Council Tax help in England

Givens

I'm not sure if this is the right forum so forgive me if its not.

My local authority are chasing me for unpayment of council tax from 2007 to June 2009, the property was tenanted at the time but I've been unable to find my old tenancy agreements.

I've not spoken to the council yet on the matter but I doubt their going to be particular helpful on the matter and if I don't pay it will be passed on to a baliff.

Can anyone offer me any help on advice what to do next?

HappyMJ

How about bank statements showing the rent coming in each month from your tenants?

How about a statement from your former tenants stating they lived in the property for the period of time? They wouldn't want to do that easily though as that would make them liable for the council tax for the period which they've probably been trying to avoid.

How about copies of gas/electric bills from suppliers to the property for the period in question?

A council has 6 years to get a liability order against you. If they haven't done that you can ignore the requests for payment.

If they have the liability orders then they can send bailiffs at any time until the day you die or declare yourself bankrupt to chase the outstanding debt.

CIS

A council has 6 years to get a liability order against you. If they haven't done that you can ignore the requests for payment.

True, but that assumes the council tax demand notice wasn't issued more recently if it was as a result of information received later than 2007. The 6 years only starts from when the amount became due (i.e. when the demand notice was issued)

Givens

HappyMJ wrote: »

How about bank statements showing the rent coming in each month from your tenants?

How about a statement from your former tenants stating they lived in the property for the period of time? They wouldn't want to do that easily though as that would make them liable for the council tax for the period which they've probably been trying to avoid.

How about copies of gas/electric bills from suppliers to the property for the period in question?

A council has 6 years to get a liability order against you. If they haven't done that you can ignore the requests for payment.

If they have the liability orders then they can send bailiffs at any time until the day you die or declare yourself bankrupt to chase the outstanding debt.

I've no details on the tenants or electricity or gas bills and my bank only goes back for 6 years in terms of statements.

Givens

CIS wrote: »

True, but that assumes the council tax demand notice wasn't issued more recently if it was as a result of information received later than 2007. The 6 years only starts from when the amount became due (i.e. when the demand notice was issued)

The council will have send their original bill to the house in question at the time, I just assumed that the tenants who were students had sent off their documents to the council.

I'm surprised its taken so long to send me the bill, I had an email from them last year stating the amount I owed but never received a bill and never heard anything until this week.

HappyMJ

Givens wrote: »

The council will have send their original bill to the house in question at the time, I just assumed that the tenants who were students had sent off their documents to the council.

I'm surprised its taken so long to send me the bill, I had an email from them last year stating the amount I owed but never received a bill and never heard anything until this week.

Unfortunately you can't assume anything.

You'll need to know when they sent the bill for the first time to you so you'll need to write to the council. Don't expect a quick response though as they probably don't know the answer either.