she accesses internet twice a month and doesn't answer texts

Is this the same 'Linda' from Nigeria who keeps emailing me about an inheritance I am entitled to if I just send her the 'clearance fee' by Western Union?? Is so, she's on the internet far more often than just twice a month...

princeofpounds

And this is the inevitable consequence of the soft non-market rents available from council and housing association properties - instant black market.

Landofwood

I respect the OP for coming back and fessing up.

We've all made mistakes. OP is here for advice, if you can help that's great, but let's stop judging.

Tixy

How have you been paying your rent to Landlady/Stepfather?

Was it direct from your bank? or in cash? in cash did they give you any receipts?

Do you have any form of tenancy agreement/lodger agreement from the landlady?

Were you paying council tax for the property?

Have you actually moved out of the property now?

karakus

Tixy wrote: »

How have you been paying your rent to Landlady/Stepfather?

Was it direct from your bank? or in cash? in cash did they give you any receipts?

Do you have any form of tenancy agreement/lodger agreement from the landlady?

Were you paying council tax for the property?

Have you actually moved out of the property now?

I've been paying into Linda's account first, then the mother's account. The mother and her partner (the stepfather) were dealing with the council, apart from the repairs. the mother herself gave me the number of repairs as they are both out of the country often for long holidays. at the moment stepfather is in Rio, mother in New York.
Linda, apart from 3 days in June 2013, has been away since I believe beginning of 2013? Or end of 2012, don’t remember, that’s about the time I started renting there. She originally told me she was going to fly back and forth but I haven't seen her since



I haven’t paid council tax no. In fact in the court bundle there’s an email from the stepfather asking if any council tax is due and he’ll pay it


Looking for rooms now, will move out hopefully this weekend. I’ll call the estate manager later and give my version of events, the true one, I also need to find a lawyer


what point can I make with the council to not pay these arrears? HELP PLEASE !

Algar

I don't think anybody here is going to give you advice on how to scam the council further, at least I hope not.

Go to court, admit the charges and accept the court's orders. That way you might regain a bit of self respect.

maninthestreet

You can claim to be a lodger, but not sure that would help much, even if the council accepted that.

lincroft1710

Strangely, the one thing the council can chase you for if you have been living in the flat is Council Tax and they can ask you to pay it back to the day you started renting the flat. Are you sure that the £2400 doesn't relate to Council Tax rather than rent?

karakus

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Strangely, the one thing the council can chase you for if you have been living in the flat is Council Tax and they can ask you to pay it back to the day you started renting the flat. Are you sure that the £2400 doesn't relate to Council Tax rather than rent?

Notice to quit to Linda was served on 18/11 (again, stepfather told me to ignore it, forward it to him and he’ll deal with it, stupid me ! ), I received a copy


The arrears date from 28 days after the notice was served so roughly from the 15th January 2015. Seems highly unlikely £2400 of Council tax in 5ish months ?!


I’m at work now, can’t take out the paperwork, I’ll check better tonight

Guest101

OP the council cannot chase you for rent. Rent is a contractual payment. They offered you a contract and you signe dfor it?
If not then you dont owe rent.

Council tax is a tax, it's payable (somewhere down the line) by the occupant. That they could chase for.