Council Tax Help

lodgertotenant

Hi,

I'm not sure if I am posting in the correct forum (so please bear with me), but I'm having a problem getting my name removed from my council tax bill.

I'm moving out of a flat in two weeks, my current housemate is a PHD student and he has found another person to replace me. As he is a student, the council tax is in my name. I've been told over the phone by the council that they won't remove my name until I can provide them with the name of the person replacing me.

I've asked my housemate for this persons name and he won't give it to me because the person replacing me isn't moving in until March 20th plus we don't have a good relationship anymore - hence me leaving. I've also asked our letting agency and they're ignoring my e-mails!

I don't understand why I have to provide them with the name of the person replacing me, I've never heard of this before. The council won't change it into his name because he is a student. There now isn't a new council tax bill for the flat until April (as ours is paid over 10 months and not 12), so I can't understand why the council can't just address the new bill as 'to the occupier', or wait until the person replacing me calls them or transfer their name over if it's the same council as where they're moving from.

I really don't want to have it left in my name and be technically still liable and relying on someone else to put it in their name. Plus, I've obviously got to put my name onto a new council tax for the property I'm moving in too.

I'm really not sure what to do? Is there anyone out there than can offer any advise?

HappyMJ

If you've paid all 10 instalments then you are due a refund for most of February and March as you've paid up until the end of March.

You are returning possession of the room to the landlord so tell the council the landlord's name and the landlord will be responsible for sorting it out. You don't need to know the next tenants name.

ClaireBear83Sx

Go on the website for the associated Council, fill in the vacating occupier council tax form and send it in asap.

Your name will be removed and they will probably end up contacting the owner of the property to arrange for the Council Tax. Or just put the landlords details on there and let them deal with it.

chris_m

lodgertotenant wrote: »

I've been told over the phone by the council that they won't remove my name until I can provide them with the name of the person replacing me.

That is correct - otherwise anyone could phone up and claim that they are leaving, when they are not.

As HappyMJ says, just give them the landlord's details.

Pixie5740

How is this incoming person replacing you? Is this being done properly so that you will no longer be named on a tenancy agreement and therefore responsible for any rent?

Whenever I've moved out of rental properties I've just given the landlord's details to the council.

lodgertotenant

Pixie5740 wrote: »

How is this incoming person replacing you? Is this being done properly so that you will no longer be named on a tenancy agreement and therefore responsible for any rent?

Whenever I've moved out of rental properties I've just given the landlord's details to the council.

The tenancy agreement that I'm listed on ends on 21st March, so the person replacing me will be signing a new agreement. I'm basically leaving about 6 weeks early because I cannot bear living there anymore. I am of course still going to pay the final half of my rent, I'd rather loose the money then stay basically. I just want to cut all ties as soon as I can and that is why I'm wanting my name removed from the council tax basically.

Pixie5740

What do you mean it ends 21st March? Have you served notice or is that when the fixed term ends? Does the letting agency/landlord know what's going on? You need to be careful that this is all done properly or it could end up being very expensive mistake.

chappers

As has been said just refer them back to the LL/LA

lodgertotenant

Pixie5740 wrote: »

What do you mean it ends 21st March? Have you served notice or is that when the fixed term ends? Does the letting agency/landlord know what's going on? You need to be careful that this is all done properly or it could end up being very expensive mistake.

Of course I have! I can assure you I'm pulling no dodgy stunts here.

I gave notice to the letting agency in January (more than 2 months notice), when the landlord invited us to renew for another year that I wouldn't be renewing the tenancy, in fact they knew way before then that I wouldn't be staying.

My roomate was then offered the option of finding someone else to renew a new tenancy with the letting agency for another 12 months. I've never met my landlord but I'm pretty sure that the letting agency (Martin and Co) has been keeping him/her fully aware of what is happening. If my roomate didn't find someone to renew a new 12 months tenancy with him, then the property would've been re-advertised yesterday, as a whole.

I'm still paying my rent (last payment next month), I'm just choosing to live elsewhere before the end of my tenancy which as far as I'm aware, as long as I've paid my share of the rent etc., then I'm doing nothing wrong.

Guest101

There is no obligation to name the person replacing you when you leave.


Council try to say you have to, but an email to their C Tax dept, to confirm leaving date is enough.

Guest101

lodgertotenant wrote: »

Of course I have. I gave notice to the letting agency in January (2months notice) that I wouldn't be renewing the tenancy, in fact they knew way before then that I wouldn't be staying. My roomate then had until yesterday to find someone to renew a new tenancy with the letting agency for another 12 months. I've never met my landlord but I'm pretty sure that the letting agency (Martin and Co) has been keeping him fully aware of what is happening. If my roomate didn't find someone to renew a new 12months tenancy with him, then the whole property would've been re-advertised yesterday, as a whole.

I'm still paying my rent (last payment next month), I'm just choosing to live elsewhere sooner rather than later.

That's not how joint tenancies work.


If your housemate doesn't leave, the LL charges you both double rent...