Council tax bill not forwarded on

theeasylife

The artful dodger (which I'll continue to use as it seems to fit) I won't be going to jail, as you seem to wish so much, because the second I found out about it I settled it. Good news about the liability order, if it doesn't affect criminal record or credit score I might just put all this down to experience, I shall see how the council respond.

FBaby, if my post suggest that I am directing all this at the tenant then I'm sorry but that isn't how I feel. We do have a very good relationship with her, and my in-laws who manage the property as they live 5 mins walk have been around hers a few times over the last couple of months to help with a wasp problem and replace a fridge. Purely on a human level of somebody was in my house and I had 6 letters (which she kept) I would say "oh by the way here's some letters for you" or if not return to sender. But I don't expect that.
My anger is directed at the council, and yes we do have proof that we gave them our address we live at, council tax was paid under a direct debit until they told us to cancel it and await any further bill, which we did not receive.

swindiff

The same thing happened to me, I was using a letting agent who had received the bills from our tenant but never passed them onto me, it was only when they had received a court summons that they bothered to inform me of the bills.

Once I was aware of the debt I paid it in full including the court costs.

After talking to the council and explaining the situation they conceded that they could have made better effort to ensure that the bills found their way to me, as they could identify that a letting agent was letting the property. I had never lived in the property but was liable for the month between purchasing it and letting it out when I was renovating.

The council refunded the court costs so I therefore ended up just paying the council tax that was owing.

Its worth contacting them and explaining the situation to see if they can help.

theeasylife

Swindiff, that's really useful thank you.

We also have a letting agent and the situation sounds almost identical to ours, with the exception that the tenant kept the mail rather than the agent.

If it's ok could I ask which council this was with, I wonder as a precedence has been set if it will help with our case.

Thanks again.

theeasylife

Guest101 wrote: »

Council tax is charged to the property, not the person. So regardless of what address you have its your responsibility to pay it.

Whilst I sympathise with you, you knew there were 2 weeks worth due.

U didn't answer regarding notice to go into the property.

The visits to the property were at the tenants request, once for a cup of tea, once to remove a wasps nest and once to replace the fridge. Any reason why you ask?

Guest101

theeasylife wrote: »

The visits to the property were at the tenants request, once for a cup of tea, once to remove a wasps nest and once to replace the fridge. Any reason why you ask?

Just wondered.

theeasylife

You just wondered? Or did you think that somehow I had violated her rights and wanted to pull me up on it? I'm just wondering 😂

brianposter

I hope those people complaining about tenants being asked to forward mail understand the part they play in raising the general level of rents.
As a landlord what I used to expect was a generally cooperative tenant but that is something that seems to be disappearing in the modern world.
I now start with the expectation that a tenant will be uncooperative and consequently expect a higher rent and the difference is substantial.

Guest101

theeasylife wrote: »

You just wondered? Or did you think that somehow I had violated her rights and wanted to pull me up on it? I'm just wondering 😂

Given you cant even pay council tax on time, nothing would surprise me.


I'm not interested in 'pulling you up', rather educating so that mistakes are avoided.

Guest101

brianposter wrote: »

I hope those people complaining about tenants being asked to forward mail understand the part they play in raising the general level of rents.
As a landlord what I used to expect was a generally cooperative tenant but that is something that seems to be disappearing in the modern world.
I now start with the expectation that a tenant will be uncooperative and consequently expect a higher rent and the difference is substantial.

The tenant isn't your employee.


This is a prime example of when LLs need licencing.

G_M

theeasylife wrote: »

The visits to the property were at the tenants request, once for a cup of tea, once to ........

Hope you took a cake with you. If not, do so next time. Works wonders for landlord/tenant relations.............!